Dasara days are here, so focus shifts from Bangalore to Mysore

The finale, that brings a large number of tourists every year from all over the world to the relaxed city, located 140 km from Bangalore, will be marked by a traditional procession with members of the erstwhile royal family participating in it.

On each of the 10 days, a small procession will start from a temple here and end at the Amba Vilas Palace in the heart of the city.

Around 12 lakh tourists are expected to travel to Mysore to take part in the festivities, this year.

Talking about the preparation, State Information and Tourism Secretary I M Vittal Murthy said: it will be a “people-friendly, tourist-friendly and a smooth affair where past mistakes are not repeated.”

The state is spending Rs 10 crore on the event, of which nearly Rs 1 crore has been raised from sponsors. As part of the preparation, the state transport corporation has increased the number of buses plying between Bangalore and Mysore in a single day to 729.

Mysore Commissioner of Police, Bhaskar Rao, said around 54 police bands will take part in the event and a vintage car rally has been organised between Bangalore to Mysore on October 13. Security has been beefed up and CCTVs cameras have been installed at strategic points to monitor the situation.