Mysore

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For other uses, see Mysore (disambiguation).

ಮೈಸೂರು - Mysooru
ಮೈಸೂರು - Mysooru
State - District(s)	Karnataka (ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ) - Mysore District
Coordinates	12.18° N 76.42° E
Area - Elevation	80.5 km² - 763 m
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
Population (2001) - Density	1,038,490 - 385.4/km²
Mayor	Modamani
Codes - Postal - Telephone - Vehicle	- 570 xxx - +0821 - KA-09

Mysore or Mysooru(Officially renamed "Mysooru") pronunciation (help·info) (Kannada: ಮೈಸೂರು) is the second largest city in the Indian state of Karnataka. Mysooru is the administrative seat of Mysore District, and Mysore Division. Mysore is located at 770 m above sea level at at 12.18° N 76.42° E and is 135 km from Bangalore, the state capital. From November 1st 2006, Mysore has been renamed to its pre-colonial Kannada name Mysooru.^[1]

Mysooru is and has been the capital of the Wodeyars. The city is known for its palaces and proximity to several other places of interest like Srirangapatna, Sivasamudram Falls, and Krishna Raja Sagara Dam. The city is spread across an area of 128 square kilometres.

Along with Sandalwood products and crafts, Mysooru is also famous for its celebration of the ten day Navaratri (Dasara) festival held every year.

1 Origin of name
2 History
3 Climate
4 Economy
5 Government and Politics
6 Transport
7 Demographics
8 Culture
9 Education
10 Media
11 Sports
12 References
13 Sources
14 External links

[edit] Origin of name

Statue of the demon Mahishasura on top of Chamundi Hills

According to Hindu mythology, the area around Mysore city was once the domain of the demon king Mahishasura, who grew almost invincible and wreaked havoc on the world. The Goddess Chamundeshwari, vanquished the demon after an intense ten day struggle. The Goddess is therefore also known by the name Mahishasura Mardhini (Slayer of Mahisha). The battle and the victory are commemorated by the annual nine-day Navaratri festival to this day. The name Mysore is the anglicised version of Mahishūru which is derived from Mahisha. This legend renders the temple of the Goddess Chamundeshwari, located atop Chamundi Hills in Mysore, an important place of pilgrimage.

[edit] History

Further information: Kingdom of Mysore

The history of Mysore is closely linked to the history of the Kingdom of Mysore. References from the times of Mahabharata and Asoka refer to Mahisha Nadu or Mahisha Mandala. References can also be found in Tamil literature about Ezimahi Nadu. The earliest documented evidence of the town is in the form of stone carvings in old Kannada(Saasanas) found in villages around Mysore, inscribed around 1021 CE. From 1499 the name Mahisūru has been recorded in inscriptions. During the rule of the Vijayanagar Empire, the Mysore kingdom served as a feudatory, gaining sovereignty after the empire fell in 1565 CE. Till the year 1610, when Srirangapatna was acquired, Mysore was the center of Wodeyar administration. It became the capital of the Kingdom of Mysore after the death of Tippu Sultan at the end of the Anglo-Mysore Wars in 1799 ^[2].

The administrative center was shifted to Bangalore in 1831, when the British moved their garrison from Srirangapatnam (on the outskirts of Mysore) to the Bangalore Cantonment. Mysore once again became the capital of the kingdom in 1881 with the rendition of power by the British to the Wodeyars. Most present day historical landmarks, and the organisation of the city of Mysore, were inspirations of the Wodeyar kings and their Dewans. Plans for organised development of the city exist from as far back as 1904. The period between 1910-1945 is considered the most important in the modernization of the kingdom. Several industries (including a steel mill) were begun, an efficient railway system was constructed, as was a network of irrigation canals, art and culture flourished under the patronage of royalty, and the educational system was revamped.

