Mysore silk is well known for its quality and everlasting lustre. Both have over a century of tradition and still produce what Mysore is well known for. Mysore had several lakes, all of which have been dried and are being used as open fields today. The Jeevanaraya katte near the Railway station, Doddakere near the palace, Karaji kere near the zoo gardens, stand testimony to the royal dynasties who took keen interest in providing healthy drinking water to their people. If a vegetarian gourmet is on your mind, you have arrived at the best town in India for it.
Several restaurants boast of a century long tradition in satisfying the appetites of the citizens.
Pai vihar and Dasaprakash offer expensive but fine cuisines. Dasaprakash has a chain of hotels in Bangalore, Ooty and Madras. For the upmarket western gourmet are Metropole, Kings Court and Lalitha Mahal hotels. Hotel Mayura is very close to the Railway station. Incidentally this picturesque railway station has repeatedly won awards by the Indian Railways for its extremely courteous and excellent service by the staff at the counters.