Mysore is the second largest city in the state of Karnataka, India. It is the lies about 146 km southwest of Bangalore, the capital of Karnataka. The city is spread across an area of 128.42 km2 and is situated at the base of the Chamundi Hills. Mysore is the southernmost city of Karnataka and is a neighboring city of the states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Mysore has several lakes, such as the Kukkarahalli, the Karanji, and the Lingambudhi lakes. Mysore has The Biggest ‘Walk-Through Aviary’ called Karanji Lake in India. The city is located between two rivers: the Kaveri River that flows through the north of the city and the Kabini River, a tributary of the Kaveri, which lies to the south.
Mysore served as the capital city of the Kingdom of Mysore for nearly six centuries. The Kingdom was ruled by the Wadiyar dynasty. The Wadiyars were patrons of art and culture. The cultural ambience and achievements of Mysore earned it the sobriquet of Cultural Capital of Karnataka.
Mysore is known as the cultural capital of Karnataka for the festivities that take place during the period of Dasara, the state festival of Karnataka, it is also well known as Heritage City for its Heritage structures like Amba vilas Palace (Mysuru Palace), Lalithamahal Palace, Jaganmohan Palace, Chittaranjan Palace, Jayalakshmi Vilas Palace, Cheluvamba Palace, City Corporation building, Crawford Hall, St. Philomena’s Church and many more such structures.
Apart for the heritage structure Mysore also lends its name to various art forms and culture, such as Mysore Dasara, Mysore painting, the sweet dish Mysore Pak, Mysore Masala Dosa, brands such as Mysore Sandal Soap, Mysore Paints and Varnish Limited and styles and cosmetics such as Mysore Peta (a traditional silk turban) and the Mysore silk saris. Mysore is also known for betel leaves and own its special variety of jasmine flower fondly referred as “Mysore Mallige”. Not to forget Devaraja Market, which is one of the attractions of Mysore, the way in which all the essentials, fruits and vegetables are arranged in the market itself make its unique throughout the world.
The educational system was revolutionized by the Wadiyars with the establishment of various colleges like the Maharajas, Yuvrajas and Maharanis college. The education system was enhanced by the establishment of the University of Mysore which was the sixth university to be established in India and the first in Karnataka. It was named Manasagangotri (“fountainhead of the Ganges of the mind”) by the poet Kuvempu. The university caters to the districts of Mysore, Mandya, Hassan and Chamarajanagar in Karnataka. Its alumni include Kuvempu, Gopalakrishna Adiga, S. L. Bhyrappa, U. R. Ananthamurthy and N.R. Narayana Murthy.
The Mysore Medical College was the first medical college to be started in Karnataka and the seventh in India. Other than university education there are many National institutes in the city which includes Central Food Technological Research Institute, the Central Institute of Indian Languages, the Defense Food Research Laboratory, and the All India Institute of Speech and Hearing.
Mysore has traditionally been home to industries such as weaving, sandalwood carving, bronze work and the production of lime and salt. The planned industrial growth of the city has led to the establishment of industries such as the Mysore lamps, Mysore Sandalwood soap Factory and the Sri Krishnarajendra Mills thereafter Mysore has emerged as an industrial hub in Karnataka next to Bangalore. Mysore now hosts a number of industries like AT&S India Pvt Ltd, Nestle India ltd, Reid and Taylor, Triveni Engineering, Jubiliant, TVS, JK Tyres and Asian Paints.
The major software companies in Mysore are Infosys, ArisGlobal, Larsen & Toubro Infotech, Excelsoft Technologies etc. The growth of the information technology industry in the first decade of the 21st century has resulted in the city emerging as the second largest software exporter in Karnataka. Mysore also hosts many central government organizations like CFTRI, DFRL, CIPET, BEML,[93] RMP (Rare Material Project), RBI Note printing Press and RBI Paper Printing Press.
With its good connectivity with neighboring states, pleasant climate, value for education, culture etc. Mysore is a growing educational hub.
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