KSTDC Ambaari
Dasara Mysuru Tour
During Mysuru Dasara, the city lights up like nowhere else in India. Over 100,000 bulbs illuminate Mysore Palace every evening, and the streets are lined with decorated tableaux and crowds. The KSTDC Ambaari — a vintage double-decker bus named after the elephant howdah of Dasara — takes you through all of it on the open upper deck, at eye level with the city's most spectacular display.
What is the Ambaari?
The word Ambaari refers to the ornate howdah — the jewelled seat — mounted on the lead elephant during the Dasara Jamboo Savari procession. KSTDC named its Mysuru double-decker bus fleet the Ambaari in reference to this royal symbol.
During Dasara, KSTDC operates the Ambaari as an illumination tour — a one-hour circuit of Mysuru's decorated streets departing from Hotel Mayura Hoysala. The route covers the palace area, the main ceremonial roads, the town hall and clock tower, Sayyaji Rao Road and returns to the starting point. The open upper deck is the highlight — you ride through the illuminated city above the crowd, with an unobstructed view of the palace and the decorations.
Mysuru has six Ambaari buses in its fleet. During Dasara, KSTDC commissions multiple buses with three departure times to accommodate demand. Upper deck tickets carry a premium and are in very high demand — particularly for the 8:00 PM and 9:30 PM slots when the illumination is at its best.
Book Ambaari tickets early — upper deck sells out first
Call Padaki to check availability and secure your preferred departure time and deck
Three Departure Times — One Route
All three tours cover the same illuminated Mysuru city circuit · Departs from Hotel Mayura Hoysala, JLB Road, Mysuru
The 6:30 PM departure catches the transition from dusk to full illumination. The palace lights come on at 7:00 PM — this tour departs before full lighting and witnesses the city come alive as the 100,000 bulbs switch on during the circuit. A good option for families with children who may not want a late night. The palace and streets are beginning to fill with visitors but the crowds are more manageable at this hour.
Places Covered
- Hotel Mayura Hoysala, JLB Road — boarding point
- DC Office — Crawford Hall — Oriental Research
- Ramaswamy Circle — Sanskrit Patasala
- Palace South Gate — Jaya Marthanda Circle Gate
- Town Hall — Gandhi Square — Big Clock — K R Circle
- Sayyaji Rao Road — Ayurvedic Medical College — Railway Station
- Return to Hotel Mayura Hoysala
Tour Details
Included
- Bus ride — upper or lower deck
- City illumination circuit
Not Included
- No get-off stops — drive through only
- Food and beverages
The 8:00 PM departure is the most popular of the three — the palace is in full illumination, the city is at its most festive, and the atmosphere is electric. Street vendors, music, dressed-up families and the general joy of Dasara evening surrounds the route at this hour. This is the slot that sells out first and which most Mysuru visitors want. If you are in Mysuru specifically for the Dasara illumination experience, this is the departure to book. Upper deck tickets for this slot are in very high demand.
Places Covered
- Hotel Mayura Hoysala, JLB Road — boarding point
- DC Office — Crawford Hall — Oriental Research
- Ramaswamy Circle — Sanskrit Patasala
- Palace South Gate at full illumination (7:00 PM onwards)
- Town Hall — Gandhi Square — Big Clock — K R Circle
- Sayyaji Rao Road — Railway Station
- Return to Hotel Mayura Hoysala
Tour Details
Included
- Bus ride — upper or lower deck
- Peak-hour illumination circuit
Not Included
- No get-off stops — drive through only
- Food and beverages
The 9:30 PM departure is for those who prefer the city slightly after peak crowd hours. The illumination is still in full operation — the palace stays lit until 10:00 PM. The streets are still alive but the densest crowds have begun to thin slightly from their 8:00 PM peak. For visitors who have had dinner in Mysuru and want a final illumination circuit before returning to their hotel, this is a natural fit. Also good for those who cannot book the 8:00 PM slot due to full availability.
Places Covered
- Hotel Mayura Hoysala, JLB Road — boarding point
- DC Office — Crawford Hall — Oriental Research
- Palace South Gate — illuminated palace circuit
- Town Hall — Gandhi Square — Big Clock
- K R Circle — Sayyaji Rao Road
- Return to Hotel Mayura Hoysala
Tour Details
Included
- Bus ride — upper or lower deck
- Evening illumination circuit
Not Included
- No get-off stops — drive through only
- Food and beverages
Upper Deck vs Lower Deck
Upper Deck — Open Air
- ✓ 360° unobstructed view of city and palace
- ✓ Open-air — no roof obstruction
- ✓ Best for photography
- ✓ The recommended experience
- ✗ Higher fare
- ✗ Sells out first — especially 8:00 PM slot
- ✗ Exposed to weather — carry a light jacket
Lower Deck — Enclosed
- ✓ Lower fare
- ✓ Protected from wind and light rain
- ✓ More comfortable for elderly passengers
- ✓ More availability
- ✗ Enclosed — views through windows
- ✗ Photography through glass
Note: In case Dasara lighting illumination is unavailable during the tour due to technical or administrative reasons, KSTDC is not responsible for the change. Contact Padaki for refund policy in such cases.
Secure your Ambaari seats now
Upper deck for 8:00 PM slot sells out fast — call Padaki today
Frequently Asked Questions
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