80 kms from Mysore , Bandipur has a sizeable population of wildlife - elephant, spotted deer and sambar, gaur and flying squirrel, four horned antelope, Nilgiri langur and sloth bear. The Royal Bengal tiger and leopard are even more elusive here than elsewhere. In 1973, Bandipur became one of the first of India 's Tiger Reserves and the southernmost of the nine reserves specially established under Project Tiger. In 1974, intention was declared under the Wildlife Protection Act to notify it as a National Park.

Ranganathittu is a bird sanctuary situated around 18 km off Mysore and allows a close view of exotic and common birds. Ranganathittu attained the status of a bird sanctuary in 1940, courtesy of the visions of India's noted ornithologist. Dr. Salim Ali. who, during his survey of the birds of Mysore , advocated for the establishment of such a sanctuary. The sanctuary is now a paradise for wildlife enthusiasts, nature lovers and bird watch.

Somnathpur is situated around 35 km east of Mysore and is famous for the Hoysala Temples that are still in excellent condition. The Sri Channakeshara Temple stands at the edge of the tranquil village of Somnathpur . Built around 1260 AD during the heyday of the Hoysala kings, it's an extremely beautiful and unspoilt building, although not as large as the other Hoysala temples at Belur and Halebid north-west of Mysore .

Situated around 19 km north west of Mysore are the Krishna Raja Sagar Dam and the Vrindavan Garden . The garden attracts thousands of visitors every year who come to see its dancing musical fountains.

14 kms northeast of Mysore is Srirangpattnam, an island fortress and the capital of Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan. Tipu's summer palace, Daria Daulat, has now been turned into a museum. All the major dynasties of the South have left their relics and monuments here-the Hoysalas of the 11th century, the Vijayanagar kings of Chandragiri in the 17th century, the Hyder Ali-Tipu Sultan clan that came after them, and finally, the French and the British.