Brindavan Garden
18th Main Rd, Karnataka, India, 560041
By some accounts, it took Sir Mirza Ismail—a local dewan (chief officer)—about five years to build Brindavan Garden, a seemingly endless expanse of manicured green with famed musical “dancing” fountains. A marvel of a terrace garden modeled after the Shalimar Gardens of Kashmir, Brindavan makes for a dramatic sight below the Krishnaraja Sagara Dam, and is a must-see from Mysore.
The basics
Brindavan Garden is massive, covering more than 60 acres (24 hectares) over three main terraces. In addition to seeing the fountains, visitors can admire illuminated garden beds, boat around a lake, and purchase seeds and saplings from the nursery. (If you wish to travel internationally with your purchases, check your country’s restrictions first.)
While you can pay the nominal entrance fee and spend hours (or a full day) exploring the garden, it’s a bit of a challenge to reach from Mysore. Some full-day tours from the city make it easier by providing transportation and making additional stops at the Sultan Summer Palace and other attractions along the way.
Things to know before you go
The garden has a children’s play area to keep your kids entertained.
Prepare to snap pictures, as the garden is photogenic—but keep in mind that videography is prohibited.
There’s a low admission fee, discounted for children 5–10 years old.
How to get there
Brindavan Garden lies along the Kaveri River about 14 miles (22 kilometers) north of Mysore, in India's southwestern state of Karnataka. From the city, it’s about a 30–40-minute drive along the KRS road; if you’re using public transportation, take bus #303 or #303A to the Boating Point stop to reach the garden.
When to get there
Visiting just before sunset to stroll the garden during the golden hour and watch the musical fountain and garden light shows (typically held after sunset, daily) is a treat. Generally, the best time to visit Mysore is in the winter from November through February, since the summer is punishingly hot and the monsoon season (roughly from July to September) has heavy rains.
How to see Brindavan Garden’s musical fountain show
The musical fountain show is one of the highlights of Brindavan Garden. To see the show, which consists of a harmonized water dance accompanied by lights and music, pay the admission fee and make your way across the Kaveri River to the north side of the garden. Shows begin at 6:30pm, and run longer on the weekends.
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