Mysore is a small city of 800,000 people (well, small for India) in the far south of the state of Karnataka. It is known as the City of Palaces and is also reported to be the 2nd cleanest city in India.
- the FOOD: Oh my god… southern Indian food is the best! Dosas, Idlis, Coconut chutney… so different than what we find in the U.S. for Indian food, and what a shame because it’s delicious!
- The palaces: There are a dozen or so old palaces in the city that have been converted into things like hotels, malls, government buildings, and art galleries. There seems to be a beautiful building around every corner.
- The Mysore Palace: Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow!!!!!!!! Stunningly beautiful inside and out. And they light it up every Sunday night from 7-7:30pm with 97,000 lights. It’s simply incredible.
- My hostel, Zostel Mysore: Only two months old, this hostel is in a super cool 2-story building with tons of open community space to chill out, meet other travelers, read, blog, etc. There’s also a café and a fully stocked kitchen if you want to make your own food. The rooms are well thought out, with locking drawers under the bed, personal lights and outlets on each bed, comfortable pillows and blankets. It is very clean, there’s hot water, and the owner is a friendly young guy (Hirin) who speaks perfect English and seems to offer at least one excursion every day, taking groups in his car or the car of his employee and charging a minimal fee for gas. I have been out to a lake and up Chamundi Hill for sunset with him and other guests of the hostel. Everyone I’ve met here is super friendly and I’ve basically only been alone for about 4 hours since I’ve been here, when I chose to split off from two German travelers I was with to see some sights on my own. I’ll also be traveling down to Cochin tomorrow via overnight train with a German girl I met at the hostel. Come to think of it, almost every traveler at Zostel is a solo traveler, and at least half of them are girls. Pretty cool.
South Indian breakfast: Dosas and idli with coconut chutney… so good!
A savory cookie at the market
Fresh, ripened jackfruit!
The Mysore Palace is amazing inside and out!
Various other palaces-turned-“other”
Palace turned Government building
Palace turned art gallery and theater
The Lalitha Mahal Palace: A hotel
The Lalitha Mahal Palace: A hotel
The Lalitha Mahal Palace: A hotel
The Lalitha Mahal Palace: A hotel
The Lalitha Mahal Palace: A hotel
The Lalitha Mahal Palace: A hotel
Zostel Mysore: Great hostel with great people. These are various images of things I did with other travelers from the hostel…
Went to the stunning Devajara Market
Went to the stunning Devajara Market
Went to the stunning Devajara Market
Various stacks of flowers in the Devajara Market
Fruit stacked neatly in the Devajara Market
These flower garlands are used as blessings & offerings
This yellow cow was roaming the Devajara Market
Vendor in the Devajara Market
Went to an essential oil shop
Saw a lady making incense
This guy was putting on the hard sell for his essential oils
Saw the sunset at a lake
Rode in a coracle
Boat ride in a coracle boat
Saw the sunset from the top of Chamundi Hill
Went to Chamundi Hill
Saw a children’s dance competition
Saw a children’s dance competition
Finally, here are the random photos of Mysore that didn’t fall neatly into a category:
Zostel Mysore’s chilled out community space
Zostel Mysore community space
Zostel Mysore street corner where a guy sold shoes
Lavish engagement party at the Lalitha Palace Hotel
Door man at the Lalitha Palace Hotel
Say the name of this art gallery three times fast
Random building
Roundabout
Live chickens in a cage right underneath…
…these dead chickens. 😦
Poor camels tied up on the Mysore Palace grounds
The World Is My Boyfriend 
Wow your pictures are amaaaazing! So glad your hostel is great and that you have met some other travelers. The palace is beautiful! Miss you xx
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Thanks, Caroline! xoxo
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Beautiful photos. I really like the paint job on the hotel palace. I want to eat that jackfruit. The stacking seems to be a theme in india, I like how they do that. I miss you so much!
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Beautiful Photos, loving reading about all your travels, the hostel sounds super… makes me want to go 🙂 Keep posting, be safe 🙂
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