If you are tired and desperately need a vacation, you might want to consider taking a tour to Mysore in Karnataka, India. Vacations India brings to you South India Holiday packages to give you the chance of experiencing this wonderful city, Mysore, also known as "Mahishasurana Ooru". You might have guessed it already, this name also has a story behind it, just as you find a story behind the names of most cities in South India. "Mahishasurana Ooru" means the town of Mahishasura. It is believed that the Goddess Chamundeshwari killed Mahishasura atop the Chamundi hills, which is close to Mysore, and this is how the town received its name.

Mysore is a very important city in terms of tourism for Karnataka. It has many places one can visit while taking a South Indian holiday, such as the Maharaja's Palace, the Chamundeshwari temple, the Zoological gardens and the Brindavan Gardens.

Most South Indian Holiday packages include a visit to the Palace in Mysore, which was built in 1912 and is decorated beautifully with domes and carvings and is home to the golden Royal Elephant throne. During the weekends, the whole palace lights up with thousands of lights, making it appear even more beautiful. With its four arched entrances and Darbar Hall, the palace is a "must see" for the visitors and it usually is included in most South India Holiday packages.

Another place you might want to take a tour to is the Chamundi Hills, about 13 Kms from Mysore. It can be approached by stairs and midway on the climb you would notice a huge statue of Nandi (bull) carved out of a single stone. At the top, is the temple to Goddess Chamundeswari, the same one who annihilated the demon "mahishasura" It is one of the places that tourists like to visit in Karnataka since it is unique and has a story of its own.

Now your holiday travel package to South India is not complete if you take a tour to Mysore and not visit Brindavan Gardens. It is one of the best places in Karnataka. It is located at the KR Sagar Dam, and is spread over an area of 150 acres. In 2004, the whole garden was given a new look and now it has more fountains and lights making it a wonderful experience for tourists and visitors.

Jayachamarajendra Zoological Gardens is one of the best since it houses many rare animals. The zoo is said to have more than 2000 species of birds and animals. What sets this zoo in Mysore, Karnataka apart from others is that many animals in the endangered species list have even reproduced here in captivity. So, if you are holidaying with your family or have simply taken a south India holiday package you will find yourself very fortunate in being able to see many animals up close that are very near to extinction.

Besides these there are other numerous location in or around Mysore, worth a visit. Such as the Srirangapattnam, St. Philomena's church and Mysore Rail Museum. Vacations India can be contacted for a south India holiday package tour that would include most of these places in Mysore. So leave all your worries and mundane work behind and come to Mysore to experience the Indian culture and beautiful man-made structures. So make this holiday a South Indian Holiday and enjoy the time with your family and loved ones. Vacations India promises it will be a trip you'd thoroughly enjoy and you would find many moments worth capturing on your camera. So keep those handy and take a tour to Mysore for a perfect holiday experience.