Mysuru Peta
Mysuru has its own speciality “Mysuru Peta”. Its a traditional indigenous attire worn by the erstwhile Kings of Mysuru . Kings wore a richly bejewelled turban made of silk and jari (gold threaded lace) to match with colorful dresses as part of the royal dress. Kings wore the traditional Mysuru Peta as headgear during the Durbar. The attractive and colorful turban is a headdress made up of long scarf–like single piece of cloth made of silk or cotton wound round the head cap and is often decorated with golden or silver laces and beautiful metal pendants that adds to its glory and grandeur. Distinguished people are honoured by the award of a Mysore Peta in formal functions.
Where to buy : Karnataka Silk Industries Corporation Limited
Mysuru Silk
Karnataka produces 9,000 metric tons of mulberry silk of a total of 14,000 metric tons produced in the country, thus contributing to nearly 70% of the country’s total mulberry silk. In Karnataka, silk is mainly grown in the Mysuru district.
The growth of the silk industry in the Kingdom of Mysuru was first initiated during the reign of Tipu Sultan. Later it was hit by a global depression, and competition from imported silk and rayon. In the second half of the 20th century, it revived and the Mysuru State became the top multivoltine silk producer in India.
The silk weaving factory in Mysuru, presently owned by KSIC, was established in the year 1912 by the Maharaja of Mysuru province. Initially the silk fabrics were manufactured & supplied to meet the requirements of the royal family and ornamental fabrics to their armed forces.
The unit was started with 10 looms and gradually increased to 44 looms over a period. The looms and preparatory machines were imported from Switzerland and was the first of its kind in India. After India gained Independence the Mysuru state Sericulture Dept. took control of the silk weaving factory.
In 1980 the Silk weaving factory was handed over to Karnataka Silk Industries Corporation Ltd., a Govt. of Karnataka enterprise and is popularly known as KSIC.
Where to buy : Karnataka Silk Industries Corporation Limited
Mysuru Masala Dosa
A “Masala dosa” is made by stuffing a dosa with a lightly cooked filling of potatoes, fried onions and spices. The dosa is wrapped around an onion and potato curry. It is also cited as top ten tasty foods of the world (2012) and also it is listed as number 39 on World’s 50 most delicious foods in 2011.
This came to be known as masala dosa, from the sautéeing of spices (masala) during the preparation of the potato palya.
Where to buy : Available in most of the restaurants in Mysuru
Mysuru Agarbathi
Mysuru is a land of million aromas. The aroma of incense sticks or agarbathi’s is one that has both religious as well as aesthetic appeal. Apart from the incense sticks many variants such as doopa’s etc.. are also made in Mysuru.
The hand rolled, incense sticks, provide employment to numerous people as it is a labor intensive industry. The huge base of workers in Mysuru and surrounding areas provides the right atmosphere for such an industry. The variety provided by these incense sticks is diverse.
Where to buy : Available in most of the stores in Mysuru
Mysuru Pak
A Mysuru pak is a sweet dish of Karnataka, India, usually served as dessert. It is made of generous amounts of ghee (clarified butter), sugar and gram flour. Pak or Paka in Kannada means the sugar syrup or generally paka is also referred as a dish resembling to nalapaka and bhimapaka.
Legend is that Mysuru pak was first created in the kitchens of the Mysuru Palace by a palace cook named Kakasura Madappa out of the above ingredients. The cook at the Mysuru Palace kitchen simply made a concoction of besan, ghee and sugar. The sweet that was formed delighted the royalties so much that it became a “Royal Sweet”. When asked its name, Madappa obviously didn’t have its name, so he simply called it the ‘Mysuru pak’, a delicacy from the Mysuru Palace. The king relished the sweet so much that he got Madappa to set up shop outside the palace grounds so that it could be made available to common people.
Where to buy :Available in most of the sweet shops in Mysuru
Mysuru Sandalwood Oil
Sandalwood oil is perhaps best known in the west as a sweet, warm, rich and woody essential oil used as is for a body fragrance, and as an ingredient in fragrant products such as incense, perfumes, aftershaves and other cosmetics. But the story of sandalwood, the divine essence, goes much further. Sandalwood has been a part of the religious and spiritual traditions of India since prehistory and has been effectively used in traditional medicine for thousands of years.
