The following is a MODIFIED REVIEW (based on the suggestion & valuable tips from Lickwid, thanks again, pal!!). I have added the inputs from Lickwid in italics.
I went to Mysore in one of the day buses that operate from Bangalore. Tours such as these pretty much covers everything there is to see in Mysore, although in a very uncomfortable manner.
First Tip: Never take this tour from any of the private operators. Stick to the Karnataka Tourism buses, if they say they have no place, it is better to wait another day than to go ahead. Why I am saying this is because I have done this excursion twice, once with a private operator & next time with the Government bus. Believe me, there is a huge difference. Another option is ITDC =Indian Tourism development Corporation’s same bus facility like the Karnataka Govt’s facilities both are almost at same price !!!...
Anyway, to start, you can book your seats from Hotel Brindavan at M G Road. The buses leave early in the morning, at around 0600. You can sleep till the drive to Srirangapatna.
Your first stop is at Chennapatna 60 Km from Bangalore at Cauvery (kaveri) arts Emporium u will reach there 1 hour 20 minutes from the time you start ie around 8:30 in morning .
The next stop is Srirangapatna, one of the places where Tipu Sultan planned & executed his attack on the British. Tippu sultan’s reign involved a number of wars (about 4) with british and first one was in the war of Tanjore on 18 Feb 1782.
Then we carry on to St. Philomena’s Church - the place where Amar, Akbar, Antony was made. (Remember all the scenes with Amitabh??).
There was a stop at Chamundi Hills. Half way up the hill is a monolith of the great bull, Nandi. On the hill is the temple dedicated to Goddess Chamundeshwari.
The next 2 stops are really what Mysore is all about - the Mysore Palace & The Vrindavan Gardens. A part of the Palace is open for visitors the whole year through. It is really a very very beautiful piece of architecture & especially interesting are the portraits of the Royal Family on the walls.
The Vrindavan Gardens are terraced gardens planned & maintained perfectly. The Musical (Singing & Dancing) Fountains are the Highlights here. It is about 1 1/2 kilo meter long walk over the Dam to reach the gardens...and it is worth it!!’’. The must mention about brindavan gardens is the dam ie Krishnasagar dam was built during british tenure by Sir Vishveshwarayya over River Kaveri in 1860’s which is one of the excellent pieces of civil engineering excellence during those times and is still going good .
Second Tip: Mysore gets very crowded during Dussera & you will rushing everywhere with the crowd if you are there around that time.
Mysore is a must see in every itinerary which features Bangalore.