Getting there

Bangalore to Mysore

~1 h 40 – 2 h 15

From Bangalore, Mysore is about two hours by train, which makes it one of the easiest trips out of the city, even for a day. Trains and KSRTC buses both leave from Majestic in the centre, and the bus needs no booking at all. A car is slower than the new expressway suggests, but it is the only option that lets you stop on the way.

← Mysore

Trainbest option

Vande Bharat from KSR Bengaluru (Majestic), chair car; does not run one day a week

⏱ ~1 h 40 – 2 h 15 · ~₹480–660

Bus

Ordinary buses and Volvo AC coaches

⏱ ~2–2.5 h · ~₹183–664 depending on the class

By car

Taxi with a driver, NH-275

⏱ ~2.5–3 h door to door · ~₹2,500–3,500

Transport and routes in the app

Getting there, getting around and ready-made routes in India GO.

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Where to board in Bangalore

Trains: the Vande Bharat to Mysore leaves from KSR Bengaluru City (Majestic), not from SMVT, and takes about 1 h 40 min to 2 h 15 min. Both services come through from Chennai and each skips one day of the week, so check the day first. Reserved tickets go on sale 60 days ahead on IRCTC, the Indian Railways booking site; slower expresses fill the rest of the day, down to a second-class seat for about ₹80 (approx., August 2026).

Buses: KSRTC coaches leave Kempegowda Bus Station, also at Majestic, every 15–30 minutes. You buy at the counter and go, so a missed train costs you half an hour, not the day. KSRTC also runs Mysore buses from its Mysuru Road bus station.

Getting to Majestic: the Purple and Green metro lines meet there. In Bangalore traffic the metro is the safest way to make a train.

✅ Which option suits whom

Approximate times and fares, India GO data checked in August 2026.

Train: the default — The fastest and usually the cheapest way. Take it if you can book a seat or are happy in second class.
Bus: no planning at all — Ordinary buses and Volvo AC coaches, about 2–2.5 hours and ₹183–664 depending on the class. The answer when trains are sold out or plans change.
Taxi: luggage, family, stops — A car with a driver costs about ₹2,500–3,500 and takes 2.5–3 hours door to door. The 118 km expressway, opened in 2023, is quick; getting out of central Bangalore adds up to an hour on a bad day.

Worth stopping for on the road

The expressway runs past several places people usually visit from Mysore, so with a car they fit into the drive itself.

Channapatna: the town of lacquered wooden toys. A workshop visit, where the wood is turned and polished against a stick of lac, combines well with a Bangalore–Mysore road day.
Srirangapatna: the island town on the Kaveri, Tipu Sultan's capital, just before Mysore.
Karighatta Hill: just off the highway near Srirangapatna, with a road or 450 steps up to a hilltop temple above two rivers meeting. The tour buses drive straight past it.
Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary: a rowing boat among nesting storks and pelicans on Kaveri islets, about fifteen minutes from Srirangapatna.

Arriving in Mysore

Mysuru Junction is about 2 km from the palace, a short auto-rickshaw ride. Mysore rickshaws really do use the meter (about ₹11 per km, minimum ₹20–30), so ask for it before you sit down: a flat price offered up front is almost always higher. For a day trip, the palace opens at 10:00, and on Sundays and public holidays it is lit up in the evening from 19:00, a reason to take a late bus or train back. The city is flat, small and laid out on a grid, which makes it one of the rare Indian cities calm enough for a rented scooter (from about ₹400 a day). More on getting around Mysore.

Dasara: the busiest weeks of the year

Mysuru Dasara runs from 11 to 21 October in 2026, with the procession on the 21st. Transport and hotels are booked solid and prices roughly double; a night in Mysore itself means booking about three months out. During the festival the palace illumination runs every evening, 19:00–22:00 in 2026. In 2025 South Western Railway added an unreserved special at 04:30 from SMVT Bengaluru, reaching Mysuru at 07:50 for the procession day; specials are announced each year. More on Mysuru Dasara.

❓ FAQ

What is the best way to travel from Bangalore to Mysore?

The train: about two hours on the fastest services from KSR Bengaluru City. The KSRTC bus is the easy backup, leaving every 15–30 minutes with no booking.

Is Vande Bharat available from Bangalore to Mysore?

Yes. Two Vande Bharats run from Chennai through KSR Bengaluru City to Mysore, each six days a week. The ride takes about 1 h 40 min to 2 h 15 min and costs about ₹480–660 in chair car (approx., August 2026).

How much does a taxi from Bangalore to Mysore cost?

About ₹2,500–3,500 for a car with a driver, 2.5–3 hours door to door (approx., August 2026).

How far is Mysore from Bangalore?

About 140 km, according to Karnataka Tourism; the expressway between the cities is 118 km long.

Can I do Mysore as a day trip from Bangalore?

Yes, by train it is about two hours each way. Arrive for the palace opening at 10:00, and on a Sunday stay for the evening illumination before heading back.

Sources (4)