A grand palace built in 1887, inspired by England’s Windsor Castle. This palatial building boasts of elegant woodcarvings and Tudor-style architecture. Visitors can take a guided tour of the palace and explore the various sections, including the ballroom, banquet hall and the Durbar Hall. The palace is now run as a museum, showcasing paintings, photographs and other artefacts belonging to the Wodeyar dynasty.
Mysore Palace, also known as Amba Vilas Palace, is the most famous and visited monument in Mysore. It was built in 1912, in the Indo Saracenic style, blending Hindu, Muslim, Rajput, and Gothic styles of architecture. Visitors can admire the intricate artistry of the palace’s interiors, including the elaborately carved doors, ceilings and archways. In the evening, visitors can watch the palace come alive with over 97,000 lights illuminating it.
This ancient temple, built in the 16th century in Basavanagudi, is dedicated to Nandi, the sacred bull of Lord Shiva. The temple is famous for its massive Nandi idol, measuring 15 feet in height and 20 feet in length, carved out of a single granite rock. The deity is adorned with a huge bell around its neck, and devotees believe that ringing it brings good luck and blessings.
If you have more time, consider visiting the Lalbagh Botanical Gardens in Bangalore, or the Brindavan Gardens in Mysore. Alternatively, if you're a fan of ancient architecture, you can visit the Somanathapura temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, 40 miles from Mysore. If you have less time, skip the Bull Temple and explore nearby museums and markets in Bangalore instead.