Mysore

Mysore, officially known as Mysuru, is a historic city in the southern Indian state of Karnataka. Long celebrated as the cultural heart of the region, it served as the royal seat of the Wadiyar dynasty and functioned as the capital of the Kingdom of Mysore for nearly six centuries. Famed for its palaces, architectural heritage, and festivals, the city is often referred to as the City of Palaces, the Heritage City, and the Cultural Capital of Karnataka. Situated at the base of the Chamundi Hills, Mysore is one of the most populous urban centres in the state and consistently ranks among India’s cleanest cities. Tourism, traditional industries, and cultural arts remain central to its identity.

Etymology

The name Mysore is the anglicised form of the Kannada term Mahisuru, derived from Mahishasura, a mythical buffalo-headed demon who, according to Hindu tradition, once ruled the region known as Mahishaka. The goddess Chamunda, whose temple stands atop the Chamundi Hills, is believed to have slain Mahishasura, and the site subsequently evolved through the forms Mahishapura and Mahisuru. With colonial pronunciation, the name became Mysore, while Mysuru represents the modern Kannada rendering. In 2014, the Government of India officially approved the city’s renaming to Mysuru, aligning the English form with local usage.

Historical Background

The origins of Mysore’s urban core trace to the village of Puragere, which occupied the area where the Mysore Palace now stands. In 1524, Chamaraja Wodeyar III constructed the Mahisuru Fort, marking the emergence of the city as a political centre. Initially a feudatory of the Vijayanagara Empire, the Kingdom of Mysore gained increasing autonomy following the empire’s decline after the Battle of Talikota in 1565.
Throughout the seventeenth century, the Wadiyar rulers expanded their dominion across southern Karnataka and neighbouring regions. By the late eighteenth century, under the de facto leadership of Hyder Ali and later Tipu Sultan, Mysore reached its peak military strength. During their reforms, economic initiatives such as mulberry cultivation for silk production significantly influenced the region’s development. However, recurrent conflicts with the Maratha Confederacy, the Nizam of Hyderabad, and the British culminated in the Anglo-Mysore Wars. Tipu Sultan’s death in 1799 marked the end of this era, and the capital shifted permanently back to Mysore from Srirangapatna.
Following British victory, Mysore became a princely state under British suzerainty with Krishnaraja Wodeyar III installed as ruler. Administrative oversight was managed by British Residents and, at times, directly through Commissioners. The city experienced significant challenges, notably the famine of 1876–78 and a bubonic plague outbreak in 1897.
Urban development accelerated with the establishment of the City Improvement Trust Board in 1903, making Mysore one of the earliest planned cities in Asia. The municipality, formed in 1888, laid the foundations for modern civic governance. Mysore also became a centre of nationalist activity during the Indian independence movement.
After independence in 1947, Mysore became part of the Mysore State (renamed Karnataka in 1973). Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar, the last ruling Maharaja, served as the state’s first Rajapramukh. The city continued to grow as a centre for education, culture, and tourism, with occasional disruptions such as the 1989 television studio fire and ecological concerns at the Mysore Zoo.

Geography and Urban Form

Located at approximately 12°18′ north latitude and 76°39′ east longitude, Mysore lies at the foot of the Chamundi Hills at a moderate elevation. The city extends across a substantial urban area that merges with adjacent census towns to form a metropolitan region of over 1.28 million inhabitants. Mysore is the southernmost major city in Karnataka and lies close to the borders of Kerala and Tamil Nadu, connected regionally to Madikeri, Chamarajanagar, and Mandya.
The city is known for its distinctive natural features, including prominent lakes such as Kukkarahalli Lake, Karanji Lake—home to India’s largest walk-through aviary—and Lingambudhi Lake. These water bodies contribute to the city’s ecological balance, recreational spaces, and bird habitats.
Kannada serves as the primary language of communication among residents, reflecting the city’s deep cultural roots.

Cultural Significance and Heritage

Mysore has long been associated with artistic patronage, traditional crafts, and ceremonial splendour. The city lends its name to numerous cultural expressions:

• Mysore Dasara, a major annual festival featuring the historic Jamboo Savari procession.
• Mysore painting, a classical South Indian artistic tradition.
• Mysore pak, a renowned sweet dish.
• Mysore dosa and Mysore masala dosa, well-known South Indian culinary items.
• Mysore peta, a distinctive silk turban used in ceremonial settings.
• Mysore silk, a celebrated textile produced under royal and later industrial patronage.
• Mysore mallige, a jasmine variety native to the region.

The city’s palace architecture—including the Mysore Palace, Jaganmohan Palace, and Lalitha Mahal—constitutes one of the richest assemblages of royal buildings in India.

Governance and Modern Development

The Mysore City Corporation oversees local administration, urban services, and planning initiatives. With early twentieth-century institutions such as the City Improvement Trust Board, Mysore pioneered structured urban development. Today, tourism remains a major economic driver, complemented by education, information technology, manufacturing, and traditional crafts.
During the annual Vijayadashami festivities, Mysore attracts hundreds of thousands of domestic and international visitors. Transport infrastructure includes extensive city bus services, rail connectivity to major Indian cities, and air links through regional airports.