Mysore palace

Mysore is called the City of Palaces as a result of the number of palaces situated in the city, including Amba Vilas (Main Mysore Palace), Rajendra Vilas (the summer palace, situated on the Chamundi hills) and Jayalakshmi Vilas (now in the University of Mysore premises). The main palace of Mysore was burnt down in 1897, and the present day structure was built on the same site. The palace exhibits a mixture of Dravidian, Indo-Saracenic, Roman and Oriental architectural styles. Even though the Government of Karnataka now maintains the Mysore palace, a small portion of the palace has been allocated for the erstwhile Royal family to live in. The Jayalakshmi Vilas Mansion was constructed by Sri Chamaraja Wodeyar for his daughter Jayalakshammanni. It is now a museum dedicated to folk culture. A new gallery is being added for artefacts and collections of the Wodeyars of Mysore.

[edit] Climate

Mysore lies in the tropics, with summer temperatures ranging from 21 to 34 degrees Celsius, while winter sees the temperatures dropping down to from 12 to 30 degrees Celsius. The city gets an average of 86 centimetres of rain annually, most of it during the monsoon, in the June–October period.

[edit] Economy

Industries, including those manufacturing tyres (Vikrant Tyres), textiles (K. R. Mills, now Atlantic Mills), electronic systems (Larsen & Toubro), earthmoving and mechanical systems (BEML), silk (KSIC) and those producing software (Infosys, Wipro, SPI (Software Paradigms International, COMAT), along with education and tourism (centered around numerous attractions and the Dushera Festival), are significant contributors to the economy of Mysore.

Infosys has established its training center with an investment of over 65 mn$, and with a training capacity of about 4,500 people in Mysore. Wipro has its Global Service Management Center (GSMC) for serving the eastern markets here. This center also serves as a backup to Wipro's Global Command Center in Bangalore.

Mysore contributed Rs 370 crores to Karnataka's Rs 38,000 crore IT exports in 2005. There are a number of small IT companies that make a significant contribution, albeit inconspicuously (unlike the big IT companies). Efforts are being made by the current state administration to persuade IT companies to move to Mysore, to ease the infrastructure burden on Bangalore and enhance the overall development of the state.

Education and research at the University of Mysore, Defence Food Research Laboratory (DFRL), Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), Central Sericultural Research & Training Institute (CSRTI), Central Institute of Plastics Engineering and Technology (CIPET), All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH), Karnataka State Open University (KSOU), Regional Institute of Education, The University School of Design (Architecture) and various medical, dental, pharmacy, engineering, and science colleges contribute to the economy and academic reputation of Mysore.

Articles made of silk, ivory and sandalwood are some of the most famous products of Mysore, making significant contributions towards commerce. Among several handicrafts retailing stores, RAMSONS, which is located right in front of the Mysore Zoo, is the largest and grandest of all. The divisional headquarters of Mysore Division and the Railway Station are other major employers.

The economy experienced reverses during the last few decades, as some of the major industries like Ideal Jawa (automobiles) and K. R. Mills (textiles) closed down and several people became unemployed. However some revival efforts, like those of K. R. Mills (Atlantic Mills), helped improve the situation. In recent years the software industry has grown and could expand further to become the most significant contributor.

Infrastructural improvements in progress, such as the doubling of railway tracks and the building of a four lane expressway between Mysore and Bangalore, are expected to bring significant growth to the economy of Mysore.

[edit] Government and Politics

The city is governed by the Mysore City Corporation (forming the legislative branch), led by a Mayor, and composed of 64 elected corporators. The city is divided into wards which elect the corporators. Officials such as the District Commissioner, Health Officer, Officers in charge of the Water Works, Sewage form part of the executive branch. The annual budget of the Corporation for the year 2005-2006 was Rs. 9088.46 lakh (US$ 19.6 Million).

MUDA (Mysore Urban Development Authority) is responsible for the creation of new sections (layouts), zoning and expansion of the city.

The Mysore Zilla Parishat is responsible for the rural sections of the taluk.

Mysore has become the first Indian city to be Wi-Fi enabled.^[3] Mysore is also one of the cities participating in an initiative to create an eGovernance system across the state of Karnataka [1].

