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The questions the 1077 control room hears most, gathered in one place. If yours is not here, Gajju is a click away in the corner of every page.
The festival
Dates & basics
When is Mysuru Dasara 2026?
Dasara 2026 runs from 11 to 21 October — the nine nights of Navaratri and Vijayadashami on the tenth day. The Jumboo Savari is on 21 October. See the day-by-day schedule.
What is Dasara, in a sentence?
The Nada Habba — state festival — of Karnataka: ten days marking the goddess Chamundeshwari’s victory over Mahishasura, celebrated in Mysuru since 1610 with a royal Durbar, cultural programmes and the grand elephant procession. The history page has the long version.
Is the festival free to attend?
Almost all of it. The Palace illumination, the street procession, the cultural stages, the Torchlight Parade from the public enclosure, the Flower Show and most events are free. Gallery seats for the procession, the Exhibition and a few concerts are ticketed — see Dasara Ticket.
Is the Palace illuminated every evening?
Through the festival the Palace is lit from 7 to 10 PM every evening, weather permitting. On ordinary Sundays and public holidays outside the festival it is lit from 7 to 7:45 PM. See Illumination.
What are the festival timings for the Palace?
The Palace opens 10 AM to 5:30 PM for visits; the forecourt opens separately for the evening cultural programmes and the illumination. Palace entry tickets are separate from Dasara Tickets.
Can I see the Durbar?
The private Durbar in the Amba Vilas hall is a royal-family ceremony and not open to the public, but the Palace forecourt and the evening programmes on the Palace stage are. See Navaratri at the Palace.
Jumboo Savari
The procession
When does the procession start?
By the Palace panchanga for 2026: the Nandi Dhwaja puja by the Chief Minister is at 1:36 – 1:56 PM on 21 October, the Pushparchane to the goddess in the golden howdah at 4:10 – 4:35 PM, and the procession leaves the Palace through the Balarama Gate after that, reaching Bannimantap in the evening. See Jumboo Savari.
Where is the best place to watch for free?
Sayyaji Rao Road, anywhere between K R Circle and Bannimantap. Arrive by 1 PM for a front position; the road fills three deep. Carry water and a hat — there is little shade.
Do I need a ticket to watch?
No. The whole 5-kilometre route is free. Tickets buy a numbered gallery seat in the Palace forecourt (the departure) or at Bannimantap (the arrival and the Torchlight Parade).
How much gold is in the howdah?
About 80 kilograms of gold on a teak frame, weighing 750 kg in all. The idol of Chamundeshwari rides in it on the lead elephant. See Elephants.
Which elephant carries the howdah?
Twelve elephants were selected for Gaja Payana 2026 — see the roster. The Forest Department names the howdah elephant after the training period at the Palace; this site is updated when that is announced.
Is the Torchlight Parade the same evening?
Yes. It begins at Bannimantap at about 7 PM once the procession arrives, and ends in fireworks around 9 PM. A Bannimantap gallery seat covers both.
Tickets
The Dasara Ticket
What can I book?
Five ticketed events: the Gold Card from ₹6,500 (Palace, Chamundi Hill and Zoo entry plus the procession, the Torchlight Parade and a Drone Show); the Jumboo Savari procession from Enclosure I at the Palace, from ₹3,500; the Torchlight Parade at Bannimantap on 21 October and its Rehearsal on 20 October, from ₹1,500 each; and the Drone Show on 17 or 18 October, from ₹1,000.
Where do I book?
Tickets are strictly for personal use and must not be resold or transferred. Book on TicketGenie, the official ticketing partner and the only authorised seller. Tap Book now on the tickets page; you sign in, choose and pay there, and receive a redemption voucher.
Do I need to collect anything?
Yes. The confirmation you receive on TicketGenie is a redemption voucher — exchange it for your physical ticket or Gold Card before the event, as instructed on the voucher, and carry it with a photo ID. Seat numbers are printed only on the Gold Card and the Procession ticket; the Torchlight Parade and the Drone Show are free seating within the enclosure.
Can I get a refund?
Bookings, changes and refunds follow TicketGenie’s ticket terms and refund policy. Entry is subject to security checks and police instructions; if entry is restricted on security grounds, no refund applies.
Is everything else free?
Yes — the whole procession route, the Palace illumination, the cultural stages, the Flower Show, the Aahara Mela and the public enclosures at Bannimantap are free.
Getting there
Travel & parking
How do I reach Mysuru from Bengaluru?
By train (under two hours on the Vande Bharat, about three on other services), by KSRTC bus every five minutes, or by car on the Bengaluru–Mysuru Expressway. Flights into Mysuru Airport are limited; Kempegowda International is 170 km away. See How to reach.
Can I drive into the city on procession day?
Not into the centre. From 11 AM on 21 October private vehicles are held at the twelve parking hubs outside the core; free shuttles run every ten minutes. Road closures are listed on the travel page.
Where do I park?
At any of the twelve hubs — Maharaja College Grounds, Oval Grounds, Bannimantap, the Race Course and others. ₹50 for a car, ₹20 for a two-wheeler; two hubs are free.
Are the shuttles free?
Free with any Dasara Ticket; ₹20 a ride otherwise. They run 9 AM to 11 PM through the festival.
Is there a Metro in Mysuru?
No. The city runs on KSRTC buses, autos, taxis and, at the Palace, tongas.
Staying
Rooms & camps
When should I book a room?
By early September. Palace-area rooms go first; the last three days of the festival sell out citywide. See Where to stay.
Is there budget accommodation?
The District Administration runs tented Dasara camps at three grounds — beds, lockers, hot water, security — from about ₹500 a night, on the shuttle network. Budget lodges cluster around the railway station and the Central Bus Stand.
Are homestays regulated?
Yes. The Department of Tourism’s M-HOME scheme registers and inspects homestays annually. Book only through the official listing or the host directly.
Safety
On the ground
Which number do I call?
112 for any emergency, 1077 for the Dasara control room (24×7, Kannada, English, Hindi), 108 for an ambulance. Every helpline and the map of medical camps, police posts and help desks is on Help & emergencies.
I have lost something — or someone.
Go to the nearest Lost & Found desk (Palace and Bannimantap) or call 1077. For a lost child, tell the nearest police post immediately; announcements go out on the venue PA within minutes.
What should I carry on procession day?
Water, a hat, sunscreen, and as little else as possible. Bags are checked at every enclosure; large bags are not allowed in the Palace forecourt.
What if it rains?
October is the tail of the monsoon. Events go ahead in light rain; the Palace stage moves indoors to the Kalamandira in a downpour. The procession has never been cancelled for rain.
Are there medical camps?
Four — at the Palace, Bannimantap, the Exhibition and Chamundi Hills — staffed through the festival, with ambulances on standby. Locations are on the emergency map.
Accessibility
For everyone
Is the procession accessible by wheelchair?
Yes. A reserved, ground-level enclosure for wheelchair users and one companion each is at the Palace forecourt and at Bannimantap; book through the concession option on the ticket form or call 1077. Volunteers assist at every enclosure gate.
Are the venues accessible?
The Palace forecourt, the Exhibition, Kuppanna Park and Bannimantap have ramped access and accessible toilets. Chamundi Hill temple has a lift from the car park. The Palace interior has steps.
Is there help for senior citizens?
Priority queues at every ticketed gate, reserved seating, and golf-cart transfers from the Palace parking hub. Ask any volunteer in a yellow vest.
Is this website accessible?
It is built to WCAG 2.1 AA and the Guidelines for Indian Government Websites; see the accessibility statement.
