Mysore
Mysore (
Kannada:
ಮೈಸೂರು) is the second largest city in the
Indian state of
Karnataka. Mysore is the administrative seat of
Mysore District, and
Mysore Division. Mysore is located at 770
m above
sea level at at and is 135
km from
Bangalore, the state capital. The city is known for its palaces and proximity to several attractions. Along with
Sandalwood products and crafts, Mysore is known for its celebration of the ten day
Navaratri (Dasara) festival held every year.
According to
Hindu legend, the area around Mysore city was once the domain of the demon king
Mahishasura, who grew almost invincible and wreaked havoc on the world. The
Goddess Chamundeshwari, vanquished the demon in a humongous struggle waged over a period of ten days. Goddess Chamundeshwari is also known by the name
Mahishasura Mardhini (
Slayer of Mahisha).The battle became a festive event which the annual nine-day
Navaratri festival commemorates to this day. The name
Mysore is the
anglicised version of
Mahishūru which is derived from
Mahisha. This legend, important in
Hindu mythology, renders the temple of the
Goddess Chamundeshwari, located atop
Chamundi Hills in Mysore, an important place of
pilgrimage.
The history of Mysore has been closely linked with the history of the
Kingdom of Mysore. References from the times of
Mahabharata and
Asoka refer to
Mahisha Nadu or
Mahisha Mandala. References can also be found in
Tamil literature about
Ezimahi Nadu.The earliest documented evidence of the town is in the form of stone carvings in
old Kannada(
Saasanas) found in villages around Mysore, inscribed around 1021
CE. From 1499 the name
Mahisūru has been recorded in inscriptions. During the rule of the
Vijayanagar Empire, Mysore kingdom served as feudatory, gaining sovereignty after the fall of the empire in 1565 CE. Till the year 1610, when
Srirangapatna was acquired, Mysore was the center of administration. It became the capital of the
Kingdom of Mysore after the death of
Tippu Sultan in 1799
.The administrative center was shifted to
Bangalore in 1831, as the
British moved their
garrison from Srirangapatnam (Outskirts of Mysore) to Bangalore, thereby establishing the
Bangalore Cantonment. Mysore once again became the capital of the kingdom in 1881 with the rendition of power by the
British to the
Wodeyars. Most present day historical landmarks, and organisation of the city of Mysore were inspirations of the
Wodeyar kings and their
Dewans. Plans for organised development of the city exist as far back as 1904. Several structures were built around late 1800's and early 1900's.
Palaces and Mansions
Mysore is called the
City of Palaces as a result of the number of palaces situated in the city, some of them are:
| Palaces in Mysore | | Prominent | Amba Vilas (Main Mysore Palace),
Rajendra Vilas (also called the summer palace, situated on top of the Chamundi hills),
Jaganmohana Palace,
Jayalakshmi Vilas (now in the University of Mysore premises),
Lalitha Mahal (now converted to a hotel). |
|---|
| Other | Chittaranjan Palace (now the Green Hotel, was also the Premier Studios),
Cheluvamba Mansion (now in the CFTRI premises),
Karanji Mansion (now the Postal Training Institute),
Lokaranjan Mahal (next to the Mysore Zoo),
Crawford Hall ( University Administrative Building). |
|---|
The original main palace of Mysore was burnt down in 1897 and the present day structure was built over the same site. The present day Palace exibhits a mixture of architectural styles from
Dravidian,
Indo-Sarcenic,
Roman and
Oriental. Even though the Government of Karnataka now maintains the Mysore palace, a small portion of the palace has been allocated for the erstwhile Royal family to live in.
The Jayalakshhmi Vilas Mansion, was constructed by
Sri Chamaraja Wodeyar for his daughter Jayalakshammanni. The Jayalakshmi Vilas is now a museum dedicated to folk culture. A new gallery is being added for artefacts and collections of the
Wodeyars of Mysore.
