If you've lived in Bangalore long enough, you know how big and grand the Mysore Dasara or the Mysuru Dasara is. The state festival (naadahabba in Kannada) is a 10-day affair and you'll find tourists and folks from all around the country and the world visiting Mysore during Dasara (or Dussehra). If this is the first time you are hearing about Mysore Dasara and you want to actually head here, we've got you covered. The seasoned veterans that we are, this is the complete guide to enjoying the best of everything there is during Mysuru Dasara 2024.
Palace Lighting To Jamboo Savari: The Ultimate Guide To Mysore Dasara 2024
Important Dates & Things To Keep In Mind
Dates: The Mysuru Dasara 2024 festival starts on Thursday, 3 October 2024 and ends on Saturday, 12 October 2024.
Best Time To Visit: On the first weekend, and Vijayadashmi.
Distance From Bangalore: 145 kilometres or 3 hours 30 minutes by road
Nearest Airport: Mysuru Airport
Nearest Railway Station: Mysuru Junction Railway Station
Public Transport: KSRTC buses are available from major locations in Bangalore to Mysore.
Getting Around Mysore: You can rent scooters and bikes in Mysore from places such as ONN Bikes and Royal Brothers. Alternatively, you can also look for autos and buses but do keep in mind that autos tend to overcharge.
Mysore Dasara Tickets
The official Mysore Dasara website offers multiple tickets that allow you to see various attractions and festivities during the celebrations. You can opt for this if you are looking for comfortable seating. Else you can catch the events and experiences at the free public seating spaces at the palace and grounds.
Mysore Dasara Gold Card: Priced at INR 6,500 per person this card allows a seated stand for viewing the torch lighting, the Jamboo savari (elephant procession), and entry to Chamundi Hills, Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens, and Mysore Palace.
Torch Light or Bannimantapa Card: Priced at INR 1,000 per person for seated viewing of the torch lighting.
Jamboo Savari Card: Priced at INR 3,500 per person to see the elephant parade
Yuva Dasara: Priced at INR 5,000 for watching performances and musical nights with artists such as Shreya Ghoshal, Badshah, Ravi Basrur, and Ilaiyaraja performing.
LBB Tip: You can buy the tickets using the link Visit Site option.
Visit The Mysore Palace & Stay For The Evening Lights
In the City Of Palaces, the Amba Vilas Palace or the Mysore Palace is the most famous and was once the seat of the Kingdom of Mysore. The centrally located palace faces Chamundi Hills eastward, and all the Dasara festivities are located around the palace. It's one of the most visited places during the festival and during the evenings, every day for the 10-day festival, the Mysore Palace is illuminated daily with nearly 1,00,000 light bulbs from 7 PM to 10 PM.
Palace Visiting Time: 10 AM to 5.30 PM, every day
Palace Entry Fees: INR 70 upwards
Make A Note: We recommend heading to the palace on weekdays, since it can get really crowded on the weekends.
Head To Chamundi Hills
Named after goddess Chamundi, Chamundi Hills is a must-visit in Mysore. The route to the top is scenic and you can go early in the morning to catch the sunrise. The Chamundeshwari Temple, an important religious tourist place, sits atop the hill with an ancient stone stairway of 1,008 steps leading to its summit. The Dasara celebrations commence with rituals performed for the Goddess Chamundeshwari in the presence of the Wodeyar royal couple, ministers and high-ranking officials in the Government of Karnataka and other invitees.
Timings: 7:30 AM to 2 PM, 3 PM to 6 PM and 7 PM to 9 PM
Take Part In The Carnival & Festivities
Various cultural and religious programmes highlighting the dance, music and culture of the state of Karnataka are performed in front of the Mysore Palace. Amidst fireworks, folk dances and doll shows, you can enjoy a spectacular torchlight parade, laser show and a food and film festival. Some other attractions include the Dasara Exhibition, which starts during Dasara and goes on for around two months, is held at the Doddakere Maidan opposite the palace, and is filled with stalls displaying trinkets, food, clothing, and kitchen and glassware. A makeshift amusement park is also present to entertain tourists.
Timings: 10 AM to 10 PM
Watch The Royal Jamboo Savari
Dasara celebrations are concluded by a colourful procession, popularly known as Jamboo Savari. The grandeur and magnificence of this event have popularised the Mysore Dasara world over. The main attraction of the Dasara procession is the idol of Goddess Chamundeshwari, which is carried in a golden howdah weighing over 750 kg on top of an elephant. The procession starts at Mysore Palace before ending at Bannimantapa.
When: Saturday, 12 October from 10 AM
Where: Mysore Palace to Bannimantapa
Price: Free entry for public viewing
Check Out The Dasara Doll Displays
Dasara Festival is synonymous with the arrangement of dolls in South India. Dasara dolls are an integral part of the festival where young girls and women display dolls, figurines, court life, and everyday scenes along with the divine presence of goddesses Saraswati, Parvati and Laxmi in the households during Navaratri. If you are staying in a local homestay, Dasara would be an excellent opportunity to witness your homestay owner gearing up for grand home décor with these dolls!
Go For A Palace Run
Once you're done with Mysore Palace, we recommend visiting the other palaces in Mysore, namely:
Jaganmohana Palace: It's currently the Shri Jayachamarajendra Arts Gallery and Jaganmohana Palace Arts and Crafts Museum.
Chittaranjan Palace: This is currently the Green Hotel, a palatial hotel. The garden here is a major attraction, and so are the rooms.
Lalithamahal Palace: It's a three-star hotel that lets you live the royal life.
Jayalakshmi Vilas Palace: This place houses priceless artefacts and is classified as a heritage building
Cheluvamba Vilas Palace: This is currently used by Central Food Technological Research Institute.
Rajendra Vilas Palace: The palace is closed to the public, but you can see the facade at Chamundi Hills.
