I’m British and we like to talk about the weather (we’re usually complaining). Here, in Mysore, I’m denied that dubious honour as the weather is pretty good throughout the year.
Even in the main Monsoon period of June, July and August, we mostly receive just limited rain, maybe one shower per day.
After Monsoon and throughout winter is the best weather. It’s in the 20’s and sometimes might reach the 30’s with a cooler evening and night.
It can get quite hot, into the 30’s and sometimes at the top end of the 30’s, that’s in Summer which is April, May and June.
Whatever, the heat is quite dry so we escape the humidity that’s often found elsewhere in South India and especially on the coast in the summer months.
Having said all that, India is anything but predictable so it can change. Over the last few years we have experienced earlier summers, even less rain and cooler nights, but it’s still really good.
So, Mysore actually is a great all-year-round destination.
How long to stay?
We are asked so often that we thought we’d show what visitors have experienced and thought after staying here.
Our current guests are an English family living in France with mum and dad and two pre teen children. It goes without saying they are a lovely group, gang, team….. They ARE staying here 😉 ALL our guests are great.
They have been here three nights and have covered the following:
Walk up Chamundi Hill followed by dinner in one of our favourite roof-top restaurants Hotel Roopa.
Next day after breakfast at our place, Vasanth in his auto rickshaw took them to the Silk Mill, followed by the Maharaja’s Palace and then the idiosyncratic art gallery at Jaganmohan Palace. Royal Mysore Walks provided a walking tour to introduce the city, market and street food. Dinner was veg Indian feast prepared by Manjula.
On the third day, it was equally packed. Pancakes for breakfast. A MYcycle tour of Srirangapatmam that lasted most of the day followed by late lunch at the riverside restaurant. Vasanth then helped them sort out their bus tickets to travel on to north Kerala on the fourth day.
Their verdict? We’ll let them speak for themselves.
To us, it has reinforced one key fact. They’ve had a wonderful time and managed to fit a lot in during their stay. As with most of our guests they wish to stay longer. Once people spend time here and realise it’s a lovely easy-going accessible city with year-round great weather and much more to do than they first thought, they all feel that. If it was possible to stay (it isn’t) our family might fit in another trip to the island, see some of the local artisans, art museum, sand sculptures, more of the countryside and even do a bit of shopping.
Please note: you can find more details of the highlights listed above in our page of ‘things to do in and around Mysore.’
most guests, once they’re here, wish they had the time to stay longer.
When we first started sharing our home and leading cycle tours, most guests would stay just one or two nights. We now find that most guests choose to stay longer, as they realise how much there is to see and do. Some even base themselves here of most of their holiday.
Here in Mysore, we’re a bit laid back and not so good at ‘blowing our own trumpet’. If you look at the promotional material, you’d be forgiven for thinking there is little to do here.
But its not true!
Our web site is designed to introduce you to who we are and what we do but above all to help you to have a satisfying experience. To enjoy Mysore and to want to return. So this web site offers information to help you plan and make the most of your trip. Introducing:
Things to see and do
Places to visit
Maps to help you get around
Aspects of ordinary life to get an insiders view
If it would help we can put together 3-4-5 or more day itineraries or offer advice to create your own, in advance or once you’re here.
We look forward to welcoming you to this wonderful city.
We absolutely love having our wonderful and diverse range of guests. There’s no continent which hasn’t visited us many times over, except perhaps the Eskimos and Penguins, and their neighbours.
I’m often heard declaring how it’s one of my best jobs ever (except it’s not really a job) because it’s providing great opportunities to engage and communicate with people and one’s input has perceivable impact which we can feel, real results. so it’s Fab.
As a consequence, we make good friends, our family extends and the BnB community grows, and when we say goodbye, so much, it’s sometimes sad.
Yet, you know, we wouldn’t change it.
So thank you to all our wonderful friends.
Our guest book is a lovely read. It helps remind us of the startling range of lovely people who have crossed our threshold and brought Wonderful connections into our Mysore life. Well it’s also a hidden source of even more art! Thank you.
Many of our guests visit Hampi and I have visited a few times. It’s where Manjula and I had our second holiday together. More details can be found on our blog, journal thing: http://www.meandmycycle.com
Here’s a few suggestions from our trip and we’ll add more as we receive them from guests.
I was nicely surprised, this is the first time I’d visited since they (who are they?) had demolished a fair amount of Hampi. They have shifted many people from the place, adversely affecting their livelihoods and in places it looks like a bomb has hit it but Hampi is still a very special place.
In this brief we don’t mention the ruins themselves as they are so well covered in the various guides.
Travel
We travelled on the Mysore-Hubli Hampi Express (train No 16592), in first class. It leaves Mysore every day at 18.40 and arrives 07.10 in Hospet. Auto Rickshaw from Hospet to Hampi is 150 Rs less or more depending upon your haggling skills.
The ferry across the river to the other side, known as Israel and is, in fact, an island. I’ve stayed in both places. In Hampi you can get to the hills to see the sunrise and sunset, across the river you can get a beer! The hassle is the ferry stops around six and it does involve some waiting around but then again it is laid-back Hampi.
Getting Around
We hired a scooter when we’d crossed on the ferry. So we scooted around and visited a lovely village (more below). It’s also easy to get to a lake, places for climbing and the monkey temple on top of the hill.
It’s not possible to rent a scooter on the Hampi side. So choose between an Auto rickshaw tour and cycles (the same white ones we use on our Srirangapatnam tour can be hired at a shop, half-way between the Mango Tree restaurant and the gate to the car park.) Some of the sites are accessible by walking but others do require transport.
Places to Eat in Hampi
Mango Tree, established over many years, has now had to shift from its river side venue to the centre of Hampi. It’s just down a back street from the Temple.
A lively, happening family placed frequented by both foreign and Indian tourists. Whatever you choose to eat, you can’t go wrong. They also prepared a parcel (take out) for us for the return train journey.
Sagar is really a street food stall with a couple of tables and benches set up by a group of ladies. Check the delicious Paddu or Dosa balls.
Places to eat across the river.
Top Secret, provide the usual mix of travellers fare: Indian, Mexican, Israeli, juices and much more.
Places to Stay
dining at Top Secret
We stayed across the water and whilst we didn’t stay at Top Secret we would recommend it. Frankly most of the places seemed to be pretty much like each other. We did eat at Top Secret, most evenings and the view is superb. Just don’t ask about how they created the view!
the view from shhh, don’t tell anybody
Ros and Paul, previous guests at Mysore bed and breakfast, recommend Rocky’s in Hampi itself.
Something Extra
Bouldering and Climbing
Anegondi, a lovely village to wander around, buy crafts and stay in renovated village houses.
making new friends in the village
Driver, booking clerk, tour guide (doesn’t know much), coolie…
We’re quietly celebrating the ‘festival of lights’ with coloured Rangoli (as seen in the picture), oil lamps at night and gifts of sweets with a backdrop of the cacophony of exploding rockets and fireworks. We wish you a happy day that recognises Ram’s returning with Sita in the Ramayana.
On this site are details of the services we offer to visitors to Mysore.
For our most up to date information do visit our Facebook pages
In this brief we don’t mention the ruins themselves as they are so well covered in the various guides.
oil lamps at night and gifts of sweets with a backdrop of the cacophony of exploding rockets and fireworks. We wish you a happy day that recognises Ram’s returning with Sita in the Ramayana.
Manjula's Mysore 