Where to buy : KARNATAKA SOAPS & DETERGENTS LIMITED
Mysuru Betal Leaf
About half-a-century ago, cultivation of these small green leaves were spread over at least 100 acres from Poorniah Choultry in Old Agrahara to Vidyaranyapuram junction that connects Mysuru-Nanjangud Road. It was also cultivated in neighbouring areas spread over some 500 acres. Mysuru ‘Chigurele’ was preferred most as they have an unparalleled taste. Probably the unique climate and soil in this stretch gave the leaves a unique taste that earned it the name ‘Mysuru Chigurele’. But, with ‘paan’ gradually dominating the market, chewing betel leaves is becoming a thing of the past, limiting it to religious ceremonies.
Where to buy : Devaraja Market – Mysuru
Mysuru Ganjifa Cards
This is miniature painting from Mysuru school. This playing card is painted with superfine brush using natural colours and gold. This is executed in different shapes of ivory-board or sandal-wood sheets. Originally this one thousand year old playing card from India was known in Sanskrit as “Kreeda Patra”. During the Moghul rule the indoor game became a royal pastime. Currently only a few artists are pursuing this style.
Where to buy : Cauvery Handicrafts Emporium
Mysuru Jasmine
Mysuru Mallige (Botanical name: Jasminum grandiflorum L.) of the Oleaceae family is the most popular among the three varieties of Jasmine endemic to Karnataka; the other two varieties being the Hadagali Mallige (Jasminum auriculatum Vahl) and Udupi Mallige (Jasminum sambac (L.) Aiton). Famed worldwide for their fragrance, all the three flower varieties have been patented and registered under Intellectual Property Right.
Mysuru Mallige derives its name since it is grown mostly around Mysuru city and partly in Srirangapatna taluk in Mandya district in Karnataka state. The Jasmine’s association with the city of Mysuru, the royal city of palaces, patronized by the Wadiyars of the Kingdom of Mysuru, because its fragrance is as powerful as the famous Dasara festival held every year in the city during October. Mallige grows in profusion in the open areas either in exclusive farmland, in front or at the backyard of houses.
Mysuru Mallige, mostly grown in and around Mysuru city is a viable crop for small farmers. Farmers reap two crops of this seasonal flower. Apart from the local market, the flower is in demand in parts of Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
Where to buy : Devaraja Market – Mysuru
Mysuru Traditional Paintings
This unique Style of painting originated about AD 1525. During the regin of Maharaja King Krishnaraja Wadiyar III (1799-1868) of Mysuru. The style matured fully. It had its ups and downs and currently revived by artists of Mysuru. The painting procedure comprises the basic ‘Gesso’ Work and the use of Traditional colours and thin real gold foil for embellishment. The most popular themes are the traditional deities of the Hindu pantheon and royal tradition. Mysuru style painting is characterized by intricate use of colours and fine relief work to be preserved as prized possession for ever.
Where to buy : Cauvery Handicrafts Emporium
Mysuru Sandal Soap
In the early 20th century, the Mysuru Kingdom in India was one of the largest producers of sandalwood in the world. It was also one of the major exporters of the wood, most of which was exported to Europe. During the First World War, large reserves of sandalwood were left over because they could not be exported due to the war. In order to make good use of these reserves, Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar, the king of Mysuru established the Government Soap Factory in Bangalore. This factory, which was set up in 1916, started manufacturing soaps under the brand-name Mysuru sandal soap using sandalwood oil as the main ingredient. A factory to distill sandalwood oil from the wood was set up at Mysuru in the same year. In 1944, another sandalwood oil factory was set up at Shimoga. After the unification of Karnataka, these factories came under the jurisdiction of the Government of Karnataka. In 1980, the Government decided to merge these factories and incorporate them under a company named Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited. Sharabha, a mythological creature having a body of a lion and the head of an elephant, was chosen as the logo of the company. This was because the creature represents the combined virtues of wisdom, courage and strength and symbolizes the company’s philosophy. The company has since diversified and manufactures incense sticks, talcum powder and detergents, apart from soaps.
Where to buy : KARNATAKA SOAPS & DETERGENTS LIMITED
Mysuru Rosewood Inlay
British writers mention the existence of thousands of workers in Mysuru involved in inlaying etched ivory motifs into rosewood to create intricate wood work. Even now an estimated 4000 people in Mysuru are involved in rosewood inlay work though other media like plastic have replaced ivory. This intricate work involves many stages. The first step is to design and draw the images and patterns on the rosewood. Then the rosewood is cut into proper shape by carpentry. The motifs that have to be inlaid are then carefully handcut to shape. The areas where the motifs have to be inlaid on the rosewood, are carefully scooped out. Next the motifs are inlaid and fixed. The wood is then smoothened using sandpaper and polished to give a bright look.
Where to buy : Cauvery Handicrafts Emporium