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Mysore is a culturally rich city, which is located 143 kilometers away from Bengaluru, the capital of south Indian state, Karnataka. When you travel to this city, note that you will be heading to an extravagant shopping destination, which is famous for its silk sarees, rosewood artifacts, sandalwood products, coffee powder, and sumptuous sweets to name a few. Simply put, Mysore is nothing less than a beautiful blessing for every shopaholic out there. The very idea of shopping for the massively popular Mysore silk saree is something that one cannot miss when thinking of ‘shopping in Mysore’.
Mysore and shopping are just inseparable. This accounts to be one of the few traditional places in the country, where you can buy straight from the source, which fruitfully guarantees authentic products at genuine prices. For centuries, the city of ancient Mysore has been known for silk, sandalwood, and sweets and this tradition continues to this day and that explains why shopping in Mysore is a truly fulfilling experience. There are several marketplaces in the city, which thrive to bring you eclectic produce of either locally handmade items or a rich variety of imported goods. These places have been designed to cater to the diverse needs of the clientele and fit every budget.
Not just a shopper’s delight but it is also a seamless blend of old-world charm with modern trends. You can get lost in the vibrant bazaars and pick up local handicrafts such as wooden dolls and incense sticks, or head to a swanky new mall for the latest brands and eateries.
This place is a treat for those of you who wish to indulge in the local flavours of the city. Tagged as the oldest market complex in the city, it is a great place to experience the colour, noise, vibrancy and incoherent chaos associated with traditional Indian markets. The best way to walk through the full length of the market is to enter from one of the two main entrances at the ends. As such there are four entrances to the market; one on Dhanvanthri Road in the south, one opposite Duffer in Clock Tower in the north, and two entrances to the center of the main complex on the Sayyaji Rao Road.
The market is filled with incense shops, various shops selling traditional household tools, local flowers, jewelry, vegetables, fruits, Kumkum, betel vine, banana leaves, perfumes, clothes seeds, and even some souvenir stalls. Since there is no cold storage here, everything is fresh and raw, straight from the farm to the market. Do remember to bargain for a great deal and satisfactory shopping experience.
The name of the market was coined after the then ruler, Maharaja Dodda Devaraja Wodeyar. According to legend, this market dates back to the reign of Tipu Sultan in the late 18th century. At that time it used to be a small weekly market where fresh vegetables and fruits were probably the most traded items, locally termed as Hatt. It is during the reign of Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar in the 1900s, the construction of this market took place.
This market was designed with individual sections dedicated to different types of products. For example, one section of the market was dedicated to fresh flowers while another deals solely with puja materials. Other prominent sections of the market include a segment for jaggery, beetroots, puffed rice, and coconut.
Today, the market has over 800 shops and is spread over 3 acres of land. It’s a must-visit to get a glimpse into the local life of Mysore. It bustles with activity throughout the seasons. It can get a little crowded and hectic, so avoid going there on the weekend as the market is popular with locals and tourists alike.
Would it not be nice if you could fetch some authentic real sandalwood directly from the factory and not go through the hustles of the local market? In that case, make sure to visit the renowned Government Sandalwood Oil Factory Mysore. Established in 1916, this factory not only permits you to grab items made of sandalwood but also allows you to get a guided tour of the factory to experience how the various products are produced.
You can choose from a diverse variety of sandalwood oil, sandalwood soaps, incense sticks, high-quality perfumes, cosmetics, detergents, and more. But this shopping trip can turn quite educational and informative as you get a chance to walk around the factory and see how they manufacture the products from scratch to finish. The oil that is used in the manufacture of soaps, incense, scents, and cosmetics; it also has a multitude of uses in religious rites, skin and hair therapeutic treatments, and in pharmaceuticals.
The sandalwood oil produced in Mysore accounts for a proud 70% of the whole of world’s sandalwood production. It is preferably used as an ideal “blender fixative” and is a major ingredient in the blending of numerous prominent perfumes in the world and hence is sold at a premium rate.
According to the Government Gazetteer, in order to preserve its importance in the Indian economy, the government introduced special laws and regulations to abide by. In 2006, it was listed as “Mysore Sandalwood Oil” under the GI Act 1999 of the Government of India.
