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Devaraja Market, Mysore
Devaraja Market is the old city bazaar of Mysore, on Sayaji Rao Road in the centre, a short walk from the palace. It has traded since 1886: mounds of flowers for garlands, pyramids of kumkum in every colour, spices, fruit, incense and sandalwood goods. It is free to walk through, noisy, colourful and one of the most photogenic places in the city.
If you want to feel the living Mysore, stop by Devaraja Market, one of the city's oldest markets, right in the center.
It's a classic Indian bazaar: mounds of flowers for garlands, pyramids of kumkum in every color, spices, fruit, bananas, incense sticks. Here you can also price out sandalwood goods and souvenirs. It's a colorful, noisy, very photogenic place, and a great walk between the palace and the cafés.
The old city bazaar
What you find inside
It is a classic Indian bazaar, laid out along three long aisles under wooden rafters. The flower section is the heart of it: blossoms heaped in mounds for garlands, the smell thick and sweet. Then come the powder stalls with kumkum (the red and coloured powders used in worship) shaped into neat cones, the spice sellers, the banana and fruit rows, incense and essential oils.
- Kumkum and spices: the pyramids of colour are the classic photograph, and small packets make light souvenirs.
- Sandalwood: Mysore is known for it; this is a good place to price sandalwood goods and oils before buying.
- Flowers and incense: garlands and incense sticks are bought here for home shrines and temples.
Ask before photographing a trader up close.
History and the fight to save the building
The market dates from 1886 and was named in 1925 after Dodda Devaraja Wadiyar, a ruler of Mysore. It covers 3.67 acres; in 2017 it held 1,122 shops employing more than 3,000 people and drew 8,000–10,000 visitors a day.
The old building has had a hard time: fires in 1981, 1990 and 1999, and in August 2016 the north entrance gate collapsed from structural weakness. Karnataka then moved to demolish and rebuild it, and the case went to the Supreme Court. In August 2026 the court ordered the market and the nearby Lansdowne Building protected and restored rather than demolished. The city corporation is preparing a restoration project, so parts of the market may be under repair in the coming years.
How to fit it into a day
The market sits between the palace and the cafés of the centre, so it makes a natural walk on the way from one to the other. No official opening hours are published; come in the morning, when it is cooler. Carry small notes, keep your bag in front of you in the crowd, and take your time: the market rewards slow walking more than shopping lists.
❓ FAQ
What is Devaraja Market in Mysore famous for?
Flowers, kumkum powders, spices, fruit, incense and sandalwood goods, in a bazaar building that dates from 1886.
What is special to buy in Mysore?
Sandalwood goods and oils are the city's classic purchase; Devaraja Market is a good place to compare prices, along with kumkum and spices.
Is there an entry fee?
No, the market is free to walk through.
Is Devaraja Market going to be demolished?
No. In August 2026 the Supreme Court ordered the building protected and restored instead of demolished.