Local Mysore Bus
Buses run frequently and are often crowded but very cheap at Rs. 2 – 4 so it’s best to carry coins. Once you board the bus, an attendant comes around to collect fares. For information on bus schedules and fares, you can contact the Mysore Main Bus Stand at 821-252-0853 or the City Bus Stand at 821-242-5819.
Rickshaws
An auto rickshaw is a 3-wheeled motorized “taxi.” Getting a rickshaw in Mysore is rarely a problem except early in the morning or late at night. Ask to make sure that the meter is working first. If the meter is not working, agree on a price beforehand or get another rickshaw. Most one-way rickshaw rides within Mysore will cost approximately Rs. 10 – 40. After 10 pm, the drivers typically charge 50% over the meter and after midnight double the meter, but this can often be negotiated. If you ask a rickshaw to wait for your return, the driver will most likely expect to be compensated for his time.
There aren’t many street signs in Mysore and some streets can go by a few names. So don’t be surprised when your driver tells you he knows where you want to go, but then pulls over three times to ask for directions. Rickshaw drivers are also notorious for not having change; so make sure to travel with small bills or coins.
A good, reliable rickshaw driver is Krishna in Gokulam. He is available 24 hours a day and provides rickshaw transportation, sightseeing services and airport pick-up or drop-off.
Bike and Moped Rental
If you can manage the traffic in Mysore, you can drive anywhere! Driving here entails dodging cows, maneuvering through clouds of exhaust, driving on the left-hand side of the road, avoiding potholes, crawling over speed bumps, using hand signals and honking your horn frequently and often unnecessarily. An international driving permit is a legal requirement for mopeds and scooters and can result in a fine if you fail to present one. You can rent a bike for approximately Rs. 15 per day or a moped/scooter for around Rs. 1,500 per month. The facilitators listed in the “Services” chapter can help you rent a bike or moped.