Using these products provide many healing properties such as anti-ageing, anti-scarring and that too at quite affordable prices. Visit to learn about the magical attributes of sandalwood and on the way back shop for authentic variants of this wonder natural product.
This is definitely the best place to shop for silk at the cheapest prices as the exclusive fabric is made at this very place. Every saree of this place is unique in its design and the products are legendary and praised for its true quality, fine gold or zari motif and colour. Founded by the royal family of Mysore, the showrooms opened by this factory are usually crowded with locals as well as tourists. So, come to the Government Silk Factory and get a chance to see the master weavers at work while you shop for shimmering silks right away.
As they use real gold for the work, the prices can get a little steep. However, it offers the best in terms of quality and variety. It gets crowded over the weekend, so plan your trip accordingly. Keep in mind no photography is allowed inside. The sari is India’s traditional garment and in its silk form is primarily famous in the southern cities of India. The Mysore silk sari is much coveted by Indians and foreigners alike.
The factory has over 150 looms and imported warping, preparatory, and other types of machines. This factory is located behind the showroom where the silk sarees are sold at factory rates – meaning that you will get them far cheaper here than in the retail shops elsewhere in Mysore. You will be given a pass and then you can explore on your own. There are separate rooms within the factory, one room is devoted to loading silk threads on to large-sized bobbins, another for immersing the threads in the dyes and drying them, and a large room where the actual weaving looms are located. This is the room which is worth a visit – to see threads being magically transformed into silk fabrics at the hands of the master weavers. Especially fascinating is the way the finest gold threads are intricately incorporated into the borders, thus creating the typical zari borders, which are to be seen in the Mysore silk sarees. It is then that you truly realize and appreciate the artistry behind the making of every single piece of the Mysore silk saree.
In the Government Silk Factory Mysore showroom you will be equally dazzled by the finished creations, which include Georgettes and Crepe sarees, Embroidery Designed sarees, Tissue sarees, etc. The softness of the sarees and the superb variety of designs are worth spending on. What’s more, each of the sarees has a special embroidered number and hologram to ensure that you are getting the authentic Mysore silk saree. In addition to sarees, there are ties, handkerchiefs, neck ties, and stoles too. Hopefully, this should answer your query of what to buy in Mysore or more importantly where to buy the famous Mysore silk saree in the city.
Mall of Mysore is the first of its kind premium retail and entertainment destination mall in Mysore. It is amongst India’s best conceived shopping centres and statistically ranks third in the southern half of the malls in the nation. The centre has been designed to complement the changing perspectives and lifestyles of modern-day Mysore. Coupled with the exquisite state-of-the-art building systems add a superior design balancing the traditional look with the contemporary architecture.
The mall is home to luxury brand outlets, fine dining restaurants, food court, entertainment zones, 4-screen multiplex, and even a five-star hotel, Radisson Blu. All this and more can be found in the famous Mall of Mysore. Weekends get an alarming throng of visitors and parking your vehicle can be an issue. When you are here in this magnificent city, do swing by the Mall of Mysore, which has been conceptualised to redefine leisure experience in traditional Mysore.
Other popular markets in Mysore are Lansdowne building, Gandhi Square, shops around KR Circle, markets on Dhanvanthri Road and Ashoka Road. As is the case with most cities, Mysore is also under the invasion of consumerism and modern day commercial development. With every passing day, the city is witnessing gradual growth in its shopping culture. Call it the new age trend of shop till drop or the increase in disposable income, Mysore has been high on the list of shopping destinations in India. Some of the most important things to buy in Mysore include silk sarees, sculptures, sandal wood products, Mysore betel leaves, Coffee powder, Mysore rosewood inlay artefacts, Mysore painting, Channapatna toys, and incense sticks.
So now that you have been through the article, you must be having a fair picture in your head of what and where to shop in the city of Mysore. To convert that picture into a memory, plan your trip right away. Let Mysore welcome you and gift a shopping experience like no other.
Happy Journey!
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April 15, 2024 