[edit] Transport

Inside the Mysore railway station

State highways 17, 33, 86, 88 pass through Mysore connecting it to nearby cities. The existing four-lane road linking Mysore to Bangalore is being upgraded to a six-lane highway, thus significantly reducing the commute time. Mysore is the railway junction for the district, and rail lines connect Mysore city to Bangalore to the northeast via Mandya, the rail junction at Hassan to the northwest, and Chamarajanagar via Nanjangud to the south east. The nearest airport is at Bangalore. The Mandkalli Airport, approximately 4 miles from the city, is currently inoperative, although paragliding and, occasionally, aeroplane rides are offered at this location. A memorandum of understanding is expected to be signed by the Karnataka government and the Airports Authority of India, leading to the redesign and extension of the airport.

Mysore has intra-city, inter-city and suburban public bus transportation. Traditional means of transport available in other Indian cities like Autorickshaws and Taxis are also available. Tongas (horse drawn carriages) are also available, but usage is declining.

[edit] Demographics

The population of the city was 7.87 lakhs (787,000), according to the census, last conducted in 2001. The urban population is estimated to be around 8.2 lakhs (820,000), Hindus making up the bulk of populatiom, Muslims number around 25% [[2]] [[3]] while Christians, Jains and Buddhists number about 7% of the population. The literacy rate of urban Mysore is considerably higher than that of the state average, at 82.8%. A majority of the city's population speak Kannada, while the other languages Tamil, Hindi and Urdu are also spoken.

[edit] Culture

Mysore Dasara
Dasara is the Nadahabba (state festival) of Karnataka. Mysore is well known for the festivities that take place during this period. Also termed as Navaratri (meaning nine-nights), it is a ten day festival usually held during the months of September and October. During this period, various cultural and religious programs highlighting the arts and culture of Karnataka and India are held. The Mysore palace is illuminated on all ten days and prominent cultural programs are held in the palace grounds. The festivities begin with a pooja performed to the Goddess Chamundeshwari atop the Chamundi Hills in the presence of the Wodeyar royal couple, high ranking officials of the State and other invitees.

Spiritual tourism
Mysore was the home of the father of modern yoga, Krishnamacharya; he taught at Mysore Palace until his shala was closed in 1950 after India gained independence. It was because of Krishnamacharya that Mysore became renowned as a mecca for yoga. Many Mysore yoga instructors draw international students for extended yoga programs, including Venkatesh Iyengar and Pattabhi Jois, who stayed on even after Krishanmacharya moved to Chennai. Teachers of Sanskrit, kirtan chant, Ayurveda and other yogic forms are readily available. The Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute, the Sri Ganapati Sachidananda Ashram and the Indus Valley Ayurvedic Center all welcome visitors. In addition to traditional Hindu spiritual methods, courses are available in Osho meditation, the Art of Living, Reiki, Breema, and many other systems.

[edit] Education

Mysore is reputed for the quality and breadth of its academic and research institutions. A variety of research organizations conduct pioneering activity in the areas of food technology, Indian languages, Rare Earth materials, speech and hearing, sericulture, etc.. Higher education can be pursued in disciplines that range from liberal arts and humanities to law, design, management, architecture, pharmacology, dental sciences, science, medicine and engineering.

Modern education in the city had its beginnings in the foundation of the Free English School in 1833. Christian Missionaries also started several schools, imparting mainly English education, in the 19th century. The Maharaja's College was founded to impart higher education in 1864. The first High School had been established in 1858 in the kingdom, in Bangalore. Secondary education in the city initially comprised a three year course after the Eighth Grade, which was slightly different from the scheme followed by neighbouring principalities, but a uniform pattern and syllabus was implemented in the city as well as the rest of Karnataka in 1963. The current pattern of a two year Pre-University Course was introduced in 1972. The Kindergarten system of education was popular by the end of the 19th century, and was run mainly by private enterprises.

