Story of Mysore Silk tour from Bangalore to experience Silk Weaving & Palace
Description
The Mysore Silk tour from Bangalore takes us back to 1792 when the story of Mysore Silk commences with setting up of silk worm breeding stations by Tipu Sultan. In 1912 Maharaja Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV sets up the Mysore Silk Weaving factory to kick start the industrial production of Mysore Silk. We will visit Asia’s largest silk cocoon auction market, the Mysore Silk weaving factory, the Mysore Palace and an ancient bazaar. This tour is organized by Five Senses Tours, a private limited company recognized by the Ministry of Tourism and a member of the Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO). The tour has been designed to support local livelihoods by way of employment of local guides, and supporting local businesses in line with the mission of the company to ensure travel dollars stay where they are spent.
Tour Options
Itinerary
We will head to Ramnagaram, a small town located 50 KMs from Bangalore. The year was 1780 when Tipu Sultan, the ruler of Mysore, received Silk as a gift from an ambassador of the Qing dynasty in China. Fascinated by this magical fabric, Tipu sent emissaries to Bengal and China to find out more and eventually sets up 22 Silk Breeding stations which kick off the Mysore Silk revolution. Ramnagaram is famous today for its silk industry and receives 50 tons of silk cocoons every day making it Asia’s largest silk cocoon market. We will visit the Government Silk Cocoon Market and if lucky we can even witness an auction!
The next fillip for Mysore Silk came in 1912 when Maharaja Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV bought 32 power looms from Switzerland and set up the Mysore Silk Weaving factory. Over the years not only did the factory cloth the royal family but also made parachutes for British army during the World War II! The factory is operational even today and we will visit it. It’s a fascinating experience to see the process of Silk production from reeling of cocoon to the weaving of silk fabric. We will visit the factory showroom to see an amazing collection of Silk Sarees which is the finished product from the Mysore Silk Weaving factory.Silk Sarees are a cultural icon in South India. Ranging in length from 6-9 yards, these Sarees are worn by women during auspicious occasions like a wedding or a birthday.
The grand Mysore Palace is our next destination. We will travel back to the golden era of Mysore Maharajas to imagine the glory that was Mysore, epitomized by this wonder built in Indo-Saracenic style with a blend of Hindu, Muslim, Rajput, and Gothic styles of architecture. The Palace is a three-storied stone structure, with marble domes and a 145 ft five-storied tower.
Next in our tour to Mysore, we visit Devraja market, the charming old bazaar of Mysore. Its a sensorial delight made up of flowers, vegetables, fruits, jaggery, onions and potatoes, puffed rice and coconuts!
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Silk factory will be closed on public holidays
Reviews(28)
A great trip for those who are interested in silk manufacturing as well as visiting the palace. We went to the silk market, which is Asia’s largest silk cocoon market. After that we went to the old silk factory, which is still operational even today and have the full cycle process of Silk production from reeling of cocoon to the weaving of silk fabric. Then the Mysore palace with a private guide, and the local market.
Very original and interesting experience with a very cultivated and attentive guide It was perfect, I highly recommend
This tour and tour guide were AMAZING! Diwakar spent the whole day with me and I felt like I saw and learned so much - about Mysore, silk weaving, Indian history and culture - truly everything. It is hard to pick a favorite part of the experience; I think it is a toss up between the once-in-a-lifetime banana leaf lunch, the amazingly beautiful Mysore Palace, the electrifying Mysore marketplace, and the buzzing weaving factory. Do not hesitate to book this trip and soak in every last minute of it! Bonus note: As a solo female traveler experiencing India for the first time, I was a bit nervous going into this. I am so grateful that Diwakar was a perfect blend of respectful and friendly, helping navigate numerous unique experiences with expertise, compassion, and context. I felt both secure and empowered throughout the whole experience!
Impressive and informative visit to a huge silk cocoon market and a government silk factory. (Know before you go: you must check all your personal belongings before entering the factory) Amazing to see how the silk comes off the cocoons, and all the steps in the weaving process. Did some sightseeing highlights of Mysuru and bought some unfamiliar but delicious fruit in the market. Lunch was wonderful. Great day for people who are interested in understanding how things are made.
Did the tour with Jai. Great guide made the experience so much more. Enjoyed it to learn some history of the area as well..
It was a very good experience. Got a lot of input on Mysore Silk and it's history. We got to learn about a lot. How it is made, how it becomes a silk from a cocoon.
I had an amazing Mysore tour with a knowledgeable and friendly guide. He shared fascinating insights about Mysore Palace, the Wodeyar dynasty, and Tipu Sultan’s history, making the experience immersive. The visit to the Mysore Silk Factory was a highlight, where he explained the intricate silk weaving process. He also recommended the best spots for shopping and local delicacies like Mysore Pak. The itinerary was well-paced, covering major attractions smoothly. His storytelling and enthusiasm made the tour.
I enjoyed the trip and it was informative and at the same time I enjoyed alot we visited 4 place in one day I never thought that can explore 4 places in one day and gain knowledge about all the places like from cocoon to hills it's was memorable day
It was an amazing and knowledgeable trip. I got to learn a lot about the weaving and production of silk. It helped me gain knowledge about the same. It was a fun trip.
The experience was amazing! We had lot of fun with took so many photos. We had lot of tasty food as well. We saw amazing views. We also bought many stuffs from local shops.
