Mysuru Ambari bus rides have recorded a sharp rise in demand as tourists continue to use Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation’s double-decker buses to view the city’s Dasara illumination. More than 8,000 people had used the service by Saturday, according to a report by Prajavani and comments from KSTDC Mysuru manager K.R. Madhuraj.
The Ambari buses operate on an 8-9 kilometre route through central Mysuru, covering major roads, circles, heritage landmarks and the area around the palace. Each lighting tour lasts between one hour and one hour 15 minutes, allowing visitors to view the illuminated streets from the open upper deck and the lower deck.
KSTDC has made six Ambari buses available in Mysuru. Four buses were deployed during the Navaratri period, while two others were brought back after completing Dasara-related operations in Tumakuru. All six buses are now being used for visitors and others interested in the illumination tours.
The service had earlier seen stronger demand mainly on weekends and public holidays. The Dasara lighting has increased ridership during the festival period and the holidays that followed it. According to Madhuraj, the corporation expects more than 12,000 people to use the service this season, which would be a record for the Ambari operations in Mysuru.
The buses begin their rounds near the Mayura Hoysala Hotel on JLB Road. The route passes the old Deputy Commissioner’s Office, Ekalavya Circle, Ramaswamy Circle, the road opposite the Sanskrit Pathashala, Gun House Circle, the Jayamarthanda Gate of Mysuru Palace, K.R. Circle, Sayyaji Rao Road, the Government Ayurveda College and the railway station before returning to JLB Road and ending near the Mayura Hoysala Hotel.
Fares have been fixed at ₹250 for the lower deck and ₹500 for the upper deck. During Dasara, four buses operated three trips on weekdays at 6.30 pm, 8 pm and 9.30 pm. All the trips were reported to be full. Because of heavier traffic, the service was reduced to two trips on Saturdays and Sundays, at 6.30 pm and 8 pm.
Visitors are currently permitted to board only if they book online through the KSTDC website. The restriction is significant because demand has exceeded the regular seating capacity, particularly at the Mayura Hoysala Hotel boarding point. Madhuraj said the buses were operating full and that, with passengers’ consent, six to eight additional people were being allowed on each bus to prevent visitors from leaving disappointed. These additional passengers travel standing.
The open upper deck has also made the service particularly popular among younger visitors, many of whom use the ride to photograph the illuminated city streets. The combination of heritage landmarks, festival lighting and a moving elevated viewpoint has turned the buses into a tourism service as well as a temporary way of experiencing Mysuru’s central public spaces.
KSTDC said the lighting-round service will continue as long as the Dasara illumination remains in place. The corporation’s expected passenger figure and continued bookings will determine how long the expanded service remains in operation after the festival period.