Mysore Palace switches on roughly 97,000 light bulbs every Sunday evening from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM, and on all gazetted public holidays. During Mysore's ten-day Dasara festival (September–October), it lights up every night. Entry to the palace grounds to watch the illumination is free. The spectacle lasts exactly one hour.
When exactly does the illumination happen?
The schedule is consistent:
- Every Sunday: 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
- Public holidays: 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM (national and state holidays both qualify)
- Dasara festival: every evening for ten consecutive nights, same 7–8 PM window
- Special state events: occasionally on Karnataka Rajyotsava (1 November) and Republic Day (26 January)
The lights go off sharply at 8:00 PM. There is no extended session. Arrive by 6:30 PM — crowds build fast, especially on Dasara nights.
Is Dasara the best time to visit for the illumination?
Yes, if you can handle the crowds. During Dasara (usually late September to mid-October depending on the lunar calendar), the palace grounds draw 50,000+ visitors on peak evenings. The atmosphere is genuinely extraordinary — the golden glow against the night sky, the procession route lit along Sayyaji Rao Road, street food everywhere.
The trade-off: parking is nearly impossible within 1 km of the palace, hotels charge 2–3× normal rates, and viewpoints fill up 45 minutes before lights-on. If you want the illumination without chaos, a regular Sunday between November and February is far better. The palace is equally lit, the grounds are calm, and you can actually move around to find the right angle.
Check our best time to visit Mysore guide for a full seasonal breakdown.
Where are the best spots to photograph the illumination?
1. The main forecourt (inside the palace gates) Free to enter during illumination hours. Position yourself centrally, about 80–100 metres from the main entrance arch. This gives you the full facade in frame with foreground space. The courtyard stones reflect the glow on wet nights — if it has rained earlier, this spot improves significantly.
2. Sayyaji Rao Road, north end Standing at the junction of Sayyaji Rao Road and the palace compound wall gives a 3/4 angle view. You get the Ambavilas Palace dome with the illuminated outer wall in the foreground. Good for wide shots that include street life.
3. The terrace of Devaraja Market building (ask permission) Approximately 600 metres northeast. Elevation helps if you want the palace dome silhouetted against a darker sky. Not always accessible.
4. Chamundi Hill road (early vantage, 2 km south) On the approach road up Chamundi Hill, there are two or three flat bends where you can pull over. The palace appears small in the frame but with the entire city spread below it. Use a 200mm+ lens. Worth the drive if you have the gear.
What camera settings work best?
The palace illumination is a mixed-light situation — incandescent bulbs (warm yellow, around 2700K) against a rapidly darkening sky. The window between 7:00 PM and 7:20 PM is the most photogenic: there is still residual blue in the sky that contrasts with the warm bulbs.
Recommended settings (mirrorless/DSLR):
- Aperture: f/8 to f/11 for sharpness across the full facade
- ISO: 400–800; avoid going higher unless your sensor is clean above 1600
- Shutter speed: 2–8 seconds on a tripod
- White balance: set manually to 3200K–3500K to keep the warm glow without going fully orange
- Shoot RAW — the recovery headroom for highlights on the lit sections is essential
Smartphone users: Use Night Mode. Lock exposure on the brightly lit central dome rather than letting the camera expose for the dark sky — this avoids overexposure on the building. A small pocket tripod or resting the phone on a wall makes a real difference at 4-second exposures.
Tripods are permitted in the public areas outside the gates. Inside the forecourt during illumination, tripods are technically not allowed — a monopod or a small flexible tripod placed low is less likely to cause issues.
How to get there and park
Mysore Palace is at the centre of the city. From Mysore railway station it is 1.4 km — an auto costs ₹50–80. Parking: the designated palace parking lot (south side, off JLB Road) holds a few hundred vehicles. On Sunday evenings it fills by 6:45 PM. KSRTC city buses run frequently along Sayyaji Rao Road — bus stops are within 200 metres of the main gate.
Where to stay close to the palace
For illumination, location matters. These hotels put you within easy walking or short auto distance:
Splurge: The Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel Mysore rates 9.1/10 across 2,541 reviews — consistently the highest-rated five-star in the city. About 2 km from the palace.
Heritage option: Lalitha Mahal Palace Hotel is a converted palace itself, 4 km southeast of Mysore Palace on the Chamundi Hill approach road. Rated 8.0/10 (4,146 reviews). More atmosphere than convenience for the illumination.
Mid-range with solid ratings: Fortune JP Palace, Mysore scores 8.6/10 from 2,463 reviews. About 2.5 km from the palace, ITC Hotels management standard.
Budget pick: Parklane Hotel at 8.3/10 from 2,572 reviews is 3-star and one of the best-value options in the city centre. Walk to the palace in under 15 minutes.
Closer to centre: Hotel Southern Star Mysore at 8.7/10 (1,934 reviews) and Grand Mercure Mysore at 8.4/10 (2,230 reviews) are both reliable five-star options within 3 km.
FAQ
Does the palace illuminate every day during Dasara? Yes. During the official Dasara festival period (ten days ending on Vijayadashami), the palace lights up every evening from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM regardless of the day of the week.
Is there an entry fee to watch the illumination? No. Watching the illumination from the palace grounds and surrounding public areas is free. The palace museum inside charges a separate daytime entry fee (around ₹70 for adults), but that is a different visit.
Can I enter the palace interior during illumination hours? No. The interior museum closes before the illumination starts. You view the lit exterior from the forecourt and surrounding public streets.
What if it rains on a Sunday — does the illumination still happen? Generally yes. Light rain does not cancel the illumination. Heavy unseasonal rain might cause a delay, but cancellations are rare. The wet palace courtyard actually improves ground-level reflection shots.