Interesting facts

1. **Mysore Palace** is one of the most visited monuments in India, often drawing more annual visitors than the Taj Mahal. 2. The city is globally recognized as the birthplace of **Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga**, popularized by K. Pattabhi Jois. 3. The famous Indian sweet, **Mysore Pak**, was invented in the kitchens of the Mysore Palace by a chief chef named Kakasura Madappa. 4. **Mysore Sandal Soap**, made with pure sandalwood oil, is manufactured by Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited (KSDL), a company set up by the Maharaja of Mysore in 1916. 5. The city is renowned for **Mysore Silk**, which is noted for its pure silk and minimal use of gold zari. 6. The **University of Mysore** (1916) was the first university established outside the domain of British administration in India. 7. India's first private radio station was set up in Mysuru in 1935 by M.V. Gopalaswamy. It was named *Akashvani* (voice from the sky), a term later adopted by All India Radio. 8. Mysuru is often dubbed the **City of Palaces**; it houses seven grand palaces including the Amba Vilas, Jaganmohan, and Lalitha Mahal palaces. 9. The **Mysuru Dasara** is a 10-day state festival (Nada Habba) culminating in a grand procession of decorated elephants (Jamboo Savari). 10. Mysuru was the first city in India to be declared the **Cleanest City** under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan in 2015 and 2016. 11. It was one of the first cities in Asia to undertake planned urban development, establishing the City Improvement Trust Board in 1903. 12. **Mysore Paints and Varnish Limited** is the sole authorized supplier of the indelible ink used in elections across India. 13. The **Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens (Mysore Zoo)**, established in 1892, is one of the oldest and most well-maintained zoos in India. 14. The fictional town of **Malgudi**, created by celebrated Indian author R.K. Narayan, was heavily inspired by the streets, people, and culture of Mysuru. 15. **Chamundi Hills**, rising to an elevation of 1,000 meters, features a 350-year-old temple dedicated to Goddess Chamundeshwari, the presiding deity of the city. 16. The city's name is derived from **Mahishasuru**, a mythical demon who was slain by the Goddess Chamundeshwari. 17. Mysuru was one of the first cities in India to have an underground drainage system, conceptualized in the early 1900s. 18. The grand **KRS Dam** and adjoining Brindavan Gardens on the outskirts of the city were engineered by the legendary Sir M. Visvesvaraya. 19. The Wadiyar dynasty ruled the Kingdom of Mysore from 1399 until Indian independence in 1947, with only a brief interruption by Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan. 20. Mysuru introduced India's first public bicycle sharing system, **Trin Trin**, in 2017.