Mysore is undoubtedly a treasure trove of stunning places to visit, offering great experiences. While there are several tourist attractions that cater to different kind of travellers, Mysore Zoo is one of the places loved by everyone. With so much to explore and experience, it is one of the top places in the region, attracting tourists from far and wide. This year, I had the opportunity to visit this captivating zoo. I reached the Mysuru Zoo at around 11.30 am, on the second day of my trip.

As soon as I entered in mysuru zoo, the first thing I realised was that the entire region was incredibly clean. I absolutely loved the sight of beautiful giraffes eating leaves from the trees. The leopard cubs playing with their mom and dad was an incredible moment too. Then I proceeded to the area with monkeys. They were so playful and were jumping around within their cages. The hippopotamus enjoying an afternoon nap and elephants roaming around with their mates are just some of the views we captured in our hearts. The white peacock dancing with its wings was surely the highlight for me. The best part was that they had put up a board close to every cage with a list of some interesting facts about the animals and birds.

When I wanted to take a break from the tour, I went to the corridor. There were plenty of benches to sit on. Plus, the entire area was surrounded by lush greenery that added to the serene calm of the place. Thanks to the lovely animals, pristine beauty, and cleanliness, my trip to Mysore Zoo was truly a memorable one.

Mysore Zoo is an outstanding but underrated facility. The setup and maintenance are comparable to other great zoos of the world. It was established in 1892 on just 10 acres and opened to public in 1902. Over the years, the zoo was expanded several times with the most significant one being the 150 acre acquisition of Karanji reservoir in which a sanctuary for birds was set up. The Zoo Authority of Karnataka, an autonomous organization has managed the zoo since 1979 and they do a wonderful job - funding mostly comes from the meager entrance fees: Rs 25 for adults and Rs 10 for kids. The hours are 8:30 to 5:30PM (Tuesday holiday). It is around 3.5KM of leisurely walk around the zoo - another option is to go with a group in a battery operated vehicle for Rs 100. It took us around two hours to cover the zoo on foot. The facility hosts around 1500 animals and has the distinction of being the first zoo in the country to host gorillas and penguins. Captive breeding of many rare species is an area of expertize at the zoo - they have successfully bred the white tiger and many elephants.

It can be fairly exhausting to cov”r these two attractions the same day but with good planning it is very doable. We returned back to the hotel by early evening, took an early dinner, and then hired an otto (tuk-tuk) to experience the illumination

Nisargadhama Ecological Park is tucked between a lush coverage of bamboo groves and a serene Kaveri river. Standing at a distance of 28 km from Coorg, this place amplifies the overall beauty of Coorg. Stretched across a land cover of 64 acres, this place is abundantly blessed with a good variety of flora and fauna.

As soon as you reach here, there’s a hanging rope bridge. This hanging bridge is your roadway to gain access to the Nisargadhama. The place homes to myriads of wildlife. Deers, peacocks, rabbits are amongst the most notable ones. There’s a small playground for children and an orchidarium. The orchidarium displays numerous orchid species blooming all over.

Nisargadhama is covered all over with a thick foliage cover of sandalwood and teak trees and bamboo groves. Boating, elephant riding, and sightseeing are the fun-filled adventures here. River Kaveri is the place meant to enjoy your boating adventure. Make sure to check the exact boating points with the forest department officials. Some spots are so shallow that you won’t be allowed to reach there. 

Namdroling Monastery: If you are here in Madikeri for a more extended stay, do make it a point to attend the one-month retreat session of Namdroling Monastery. Also, do try the stuff being sold at the shops here.

Boating: The reason why tourists prefer this spot as a weekend getaway is due to the bosting activity here. However, tourists who want to indulge in boating activity here are prohibited from visiting all places. Some points are shallow which are inaccessible for either to walk along or enjoy boating there.

Elephant ride: Thrill-seeking adventurers have an excellent opportunity to find some relaxation here with an elephant ride.

Sightseeing: The spot itself is a fun, adventurous spot where you can enjoy a one day picnic with your friends and family. Rabbit Park and Deer Park within this zone are favourite spots amongst the family tourists visiting here. The moment you step in, you can mark the presence of different species of rabbits, peacocks, and deer here. Last but not least, the mini zoo here is worthy of visiting if you are fond of birds such as bee-eaters, parakeets, woodpeckers, and so on.

Dubare elephant camp is a forest camp situated on the banks of the Kaveri river in the Coorg region of Karnataka. It’s a place where elephants are kept in captivity and trained by the mahouts. In recent years, considerable effort has been made to develop and promote the place as an excursion site for tourists visiting Coorg. It is located 3 km off the Mysore-Madikeri highway near Kushalnagar and has been developed as a day destination especially for those looking for some easy adventure mostly with family and friends.

The camp Is situated on the opposite bank of the river. There are boats to ferry the visitors but those are seldom used and visitors mostly cross the river on foot trudging through the shallow waters; of course, this depends on the season and the water level. Crossing the entire river on foot is an adventure in itself and something which can hardly be done anywhere else. The water is clean, however, you must be extremely cautious while walking over the slippery rocks and avoid carrying anything that weighs you down.

One and half hours should be enough to explore this place, 45 mins to cross the river both ways and another 45 mins in the camp area. The fun part is crossing the river and not the camp which is pretty average. It may be exciting for kids or for those who have lived entirely in the cities, otherwise, there isn’t much there.