Mysuru is seeing a sharp increase in tourist activity ahead of this year’s Dasara celebrations, with trial displays of the festival’s signature electric illumination drawing crowds to major roads, junctions and landmarks across the city. The early visitor surge is also contributing to traffic congestion around the palace and increasing demand for hotel rooms, restaurants and local food businesses, according to a report by Prajavani.
Mysuru Dasara is scheduled to be held from October 11 to 21. The formal switch-on of the city’s electric decorations is scheduled for the evening of October 11, but lighting has already been tested for several days at prominent roads and circles. The displays have made parts of the city visible as a festival zone even before the official opening.
The areas attracting visitors include K.R. Circle and roads around the Amba Vilas Palace, Albert Victor Road, New Hundred Feet Road, Sayyaji Rao Road, the road opposite the Zilla Panchayat office and Hunsur Road. The palace surroundings and other major junctions have become gathering points for residents and tourists seeking to view the decorations and record them on their phones.
The increased footfall is also being linked to the wider circulation of short videos, or reels, on social media. Prajavani reported that more reels than in previous years are being shared online, encouraging people to visit the illuminated roads before the festival formally begins. The combination of early lighting, school and college holidays and the approaching Dasara programme has created a festive atmosphere across the city.
Traffic congestion has been reported on important roads around the palace and other busy locations. The crowds are not limited to the illumination sites. Visitors are also arriving at the Amba Vilas Palace, the Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens and Chamundi Hill, which are among Mysuru’s principal tourist destinations.
The Dasara elephant training procession from the palace premises along the royal route towards Bannimantap is another draw. People are gathering to watch the elephants during their practice sessions and to take photographs and videos. The activity is adding to visitor movement around the palace precinct and the route used for the training.
The arrival of tourists is benefiting hotels, restaurants, messes and eateries serving Mysuru’s well-known dishes, including Mysuru pak, dosa varieties and biryani. These businesses are reported to be filling up as demand rises. Hotel room rents have also increased, and further increases are possible during the main Dasara period and as the Vijayadashami procession approaches, the report said.
The developments highlight the immediate pressure that a major city festival places on movement, accommodation and public spaces. For residents and visitors, the most visible effects so far are crowded tourist sites, slower traffic near the palace and higher costs for accommodation. The formal inauguration of the electric illumination on October 11 will mark the next major milestone in the city’s Dasara calendar.
