Women Prayers Carrying Offerings At Nandi Temple, Mysore, India, 2008 (photo)

Mysore is located in the Indian state of Karnataka and was called until 1947 Kingdom of Mysore; the city is a top tourist destination in India, famous for its building and palaces, its traditional painting, silk, sandalwood and incense; the main attraction in town is the majestic Mysore Palace, residence of the maharajas, and fully illuminated by 97, 000 electric bulbs at night on Sunday and during the Dussehra festival, giving an outstanding display of lights; Mysore homes several noteworthy focus such as the Lalitha Mahal Palace; the neo-gothic Saint Philomena’s Cathedral; the colourful typical Devaraja market; the Chamundi’s Hill with on its top the Sri Chamundeswari Temple dedicated to Chamundi, the deity of Mysore; halfway to the top of the Hill take a look on giant statue of Nandi the bull, Lord Shiva’s mount; around Mysore there is a island town called Srirangapatnam that is well worth a visit for its Sri Ranganatha Temple, the summer Palace (Daria Daulat Bagh) of Tipu Sultan and his stunning mausoleum (Gumbaz)