Five Things You Must Pick Up On Your Trip To Mysore

Mysore is resplendent with bright colours and culture. Apart from the mighty palace, historical monuments, temples and delicious food, the heritage city offers a lot more worth taking back to your city. Moreover, the city is also home to ancient markets, such as the Devaraja Market, that continue to welcome hoards of shoppers daily. Besides that, streets like Sayyaji Rao Road and Devaraja Urs Road are also popular hits among locals and tourists alike for shopping. If you&rsquore heading to Mysore, make sure to visit these places and not leave without some must-buy souvenirs

According to some, silk in Mysore can be traced back to the reign of Tipu Sultan. However, most believe that it was in the 20th century that the city embraced the craft as its own due to the royal family&rsquos encouragement. Since Mysore&rsquos surrounding areas were ideal for growing Mulberry&ndashthe silk worm&rsquos main feeding ingredient&ndashthe Silk industry flourished without difficulties. The Mysore silk saree is known for its light, soft-to-touch feel and a sheen that braves through countless washes. Most feature intricate borders and patterns inlaid with golden zari thread. The KSIC showroom is the most popular place to pick the best. Do ensure to check for an embroidered number for authenticity and originality. 

Mysore became the centre of Sandalwood and its many products right after the Government chose the city to house the Sandalwood Oil Factory in 1917 since it is surrounded by forests rich in the specific type of wood. Here, you can also see what goes behind making these fragrant products Mysore has come to be known for. Although the best place to get your hands on authentic sandalwood products would be the factory itself, you can rely on local shops located in Devaraja market and Gandhi Square. 

Situated near Coorg, known to produce some of the best coffee in India, Mysore has many wholesale and retail sellers sourcing coffee from there. Many shops in Devaraja market and Gandhi Square sell ground coffee powder and roasted beans. If you like your coffee to be less bitter, opt for coffee with low chicory content. If you plan to take it home, store it in an airtight container to retain its beautiful flavours. 

It is believed that the Mysore painting originates back to the cave paintings of Ajanta and Ellora. During the reign of the Vijayanagar Empire, from the 15th to 16th centuries, these paintings gained immense popularity under royal patronage. The delicate and colourful imagery depicts many mythological scenes featuring gods and goddesses. The unique gesso work, an embossing technique using white lead and glue overlaid on gold foil, distinguishes these paintings from the Tanjore style, which is more ornate. 

One of the crafts that flourished under royal patronage in Mysore is rosewood sculptures&ndashspecifically, during the time of Tipu Sultan in the 18th century. Since there were no regulations on the usage of rosewood, sculptors developed more unique ways to embellish it&ndashthey used precious materials like ivory, mother of pearl and sandalwood. Artisans mostly use chemicals, treated plastic and sandalwood for inlay work since ivory is banned. The craft has also earned a GI tag.