Mysuru is located in the southern part of the Deccan Plateau in the state of Karnataka. Positioned roughly 145 kilometers (90 miles) southwest of the state capital, Bengaluru, the city occupies a relatively flat basin surrounded by gently rolling terrain.
The physical geography is defined by its proximity to the Kaveri (Cauvery) River, which flows to the north of the city, and the Kabini River to the south. The region features several prominent lakes that act as crucial ecological buffers and bird habitats, most notably Kukkarahalli, Karanji, and Lingambudhi lakes. The landscape transitions into dense forests and national parks (such as Bandipur and Nagarhole) as one moves further south and west from the city limits.