Chamundi Hills, which form the backdrop of Mysore, is an inseparable part of Mysore. Built on top of this hill is a temple dedicated to Chamundeshwari who slayed Mahishasura the demon. In fact, the town of Mysuru is derived from the name of this demon. The temple attracts so many people that is almost impossible to visit it. But to compensate, there is a quiet and ancient Shiva temple in the vicinity. The color, the fervor, the bazaar, the offerings, the priests, flower-sellers, vendors, cows, shop-keepers, shoe-keepers, photographers, talisman sellers, etc jostle for space on this happening hill top. In fact, the environs of the temple is more interesting and arresting than the temple itself!

Daria Daulat bagh, literally meaning "Wealthy Garden" is a charming palace built in late 18th CE. The palace & garden was created by Tipu Sultan to house his harem outside the Fort area. This palace has much more to offer than what it's somber facade suggests - the largest battle-scene murals in the country; vibrant floral motifs drawn with vegetable colors; 200-year-old block-printed silk adorning the ceilings; pencil sketches of Tipu Sultan's final moments before dying on the battlefield; medallion minted by the British to honor its soldiers; a painting that captures the fall of Srirangapatna; beautiful paintings of Forts held by Tipu; ornate teak wood carvings all around; period furniture from 18th CE; swords & other weapons from Tipu's armory; a 3-D painting of Tipu by John Zoffany whose eyes & shoes follow you 180 degrees; cannons & cannon balls in the vicinity of the palace; beautiful mango trees, araucarias, mahoganies, etc in the garden; pigeon holes at the entrance; and so on!

Srirangapatna is a historic town that was the former capital of the Wodeyar dynasty and later of Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan. Srirangapatna is actually an island formed by two arms of the river Kaveri which is considered as the Ganges of the South. It is a town enclosed in a double-walled fortress which was first built in the 16th CE and later fortified in the 18th CE. This fort is surrounded by water on 3 sides and a moat dug around on one side. Srirangapatna has a string of attractions both for Indian as well as International visitors such as - the fort itself; Sriranganatha temple; Col. Bailey's dungeon; ruins of Tipu palace inside the fort; the impressive summer palace 'Daria Daulat Bagh' outside the fort; mausoleum of Tipu 'Gumbaz'; river ghats for bathing and rituals; the place where Tipu's dead body was found; Jami Masjid & its minarets; etc. A drive around the fort area and a visit to Tipu Palace is suggested.

Shravanabelagola, literally meaning 'the white pond of the jain monk', houses the tallest monolithic statue in the World. It was carved out by a monolithic block of stop atop the Vindhyagiri in 983 AD by Chavundaraya, a Jain follower of the region. Sharavanabelogola is the most important Jain pilgrimage centre in South India.