Mysore Palace tour
- Private tour
- Private guide and vehicle
- Reply within four hours, 9am-9pm IST
- No payment to start planning
- The three-storey palace rewards a slow walk around the outside as much as the interior, since the domes and towers read differently from every angle.
What’s included
- Private, knowledgeable guide through the palace
- Private vehicle to and from your Mysore hotel
- Help booking entry tickets in advance
- Timing advice around the evening illumination and Dasara crowds
What’s not included
- The palace entry ticket
- Confirmed on your quote
- A camera fee if applicable on the day
- Personal expenses
Cancellation terms are confirmed with your written quote
- No payment is taken until you approve the itinerary.
The exterior
The three-storey palace, built in Indo-Saracenic style mixing Hindu, Islamic, Rajput and Gothic elements, is worth walking right around before going in, since the domes and towers read very differently from each angle.
The Durbar Hall
The grandest interior space, with an ornately painted ceiling and rows of columns, used for royal audiences and still used for the Dasara Durbar today.
The Kalyana Mandapa
The marriage pavilion, an octagonal hall with a stained-glass ceiling in a peacock motif, is one of the most memorable interiors in the palace — interior photography is generally not permitted.
The grounds and gates
Outside, the palace grounds and the ornamental gates are worth the extra half hour, particularly if you're staying for the evening illumination.
Mysore Palace was the seat of the Wadiyar family, the former rulers of the Kingdom of Mysore, and is built in the Indo-Saracenic style — a blend of Hindu, Islamic, Rajput and Gothic elements common to royal and public buildings of its era across India. The three-storey palace rewards a slow walk around the outside as much as the interior, since the domes and towers read differently from every angle.
What you see
The Durbar Hall is the grandest interior space, with an ornately painted ceiling and rows of columns, used historically for royal audiences and still used for the Dasara Durbar today. The Kalyana Mandapa, the marriage pavilion, is an octagonal hall with a stained-glass ceiling in a peacock motif — one of the most memorable interiors in the palace, though photography inside is generally not permitted. Outside, the palace grounds and ornamental gates are worth the extra half hour, particularly if you're staying on for the evening illumination.
- Photography inside the palace interiors is generally not permitted, though the exterior, domes and grounds are fine to photograph freely. Shoes come off before entering the interior galleries, so wear something easy to slip on and off.
- The palace is illuminated with lights on Sundays, public holidays and throughout the Dasara festival, which draws large crowds if you're visiting in that window. October is Mysore's Dasara season and by far the busiest and most spectacular time to visit; the rest of the cooler months, roughly October to February, are more comfortable for general sightseeing.
Can you take photos inside Mysore Palace?
Generally not inside the interior galleries — photography there is usually restricted. The exterior, domes and grounds are fine to photograph freely.
When is Mysore Palace illuminated?
On Sundays, public holidays and throughout the Dasara festival, when it's lit with lights. Dasara, in October, is the single most spectacular time to see it, and also the busiest.
What architectural style is Mysore Palace built in?
Indo-Saracenic, a style that mixes Hindu, Islamic, Rajput and Gothic elements — common for royal and public buildings across India from the same era.
Who lived in Mysore Palace?
It was the seat of the Wadiyar royal family, the former rulers of the Kingdom of Mysore. Parts of the palace remain linked to the family today.
How long do you need to visit Mysore Palace?
Two hours or so covers the interior galleries, the Durbar Hall and the Kalyana Mandapa with a guide. Add extra time if you're staying on for the evening illumination.
Reviews
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- 3 stars1
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What our guests say
Marcus W
Family · Verified trip
4/51 week agoA lovely, well-organised trip. Only small gripe is that the morning pickup was fifteen minutes late on day one. Everything after that was punctual to the minute, so I suspect it was a one-off.
via Tripadvisor
James H
Solo · Verified trip
5/53 weeks agoThe food stops were the surprise star. Our guide took us to a family-run place for thali that we would never have found alone, and explained every dish. Not a single upset stomach in six days.
via Google
Sophie L
Family · Verified trip
3/51 month agovia Tripadvisor
Meera N
Friends · Verified trip
5/52 months agoPerfect balance of monuments and everyday life — a spice market, a morning at a ghat, then the big sights in the afternoon light. Our guide read the group well and adjusted the pace.
via Tripadvisor
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