The palaces and royal gardens of Mysore, ‘the jewel of Karnataka’, provide glimpses of its past grandeur. The rulers of Mysore State, the Wodeyar Rajas, were connoisseurs of art and architecture and enjoyed a lavish lifestyle. Thus the Maharaja’s Palace is one of the largest in the country, embellished with stained glass and domes and turrets giving it an ethereal air. The elegant city of Mysore is also ideal for shopping, with its famous Mysore silks printed or woven in brilliant colours, and beautiful textures. And all around is the soft perfume of sandalwood, Mysore’s signature, used in everyday life in temples as incense, as oil or soap, or just a pale symbol on the forehead.