Mysore district (also spelt Mysuru district) is an administrative district in the southern part of the state of Karnataka, India. The district takes its name from its headquarters, the historic city of Mysore, which served as the capital of the erstwhile Kingdom of Mysore under the Wodeyar dynasty. It is one of the most prominent districts in Karnataka in terms of cultural heritage, tourism, and educational institutions.
| Name | Mysore district (Mysuru district) |
|---|---|
| State | Karnataka |
| Country | India |
| Headquarters | Mysore (Mysuru) |
| Region | Southern Karnataka |
| Division | Mysore division |
| Official language | Kannada |
Mysore district lies on the southern Deccan plateau. It is bordered by Mandya district to the northeast, Hassan district to the northwest, Kodagu district to the west, Chamarajanagar district to the south and southeast, and the state of Kerala to the southwest. The Kaveri (Cauvery) and its tributaries, including the Kabini, drain much of the district. Parts of the district fall within the catchment of the Krishna Raja Sagara reservoir. The terrain is largely undulating plains, with forested tracts in the south and west forming part of the Western Ghats ecosystem.
The region that constitutes present-day Mysore district was a core part of the Kingdom of Mysore, ruled by the Wodeyar dynasty from the 14th century onwards, with an interregnum under Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan in the 18th century. After the fall of Tipu Sultan in 1799 in the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War, the Wodeyars were restored under British paramountcy. The princely state of Mysore acceded to the Indian Union in 1947 and the district became part of the reorganised state of Mysore in 1956 (renamed Karnataka in 1973).
The district has been reduced in area over time through administrative reorganisation. Chamarajanagar was carved out as a separate district in 1997, taking with it taluks in the southern part of the former Mysore district.
The district is part of the Mysore administrative division of Karnataka and is headed by a Deputy Commissioner. It is subdivided into taluks, including Mysuru, Hunsur, Krishnarajanagara, Heggadadevankote (H. D. Kote), Nanjangud, Periyapatna, Tirumakudalu Narasipura (T. Narasipura), and Saragur. Local self-government is administered through the Mysuru Zilla Panchayat at the district level, taluk panchayats, and gram panchayats, along with the Mysuru City Corporation for the urban headquarters.
Agriculture remains a major source of livelihood, with paddy, ragi, sugarcane, cotton, tobacco, and pulses among the principal crops. The district is also known for sericulture and floriculture. Industrial activity is concentrated in and around Mysore city, including textiles, sandalwood oil and soap (the Mysore Sandal Soap product of the Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited originated here), engineering, and information technology. Tourism is a significant contributor to the local economy.
Mysore district is closely associated with the Mysore Dasara, the state festival of Karnataka, observed with grandeur at the Mysore Palace. Other notable sites include:
Mysore is a long-standing centre of education in southern India. The University of Mysore, established in 1916, was one of the earliest universities in India outside the British presidency towns. Other institutions in the district include the Central Food Technological Research Institute (CFTRI), the Central Institute of Indian Languages (CIIL), the Defence Food Research Laboratory (DFRL), and the All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH), all headquartered in Mysore city.
The district is connected by National Highways linking Mysore to Bengaluru, Mangaluru, and Ooty, among other destinations. The Mysuru railway division of South Western Railway operates through the district, with Mysuru Junction as a major station. Mysore Airport at Mandakalli provides limited domestic air connectivity.