Best of Mysore, UNESCO Somnathpur Temple & Srirangapatna Day Tour

Please Note: Our expert guide will take you to all the sites listed in the itinerary, not just a select few. To ensure an authentic experience, we intentionally avoid overly touristy spots, allowing us to offer you a unique and unparalleled perspective of the region. Our first stop is a silk cocoon market, where sericulturists bring in millions of silk cocoons for sale. It's an astonishing sight to behold. With insights from our expert guide, you'll learn about the various stages of the famed Mysore silk production — from the cocoon to the yarn, which is then woven into cloth before becoming a wearable garment.

We believe food is an integral part of an Indian cultural experience; hence we start our tour early and detour from the highway to visit a traditional eatery serving authentic local breakfast. Here our accompanying guide will take you through a sumptuous culinary experience.

We get off the highway for an extended detour through lush countryside to reach this stunning UNESCO World heritage temple from 1268 AD. Some of humankind's most exquisite stone carvings and sculptures are here. Our accompanying expert guide will introduce its history, Hinduism, its pantheon of gods, and the context of each beautiful carving.

We explore this bejewelled palace, among the most visited sites in India and the home of one of the wealthiest individuals in the world in its heyday – the Maharaja of Mysore. From our accompanying expert guide, learn about the Wodeyar rulers and their incredible contributions to putting this region on the global map as we leisurely survey and explore the interiors & exteriors of this dazzling palace.

Our accompanying expert guide will take you through a stroll inside an 1880s market stuck in a time warp. As you take a walk back in time, marvel at the sights, smells and sounds of the shops & people in the bazaar selling the choicest fruits, flowers, vegetables, bangles and local produce such as Jaggery, Attar, Masalas etc.

From Mysore, we drive to the historic river island of Srirangapatana. Here we break for a relaxed and sumptuous lunch at this picturesque setting by the gurgling waters of the River Cauvery.

Srirangapatna is a river island that has been coveted for millennia due to its strategic location, with the river acting as a natural barrier. The Srirangapatna Fort was established in the 1400s and served as the residence for the ruling class within its fortified precincts. This location gained global attention when the East India Company and the Kingdom of Mysore clashed four times over the span of four decades. Driving through the fort and taking in the sights offers a fascinating glimpse into what it feels like to be inside one of the few 'living' forts in India.

Our final stop is the exquisite 1780s wooden palace of Tipu Sultan, where every inch of its interiors has delicate frescoes and murals of evocative battle scenes, floral and geometric patterns and portraits. Our accompanying expert guide will provide context to each handpainted artwork and regale you with stories of the valiant efforts of this ruler, the Tiger of Mysore, against the colonial powers of the time.