Mysuru: Tourist and public entry to the Mysuru Palace will be temporarily restricted on select days in October and November in connection with religious rituals and ceremonial preparations for Mysuru Dasara 2026. The restrictions will begin on October 5 and will cover specific time slots on some days, while entry will be completely closed on October 20 and October 21, according to the Mysuru Palace Board.
The restrictions have been announced to facilitate important Dasara-related rituals, including the assembling of the jewel-studded golden throne, royal ceremonies, Mahanavami and Ayudha Puja and Vijayadashami proceedings.
Visitors planning to tour the Palace during the Dasara season have therefore been advised to take note of the restricted dates and timings before planning their visit.
Entry restricted on October 5
The first restriction will be imposed on October 5 from 10 am to 1 pm.
The Palace Board has said the restriction is being introduced to facilitate the assembling of the Ratna Simhasana, the jewel-studded golden throne used during the Dasara period.
The assembling of the throne is an important annual ceremonial preparation at the Palace. Since the work involves the movement and arrangement of valuable ceremonial objects within the Palace, general visitor access will be restricted during the specified three-hour period.
Visitors can therefore plan their Palace visit outside the restricted window on October 5, subject to the Palace’s regular operating arrangements.
October 11 entry restricted during royal ceremonies
The next restriction is scheduled for October 11 from 10 am to 2 pm.
The Palace Board said the restriction is connected with the royal family’s throne-related ceremony and rituals associated with the private Durbar.
The private Durbar is not a public event, and the restricted entry is intended to facilitate the ceremonies taking place within the Palace.
The restriction means tourists and members of the public will not be able to access the Palace during the four-hour period. Visitors planning a trip on October 11 will need to consider the restricted window while arranging their itinerary.
Palace closed to general public on October 20
A more extensive restriction will be in place on October 20, when the Palace will remain closed to general public entry throughout the day.
The restriction is linked to the Mahanavami and Ayudha Puja rituals scheduled at the Palace’s Kalyana Mantapa.
Ayudha Puja is an important part of the Dasara celebrations and is associated with the worship of weapons, equipment and other implements. The Palace serves as a key venue for the traditional ceremonies connected with the festival.
Because of the rituals and arrangements, visitors without authorised access will not be permitted to enter the Palace on October 20.
General entry closed on Vijayadashami
The most significant restriction will be on October 21, the Vijayadashami day and the date of the grand Jumboo Savari procession.
There will be no general public entry to the Mysuru Palace throughout the day.
However, visitors holding valid Dasara passes or Jumboo Savari tickets will be permitted entry, subject to security checks and other arrangements.
The official Mysuru Dasara 2026 programme confirms that the Jumboo Savari will take place on October 21, with the procession beginning from the Palace before proceeding towards Bannimantap.
The Palace is the starting point of the grand procession, making crowd management and security particularly important on Vijayadashami.
Another restriction scheduled for November 19
The restrictions will continue beyond the main Dasara celebrations.
On November 19 from 10 am to noon, Palace entry will again be restricted.
The Palace Board said this is because the Ratna Simhasana will be dismantled and shifted to the security room after the Dasara season.
The two-hour restriction is intended to facilitate the dismantling and movement of the ceremonial throne safely within the Palace premises.
Sound and light show temporarily suspended
Along with the entry restrictions, the Palace Board has also announced the temporary suspension of the regular sound-and-light programme.
The programme, which is normally held in the evening, will remain suspended from October 5 to November 1 in view of the Dasara celebrations.
The programme is scheduled to resume from November 2, according to the Palace Board’s announcement.
The temporary suspension is part of the wider arrangements being made at the Palace during the Dasara period, when the premises host several religious, ceremonial and cultural activities.
Dasara brings major visitor activity to Palace
The restrictions come ahead of the 2026 Mysuru Dasara celebrations, which will run from October 11 to October 21.
The official Dasara website lists the Palace illumination as one of the major public attractions during the festival, with the Palace scheduled to be illuminated from 7 pm to 10 pm every evening during the festival, subject to weather conditions.
The Palace also remains central to the traditional sequence of Dasara events, including royal ceremonies, the golden throne rituals and the departure of the Jumboo Savari.
With large numbers of tourists and residents expected in Mysuru during the festival, the Palace authorities have put in place restrictions to ensure that religious ceremonies and security arrangements can be carried out without interference.
Visitors advised to plan Palace trips carefully
The restrictions mean tourists will need to check the Palace schedule before visiting during the Dasara period.
The most important dates to remember are October 5, October 11, October 20, October 21 and November 19. While October 5, October 11 and November 19 involve specific time restrictions, October 20 has a full-day restriction and October 21 has no general public entry throughout the day.
On Vijayadashami, only those holding authorised Dasara passes or Jumboo Savari tickets will be allowed into the Palace, according to the Palace Board.
The restrictions are separate from access to several other Dasara attractions across Mysuru. The official Dasara website states that the Palace illumination, street procession and several cultural events are open to the public, while certain gallery seats and selected programmes require tickets.
Conclusion
Tourist and public entry to Mysuru Palace will be restricted on selected dates during and around Dasara 2026 to facilitate royal rituals and ceremonial preparations. Entry will be restricted for specific hours on October 5, October 11 and November 19, while the Palace will remain closed to general visitors on October 20. On October 21, Vijayadashami, only visitors with valid Dasara passes or Jumboo Savari tickets will be permitted entry.