The importance of training teachers was also recognized fairly early in the 19th century. A school for training teachers was established in the city in 1860. Another was founded in 1893. Maharani's College (itself founded in 1881) began training classes for women in 1888. A Zanana School for Urdu Teachers began functioning in 1916. The faculty of Education was begun in the University of Mysore in 1952.

The National Institute of Engineering, established in 1946 in the city, was one of the first engineering colleges in the country. The Mysore Medical College, affiliated to the University, was the seventh such college in the country. Established in 1917 as the Mysore Medical School at Bangalore, it was upgraded to a college in 1924, and re-located to Mysore in 1930.

Today, academics in Mysore centres mostly around the University of Mysore. It was one of the earliest institutions of its kind in India - the first University outside British dominions in the country, and only the sixth across the country. Established in 1916, it began with four broad disciplines, Arts, Science, Technology and Medicine, and 28 subjects. Today, the University campus, called Manasagangotri (Fountainhead of the Mind), occupies around 740 acres of verdant land, and conducts post-graduate courses in over 40 disciplines. One of the libraries under its control, the Oriental Research Institute, is renowned for the discovery of a manuscript of Chanakya's Arthashastra amongst its collections.

[edit] Media

Radio
Mysore established its first radio station, called Akashvani (voice from the skies), in 1936 largely due to the efforts of Dr. M.V. Gopalaswamy a professor of psychology at the University of Mysore. Akashvani was adopted as the official name of All India Radio in 1957. The Mysore radio station was taken over by the state in 1941. Kuvempu delivered the inaugural address, Incidentally, he also delivered the address commemorating the Golden Jubliee of the station in 1986. At the time of its inception the station was guided by noted Kannada essayist, A. N. Moorthy Rao (Professor, English Literature, University of Mysore) as director.

A Frequency Modulated radio channel broadcast by AIR (Akashvani) is available on 100.6 MHz frequency in and around Mysore city.

Newspapers
The earliest efforts to begin newspapers in Mysore were crushed in 1894 under the British Raj. Sadhvi was a Kannada newspaper that used to be published in Mysore. Newspapers now being published in Mysore, in Kannada or English, include the Prajavani and its sister newspaper the Deccan Herald (first published in 1948), the Star of Mysore, its Kannada edition Mysore Mitra (1978), Samachar (first published in Kannada as Samachara and later as Samachar in English in 1950) and Andolana (Kannada edition). While the Star of Mysore is published in tabloid format, the others are published in broadsheet format. The Times of India launched a Mysore edition in 2005.

At one point, there were more than a 100 news publications in Mysore, and it was considered to have the most number of news publications in India. These publications acted as one of the major ways of rising up against the British occupation as well as against the cast based ruling class. (citation needed).

[edit] Sports

Mysore has a tradition of wrestling, football and kho-kho. Mysoreans have represented India at various international tournaments in football and wrestling. Athletics, Cricket, Swimming and Tennis have emerged as sports that the City's sportspersons have taken to. Javagal Srinath, Prahlad Srinath, Mohit Vijaykumar, Madhu Nagaraja and Reeth Abraham are examples.

The Mysore University has a sports program equipped with excellent infrastructure for athletics, tennis, gymnastics, basketball, hockey and cricket. A swimming pool maintained by the University at Saraswathipuram caters to the needs of the swimming fraternity.

The National Games of India were held in Mysore in 1999. Infrastructure was further enhanced as a result, a new Indoor stadium was constructed with a seating capacity of 3000 at the Chamundivihar Sports complex.

The Wodeyars were keen followers of horse racing, and the Race Club of Mysore stands testimony of the interest. The Jayachamaraja Wodeyar Golf Club has 18 holes around the race course.

The Department of Youth Services and Sports, Mysore is constructing an international standard swimming pool adjacent to the Chamundivihar Indoor stadium. The Mysore Tennis club, which began in August 1969 with 2 courts, has now expanded to 8 courts.