Mysuru Dasara is Karnataka’s ‘Nadda Habba’, meaning ‘state festival’. The sheer grandiosity of Mysuru Dasara makes it worth visiting at least once. And if you’re planning to attend the festival this year, especially as a first-timer, we have some tips to share with you. From not booking your hotel accommodation early to not prioritizing public transport, here are some Mysuru Dasara mistakes first-timers must avoid when coming for Mysuru Dasara 2026.
Mysuru Dasara 2026 Tourist Mistakes & Tips
1. Underestimating The Scale And Underpreparing For It
If you think Mysuru Dasara 2026 is just another small-scale celebration, you’re making one of the most common Mysuru Dasara mistakes! The festival is the largest cultural celebration of its kind and is the State Festival of Karnataka. Every year, the festival is held across venues in Mysuru, including the Mysuru Palace, Chamundi Hills, and Bannimantap. In fact, the entire city gets covered in a multitude of lights and decorations. For nine days and Vijayadashami, the city gets entirely transformed into festive mode and every corner, street, and neighborhood feels like a celebration on its own.
Most travelers assume that the festival is a small, one- or two-day event. Many don’t bring enough clothes or carry essentials like a power bank when exploring the city. Many also plan to visit places associated with Mysuru Dasara during the weekend, not realizing that during this time, crowds can be significantly more.
2. Wearing Uncomfortable Shoes
Mysuru Dasara is a ten-day event and the last two days are especially significant. If you’re setting out to explore the city and the cultural events taking place on all these days or the last few days, expect to walk a lot. And by lot, we actually mean it. Most roads, especially around the Mysuru Palace, face traffic diversions, so chances of you having to walk around places instead of driving straight to the venue are higher.
And if you’re walking for long distances, wearing ill-fitting, tight, restrictive, or uncomfortable shoes can be a big inconvenience. Avoid wearing shoes that restrict your toe movement or put a strain on your heels or feet arch. Avoid heels, pointed shoes, or similar shoes, and go for comfortable flats, sneakers, walking shoes, or sandals.
Also Read: Karnataka CM Announces Free Bus Passes For Students
3. Not Booking Hotel Accommodation Well In Advance
As mentioned in the first subsection, many first-time visitors to Mysuru Dasara 2026 underestimate its scale. Many tourists assume that they’ll easily find hotel bookings either a week or two before they arrive or after they arrive in the city. The truth is that many hotels start getting booked weeks in advance. Many premium hotels get fully booked 4 to 6 weeks in advance and budget homestays, hotels, and hostels can also get occupied fast. In short, this is one of the silliest Mysuru Dasara mistakes that can come at a great cost!
It is recommended that tourists book their accommodation at least 4 to 6 weeks in advance. This will not only guarantee you the accommodation you wanted, but also increase chances of you getting better, cheaper deals. Plus, no one would like a last-minute panic situation when you’re unable to find a suitable accommodation!
4. Not Purchasing Mysuru Dasara Tickets
Mysuru Dasara 2026 has a number of events that are best experienced with a ticket. You get numbered or open seating (first come, first serve basis). Many events like the Mysuru Dasara 2026 – Procession, Panjina Kavayatu – Bannimantapa 2026, and Mysore Dasara Drone Show 2026 and others require tickets to be purchased.
While the entire event is mostly free for the general public along the streets, we recommend booking Mysuru Dasara 2026 tickets in advance if you want a good viewing experience. Many of these tickets provide numbered seating while others have open seating. Other perks of purchasing the Mysuru Dasara 2026 tickets include free shuttle service and parking where applicable and access to Mysore Zoo and Mysore Palace (Gold Card holders).
Read here about all the information about Mysuru Dasara 2026 tickets.
5. Visiting Mysuru Palace Only At Night Or Weekend
Mysuru Palace at night during Dasara is undoubtedly one of the highlights of the festival. But if you’re visiting only after sunset, you’re missing out on the palace itself.
The Amba Vilas Palace is at the heart of Mysuru Dasara. Its interiors are best observed in daylight, offering a glimpse into the Wadiyar royal history. From the Durbar Hall to the Kalyana Mantapa to the golden howdah, the palace is full of miraculous displays, artefacts, and an architecture style that takes your breath away.
So, don’t make the mistake of treating the Palace as just a backdrop for photographs. Visit during the day for the architecture and history, and return in the evening for the Mysuru Palace illumination.
6. Not Exploring Mysuru’s Cafe Scene
There’s more to Mysuru’s food scene than the beloved Mysore Pak. While we recommend exploring local eateries and legacy restaurants in Mysuru, avoiding Mysuru cafes is one of the easiest mistakes Mysuru Dasara first time visitors make.
The city might not have a cafe culture as bustling as that of Mumbai, Delhi, or Bengaluru, but it does have good places where you can sit and chill. Here are some of the cafes to visit in Mysuru:
White Teak Coffee Roasters
Big Cup Cafe Mysuru
Malgudi Coffee Shop & Bakery
HAVANA – Rooftop Vegetarian Cafe
Ritual Coffee House
Cuppa Redefined
7. Using Private Transportation
One of the biggest Mysuru Dasara mistakes first-time visitors can make is assuming they can drive everywhere during the festival.
This becomes particularly important on the day of Vijayadashami. Many major roads are closed or traffic diversions are conducted to make the roads safe enough for processions and events. So instead of driving as close as possible to the Mysuru Dasara venues, consider parking at designated locations or using public transport. Autos, taxis, and buses are readily available and can be useful for getting around on other days as well.
8. Not Visiting Other Mysuru Palaces
One of the Mysuru Dasara mistakes that can easily go unnoticed is how most visitors only visit the Mysuru Palace during the festival. While it is definitely the center piece of all Mysuru Dasara festivities, it is not the only palace in the city.
Mysuru is blessed with a number of palaces – and as you can tell, they are quite grand! Each palace carries its own set of stories, has interesting artefacts and exhibits, and has quietly shaped how the city has evolved over the years. While attending Mysuru Dasara 2026, we recommend sparing a day or two in your Mysore itinerary to visit these palaces in Mysuru:
Jaganamohana Palace
Lalithamahal Palace
Chittaranajan Palace
Cheluvamba Vilas Palace
Jayalakshmi Vilas Palace
9. Rushing With The Mysuru Itinerary
Most Mysuru Dasara first time visitors visit the city only for about 3 to 4 days, attending the various events of the festival. Many don’t spend enough time exploring the city, its culture, heritage, food, and more. If you’re visiting Mysuru, do not make Mysuru Dasara mistakes like rushing with the itinerary.
Apart from the days you’re spending attending the actual festivities, keep 1-2 days to simply explore the city. Mysuru is comparatively calmer than many urban metropolitans, is known for its rich textiles and Mysore Pak, and there are plenty of parks and other sites to visit. There is a cat museum in Mysore as well as an underwater aquarium in Mysore! Keep 1-2 days to eat, shop, and explore Mysuru and you won’t regret!
Note: All the information above has been taken from verified online sources
Summing Up
In this blog, we’ve highlighted 9 Mysuru Dasara mistakes many Mysuru Dasara first time visitors end up doing. From not buying festival tickets to skipping other palaces in the city, here are some Mysuru Dasara mistakes that we think you should avoid. Are you visiting Mysuru Dasara 2026?
