Tenzin Chodon
Start early at Chamundi Hill, when the air is cooler and the crowds are smaller. The temple offers sweeping views of Mysuru and its festive bustle.
At the palace’s northern gate, this small temple is also a good place to catch folk performers, musicians, and cultural groups gathering before their performances.
Head to Kuppanna Park for enormous floral displays, where thousands of flowers are shaped into palaces, characters, and other colourful installations.
Go hungry to the Aahara Mela at Maharaja’s College Ground, where stalls serve regional food, including ragi mudde, akki roti and other Karnataka specialities.
Across from the palace, the Dasara Exhibition brings together handicrafts, food stalls, rides, and shopping. Look out for sandalwood carvings, Channapatna toys, and Mysore silk.
No Mysuru visit feels complete without trying Mysore Pak at Guru Sweets. Order the soft version, best eaten fresh, while it is still warm and wonderfully rich.
For breakfast or a late-morning bite, join the queue at Vinayaka Mylari for its famously soft dosa, served with coconut chutney and plenty of butter.
The Raitha Dasara at J.K. Grounds offers a glimpse of rural Karnataka through farming displays, indigenous cattle, produce, and traditional practices, away from the main crowds.
If you are lucky, you may spot Dasara elephants during their daytime preparations. Watch from a respectful distance as they are fed, trained, and acclimatised.