A must-visit spot, Wax museum has a vast collection of musical instruments, along with life-size statues of musicians playing instruments from India and across the world, all made in wax. The 19-gallery tour comprises 110 life-size statues and over 300 musical instruments. A statue of the erstwhile king of Mysore, Shri Krishnaraja Wadiyar, is a popular attraction amongst locals. Given its proclivity for all things musical, the museum is also known as Melody World Wax museum. The building in which it is housed is said to be over 90 years old! Carnatic, Punjabi, Middle Eastern, Chinese, Tribal, Jazz, Hip Hop and Rock music are all represented here in some form or another. Wax Museum was established in October 2010 as the brainchild of Bengaluru-based IT professional Shreeji Bhaskaran.

At the base of Chamundi betta (hill), skydiving camps are organised regularly in the city. Adventurers can try tandem or static jumps or choose an accelerated freefall. Tandem jumps are done with an instructor, who will accompany you on the way down and open the parachute for you, while the latter is performed alone. You are taken to a height of about 10,000 ft, and then asked to take the leap from a helicopter. Once you sign up, you have to undergo rigorous training to ensure that you are physically and mentally able to perform the jump. The training usually takes place over two days, with mock drills and other simulated scenarios conducted beforehand. It is a must-try experience when in Mysuru.

Exclusive silk sarees that come in a selection of colours, patters and designs, unique to the city are a major attraction here. Light in weight with a soft texture, the sheen of these sarees remains the same even after multiple washes. Known as Kanjeevaram, the sarees are particularly coveted for the zari work that adorns them. Zari is gold or silver thread that is used to create patterns and motifs on the sarees. This thread work determines the value of the Mysore Silk sarees, and pure zari (gold) sarees can carry price tags of lakhs!

Sandalwood soaps and oils, as well as incense sticks and wooden figurines also make good buys. Gold jewellery in Mysore is very intricate, and the heavier pieces featuring gods and goddesses, or some form thereof, are known as temple jewellery.

A popular tourist attraction, the pristine Shivanasamudra Falls, created by River Cauvery, are located around 65 km from Mysuru city. The water cascades down a height of 75 m, plunging into a rocky gorge to form two falls: Gaganachukki and Barachukki. While the former resembles a horsetail and has strong currents and a deep gorge, making swimming difficult, the latter is relatively placid and one can take a coracle ride to the mouth to enjoy the natural beauty. The best time to visit the falls is in monsoon when they flow in all glory. Asia's first hydroelectric project, established in 1902, is located downstream.

A score of food vendors have set up stalls near the parking lot, selling ice cream, churmuri (a Mysore delicacy made with puffed rice and shredded carrots), golgappa and other snacks, and tourists can enjoy some delicious savouries while drinking in the serenity of the scene.

Located near Chamundi betta (hill), the one-of-its-kind sand sculpture museum in the country, it exhibits the rich cultural heritage of Mysuru city. Made from sand and water, over 150 of the art monoliths at the museum were made with around 115 truckloads of sand, water and a little glue. They feature 16 themes. The more interesting ones include a giant Ganesha, Tom and Jerry and Goddess Chamundeshwari, as well as the erstwhile king of Mysore Srikantadatta Narasimharaja Wadiyar decked on the occasion of Dasara. You can also find monoliths representing Lord Krishna and Arjuna, a laughing Buddha, a christmas tree and Santa Claus, characters from Disneyland, ancient Egypt, the zodiac wheel, scenes from Arabian nights etc. The museum was conceptualised by prominent sand sculptor, MN Gowri, who took four months to create it.

Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery is housed in the palace building of Jagmohan Palace and boasts over 2,000 paintings by famous artists, both Indian and foreign. The gallery has the works of renowned painter Rembrandt, as well as Titan, PP Ruben, Jiladin Ville, Nikolai Roerich, and Aless Caddy. Gunoy's miniature paintings are also housed here. Indian artworks on display include those of such noteworthy painters as Raja Ravi Varma, Rabindranath Tagore, SL Haldankar, Raja Rama Varma, M Veerappa, Ishwardas, and Subbakrishna. The Jagmohan Palace was constructed in 1861 and converted into an art gallery during the period of Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV. It has a wide variety of glass, chinaware, furniture along with western sculptures, musical instruments and decorative art. Once used as the royal auditorium, it is still open to public.

To catch a glimpse of the rail network of the country, visit the Rail Museum in Mysore, which houses a plethora of galleries highlighting the growth and development of the Indian railway network. The museum also has coaches, locomotives and a wide collection of photographs and paintings connected with the railways. Don't forget to view the rail coaches that were once used by the Maharaja of Mysore, and the Maharani's saloon carriage that was imported from the United Kingdom. Mini train rides and a kids play area are also part of the museum.

Another highlight of the museum is the Chamundi gallery, where a whole host of pictures and graphics are displayed. Another attraction is the Austin railway car, initially built in 1925 to run on road.

At Jayalakshmi Vilas mansion stands the University Folklore Museum, one of the best in Asia, with a vast collection of 6,500 or so indigenous art form depictions, artefacts and handicraft items related to art, culture, literature, dance, drama and music from the state of Karnataka. Palaeolithic tools found during excavations at the districts of Koppa, Banavasi and Rajghatta are preserved also here. The part of the palace that once was a marriage hall, is now the site where personal belongings of famous poets and writers are kept, including clothing, pens, umbrellas, diaries and original writings. Another section is dedicated to performing arts such as Yakshagana (traditional theatre form) and Kathakali (classical dance form); masks, crowns and ornaments used by the dancers are also on display.

One of the oldest zoos in the country, the Mysore zoo houses rare species of animals and birds, some of which have been successfully bred in captivity. About 1,450 specimen across 168 species from over 25 countries can be found at this facility. Some of these include the tiger, leopard, Asiatic and African elephants, anaconda, white rhino, antelope, chimpanzee, gorilla, Capuchin monkey, swamp deer, mouse deer, nilgai and many others. Spread over an area of 37.25 hectare in a beautifully laid-out garden and serene surroundings, the zoo is officially known as the Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens. A favourite weekend getaway for locals, it receives over 3 million guests a year! It was opened to the general public in year 1892.