|
Main gate of the Palace, lit |
Other attractions
|
The palace city is home for one of the famous Hindu temples of south on Chamundi hills |
|
Nandi, on to way to the Chamundeshwari Temple |
| Other Attractions | | Commerce and Industry | Mysore Silk Factory |
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| Lakes and Gardens | Kukkarahalli Lake, Pushpakaashi (Flower garden), Karanji Lake, Lingambudhi Lake, Dalvoy Lake, Bogadi Lake, Krishna Raja Sagara, Brindavan Gardens. |
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| Locations and Theaters | Manasagangotri (Mysore University Campus), Kalamandira, Rangayana (Adjoins Kalamandira). |
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| Museums and Zoos | Railway Museum, Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens known popularly as Mysore Zoo, Natural History Museum (adjoins Karanji Lake). |
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| Religious | The Chamundeswari Temple, Nandi the Bull (on the Chamundi Hills), St. Philomena's Church ( smaller scale reproduction of the Cologne Cathedral). |
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| Hills | The Chamundi Hills, with the Rajendra Vilas Palace (now closed to the public) and the Chamundeswari Temple on top, and Nandi the Bull halfway up the hill. |
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Mysore Dasara
Dasara is the
Nadahabba (state festival) of
Karnataka. Mysore is well known for the festivities that take place during this period. Also termed as
Navaratri (meaning nine-nights), it is a ten day festival usually held during the months of September and October. During this period, various cultural and religious programs highlighting the arts and culture of Karnataka and India are held. Mysore palace is illuminated on all the ten days and prominent cultural programs are held in the grounds surrounding the palace. The festivities begin with a pooja performed to the
Goddess Chamundeshwari atop the
Chamundi Hills in the presence of the
Wodeyar royal couple, high ranking officials of the State and other invitees.
When Mysore was ruled by the
Wodeyars, it was a practice for the Maharaja to provide a special audience to the people during the
Dasara which is popularly termed as the
Dasara Durbar. The Durbar and disciplined affair was attended by many dignitaries. The current scion of the
Wodeyar family continues the tradition by holding a private Durbar.
One of the main attractions of the festival is the
Dasara exhibition which starts during the
Dasara and continues for around two months. It is held in Doddakere Maidana (near the Mysore Palace) displaying various products from artists, craftsmen and industries of the region. An amusement park and theaters are erected to provide entertainment to people.
Another attraction is the wrestling tournament which is held in the Devraj Urs stadium adjoining the
Dasara exhibition grounds. It is participated by wrestlers from around
India and attracts a sizeable audience.
The conclusion of the festivties is marked by a colourful
Dasara procession (popularly known as
Jamboo Savari). The main attraction of the procession is the idol of
Goddess Chamundeshwari which is carried in a Golden howdah on top of an elephant. Various tableaux created by different state organisations participate in the procession. Musical bands belonging to State Police lend music to the procession. The final program culminating the
Dasara festivities is the torch light parade (Panjina Kavayatthu) including motor cycle displays, fireworks and recently laser shows held during the evening and night on the Bannimantapa Grounds.
Tippu Sultan
The death anniversary of famous freedom fighter
Tippu Sultan is observed everyyear[
1] on the month of January in which thousands of people attend. The procession begins from Tippu hall on Sawday road, than marks its way through Meena Bazaar before culminating at Meelad Park, where a public meeting is held.
The city is governed by the Mysore City Corporation (forming the legislative branch), lead by a Mayor, and composed of 64 elected corporators. The city is divided into wards from which corporators are elected. Officials such as the District Commissioner, Health Officer, Officers in charge of the Water Works, Sewage form parts of the executive branch.
MUDA (Mysore Urban Development Authority) is responsible for creation of new sections (layouts), zoning and expansion of the city.
The Mysore Zilla Parishat is responsible for the rural sections of the taluk.
Mysore has become the first Indian city to be
Wi-Fi enabled.
According to 2001
census of
India, 63% of the population of Mysore city is
Hindu, while 27% is
Muslim. Minority
Christian,
Jains,
Buddhist like
Tibetians form about 10% of the population. The
literacy rate of urban Mysore is considerably higher than that of the state average, at 82.8%. A majority of the city's population speak
Kannada, while other languages such as
Tamil and
Urdu are also spoken.
Industries including those manufacturing Tyres (Vikrant Tyres), Textiles (K. R. Mills, now Atlantic Mills), Electronic Systems (L & T), Earth moving and Mechanical Systems (
BEML), Silk Factory (KSIC) and those producing software (Infosys, Wipro, SPI (Software Paradigms International)) along with Education, Tourism are significant contributors to the economy of Mysore. Mysore contributed Rs 370 crores to Karnataka's Rs 38,000 crore IT exports in 2005.There are a number of small IT companies that make a significant contribution albeit inconspicuously (unlike the big IT companies - Infosys, Wipro).Efforts are being made by the current state administration to persuade IT companies to move to Mysore amongother tier II cities to ease the infrastructure burden on Bangalore and cause overall development of the state.
Education and research at the University of Mysore, Defence Food Research Laboratory (DFRL), Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), Central Sericultural Research & Training Institute(CSRTI), Central Institute of Plastics Engineering and Technology(CIPET), All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH), Karnataka State Open University (KSOU), Regional Institute of Education, The University School Of Design (Architecture), various medical, dental, pharmacy, engineering, and science colleges, Tourism centered around numerous attractions and the Dushera Festival, contribute to the economy and fame of Mysore.
