Also known as Seringapattanam, this was the island- fortress city that also served as the capital of the Kingdom of Mysore. It was from this city that the great Tipu Sultan ruled a major part of south India. About 15 km northeast of Mysore, the city was built on the Kaveri River. Not much remains of the old fort now, because it was razed to the ground by the British Army before Independence. The fort holds the dungeon where Tipu during his heydays held British officers captive. There is an old mosque and the Sri Rangaswamy Temple. Daria Daulat Bagh, Tipu's summer palace with its frescoes is definitely worth a dekko.

Kabini , River flows about 80 km away from Mysore through the wonderful Karapur forest. It used to be the hunting grounds for the erstwhile rulers of Mysore. The old hunting bungalow has now been renovated by the Karnataka Tourism department and is the Kabini River Resort, rated among the five top wildlife resorts in the world by Tatler's Travel Guide. You can watch the deer and the elephants coming down to the waters for a drink. And if you are really lucky you can spot the tigers. The best time to visit the place is between October and March, though the park is open all year round.

About 20 km from Brindavan Gardens, the bird sanctuary is on the backwaters of the Kaveri. Nature has created miniature islands on the water as a perch for migratory birds from as far off as Siberia and North America. May and September are the best months for bird watching. Accommodation is available at Ranganathittu in the form of three riverside cottages.

A national game reserve on the road to Ooty, Bandipur straddles across the neighbouring states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala. If luck (plenty of it) is on your side, then the park's elephants, tigers, and cheetahs may give you darshan. Otherwise be content with deer, boars and bisons. The best time to visit is between April and October. You can opt for the elephant safari organised by the park authorities.

Drive 85 km east of Mysore to see the Kaveri plunge down a 75-m deep gorge in the form of two waterfalls, Gaganachukki and Bharachukki. These falls are at their glorious best during the monsoons.