Mysore was once the capital of the Wodeyar kingdom and is still one of the finest cities in south India. Most famous for its silk, it has a thriving sandal-wood and incense trade. It is also the home of many well regarded musicians and artists.

Mysore silk is well known for its quality and everlasting lustre. The silk factory (Karnataka supplies 70% of India's silk) and the sandal-wood factory (which extracts the oil from sandalwood) are located towards the southern end of the town. Mysore had several lakes, all of which have been dried and are being used as open fields today. The Maharaja's walled palace is another major attraction.