Articles made of silk,
Ivory and
Sandalwood are some of the most famous products of Mysore, making significant contributions towards commerce in Mysore.
The economy experienced reverses during the last few decades, as some of the major industries like Ideal Jawa (Automobiles), K. R. Mills (Textiles) closed down and several people became unemployed. However some revival efforts, like those of K. R. Mills (Atlantic Mills) helped improve the situation. In recent years the software industry has grown and could expand further to become the most significant contributor.
As the divisional headquarters of
Mysore Division and as the Railway Junction, administrative and railways are other major employers in Mysore.
Improvements in progress, like doubling of Railway tracks, and building of the a four lane expressway, between Mysore and Bangalore will bring significant growth to the economy of Mysore.
Highways
The existing two lane road linking Mysore to the state capital
Bangalore is being upgraded to a four-lane highway which is nearing completion (Dec 2005), which could reduce time taken to travel significantly. State highways 17, 33, 86, 88 pass through Mysore connecting it to nearby cities. Once the current upgrade is finished, it is planned to turn into a 6-lane expressway along with plans for five planned townships along the route. This grand plan is known as the "Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corrdior", although of late this project has been enveloped in some controversy, resulting in its very slow progress.
Inter-city
Mysore has inter city and sub-urban public bus transportation. The system operates from the 'City Bus Stand' connecting to most major sections of the city. Traditional means of transport available in other
Indian cities like
Autorickshaws and
Taxis are also available. Tonga's (horse drawn carriages) are also available, but are rare nowadays.
Rail
|
Inside the Mysore railway station |
Mysore is the railway junction for the district, and rail lines connect Mysore city to
Bangalore to the northeast via
Mandya, and to the rail junction at
Hassan to the northwest, to
Chamarajanagar via
Nanjangud to the south east.
Air
The nearest accessible airport is at
Bangalore. The Mandkalli Airport, approximately 4 miles from the city, is currently inoperative, although
paragliding and, occasionally, aeroplane rides are offered at this location.
A memorandum of understanding is expected to signed by the
Karnataka government and the Airports Authority of India, leading to a redesign and extension of the airport. The redesign is expected to align the runway to run southeast to northwest. Some 165 acres (0.7 km²) of land are expected to be acquired for extending the airport. This upgrade would allow planes with up to 50 seats to land and take off at the airport.[
2]
Radio
Mysore established its first radio station as
Akashvani (voice from the skies) in
1936 largely due to the efforts of Dr.
M.V. Gopalaswamy a professor of psychology at the
University of Mysore. Thus the word
Akashvani in referring to the radio and prevalent all over
India was coined in Mysore. The station was taken over by the state in 1941.
Kuvempu delivered the inaugural address, Incidentally, he also delivered the address commemorating the Golden Jubliee of the station in 1986. At the time of its inception the station was guided by one of the great Kannda essayist, A. N. Moorthy Rao (Professor, English Literature,
University of Mysore) as director.
A Frequency Modulated radio channel broadcast by AIR (Akashvani) is available on 100.6
MHz frequency in and around Mysore city.
Newspapers
The earliest efforts to began newspapers in Mysore were crushed in 1894 under the
British Raj. Sadhvi was a Kannada newspaper which used to be published in Mysore. Newspapers now being published in Mysore either in
Kannada or
English include the
Star of Mysore, its Kannada edition
Mysore Mitra (first published in 1978), Samachar (first published in Kannada as Samachara and later as Samachar in English in 1950) and Andolana (Kannada edition). While the Star of Mysore is published in the tabloid format, the others are published in a broad sheet format. In 2005 the
Times of India launched a Mysore edition. Mysore also has the distinction of having the largest number of newspapers published in any Indian city. However, few of these dozens of registered newspapers ever make it to the stands, and many of these businesses are believed to be fronts for the lucrative newsprint resale business.
Vernacular Press
Urdu newspaper like
Pasbaan,
Daily salar,
Islamic Voice are distributed.
| List of Education and Research Institutions in and around Mysore | | Universities | University of Mysore, Karnataka Open University |
|---|
| Research Institutes | Central Food Technological Research Institute, Central Institute of Indian Languages, Defence Food Research Laboratory, , All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH) |
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| Engineering Colleges | Sri Jayachamarajendra College of Engineering,National Institute of Engineering,Vidya Vikas Institute of Engineering and Technology, Vidyavardhaka College of Engineering |
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| Medical Colleges | Mysore Medical College, JSS Medical College |
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| Dental Colleges | JSS Dental College | Pharmacy Colleges | JSS College of Pharmacy| Law Colleges | Mahajana Law College,JSS Law College, Vidyavardhaka Law College, Sarada Vilas College |
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| Arts, Commerce and Science Colleges | Maharaja's College, Maharani's College, Yuvaraja's College, Sarada Vilas College, Mahajana College, Marimallappa's College, JSS College, Teresian College, Regional College of Education |
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| Management Colleges | [3] SDM Institute for Management | Architecture Colleges | University School Of Design |
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Many Mysore yoga instructors draw international students for extended yoga programs, including Venkatesh Iyengar, and the well-known Pattabhi Jois. Teachers of Sanskrit, kirtan chant, Ayurveda and other yogic arts are readily available.The Sri Ganapati Sachidananda Ashram welcomes visitors, as does the Indus Valley Ayurvedic Center. In addition to traditional Hindu spiritual methods, courses are available in Osho meditations, the Art of Living, Reiki, Breema, and many other systems.
The city is famous for its multiculturalism and diversity. Where fesitvals like
Eid ul Fitr and
Eid-ul-Adha,
Deepavali and
Holi are celebrated together. There is a Gurudwara (Sikh Temple), open to all and maintained by small the Sikh community in Mysore.
Noted people who were born in Mysore
* Mysore Thathayya, Philanthophist, Educationist, Publisher
* Prof.
P. Venkataramaiah *
Kamala Markandaya, novelist.
*
J. Jayalalithaa (born
1948),
Chief Minister of
Tamil Nadu *
R.K. Laxman, Cartoonist (
The Common Man in the
Times of India newspaper)
*
Selar Shaik Sabu,
actor *
Mysore Ananthaswamy singer, composer.
*
Triveni, Novelist
*
Javagal Srinath,
Cricketer
*
N.R. Narayana Murthy,
Infosys-Chief Mentor*
Aziz Sait, former
MLANoted people who worked in Mysore
* Sir
Mokshagundam Vishweshwaraiah, chief architect of the Krishna Raja Sagar dam, of the
Brindavan Gardens,
*
Snake Shyam *
R. K. Narayan, author of books such as
Malgudi Days and
The Financial Expert*
K. V. Puttappa (popularly known as
Kuvempu), Jnanapith award winner and former Vice Chancellor, University of Mysore
* Prof. C. D. Narasimhiah
*
Sri K. Pattabhi Jois*
John Malcolm, author of
History of Persia in Mysore* Sir
Mirza Ismail,
Diwan of Mysore
*
K.B Ganapathy, editor of the newspapers
Star of Mysore and
Mysoooru Mithra*
Madhu Nagaraja, First Kannadiga to swim across the English Channel(Aug/10/2004)
Lived in Saraswathipuram, Mysore and Graduated from University of Mysore* M.S. RajaRam, Business Promoter, Mysore, Number 9886742183
* Prof P.Nagabhushan, Dept of Computer Science, University of Mysore.
* Princess
Noor Inayat Khan, was a Special Operations Executive agent in World War II.
|
an areal view of the city from the top of chamundi hill |
| Nearby places | | Locations and Cities | Srirangapattana (Seringapatam), an island fortress-city that also served as the capital of the Kingdom of Mysore,
MelukoteThe famous and holy shrine of Sri Vaishnavites and a centre for learning Sanskrit
Kabini River Resort, rated among the top five wildlife resorts in the world by Tatler's Travel Guide. |
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| Hills | Biligirirangan Hills, Himavad Gopalaswamy, Karighatta, Kunthi hill, Nilgiri Hills. |
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| National Parks, Forests, Sanctuaries | Bandipur National Park, Madumalai Forest, Nagarhole National Park, Rangantittu Bird Sanctuary. |
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| Historical Monuments | Somanathapura an ancient temple of historical and archeological importance. |
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| Water Bodies and Dams | Balamuri and Edamuri (backwaters of the Kaveri River),
Krishna Raja Sagara (KRS) dam across the Kaveri River and the adjoining Brindavan Gardens. |
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*
Mysore online, yoga....*
Mysore on Wikimapia*
Mysore City Corporation*
Mysore Dasara*
University of Mysore*
Star of Mysore, an English evening newspaper.
*
Churumuri*
BSNL, Mysore*
Mysore Samachar*
The Wodeyar Dynasty*
Mysore Palace*
The Mysore page on Kamat*
Mysore Urban Development Authority*
Sri Ganapathi Sachchidananda Ashrama*
Global Mysoreans Database*
Maharajas of Mysore*
Demographics of Karnataka 2002*
Indian census on mysore Muslims*
Independent census on Muslim population*
Actual Muslim population
