Is Mysore safe?
One of India's calmer cities. Traffic, touts at the palace and monkeys or stray dogs are the main annoyances.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 4/5, safe with normal care.
- US travel advisory: Level 2: Exercise increased caution, updated 2025-06-15.
- Homicide rate in India: 2.8 per 100,000 people (2022, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in India: 15.6 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 100 · Ambulance 108 · Fire 101 · Tourist police 1363 · All emergencies 112.
Safety in Mysore at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Crime | Petty theft in markets and around Chamundi Hill; scooter snatching is rare. Violent crime against visitors is uncommon. |
| At night | Quiet and safe in residential areas; roads empty by 10 pm. Use Uber or Rapido rather than walking dark stretches. |
| Solo women | Comfortable for solo women, especially in Gokulam's yoga community. Normal care at night, modest dress in the old market. |
| Other risks | Chaotic two-wheeler traffic; Mosquito-borne dengue in the rainy season; Stray dogs on quiet streets |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Rickshaw drivers refusing the meter and quoting tourist fares
- Touts steering visitors to silk, incense or oil shops for commission
- Fake guides at Chamundi Hill temple
Take care
- Traffic on Sayyaji Rao Road and Devaraja Market: crowded and chaotic
- Unlit roads in Gokulam at night: stray dogs and fast scooters
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Satellite phones and satellite messengers like Garmin inReach are illegal without a licence; travelers have been arrested at airports.
- Alcohol is prohibited in Gujarat, Bihar, Nagaland and Mizoram; beef is illegal in many states.
- Drones need registration and permission; photographing military sites, airports and bridges can lead to detention.
How Mysore compares in India
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Rishikesh | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Kochi | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Kolkata | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Hyderabad | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Dharamshala | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Leh | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Chennai | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Pondicherry | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Varkala | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Hampi | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Amritsar | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Jodhpur | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Jaisalmer | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Pushkar | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Palolem | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Darjeeling | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Munnar | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Alleppey | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Andaman Islands | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Mysore | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Delhi | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Goa | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Mumbai | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Jaipur | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Agra | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Varanasi | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Bangalore | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Udaipur | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Manali | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
| Anjuna | 3/5 · Take real precautions |
Quick answers
Is Mysore safe for solo female travelers?
Comfortable for solo women, especially in Gokulam's yoga community. Normal care at night, modest dress in the old market.
Is Mysore safe at night?
Quiet and safe in residential areas; roads empty by 10 pm. Use Uber or Rapido rather than walking dark stretches.
What is the crime rate in Mysore?
Petty theft in markets and around Chamundi Hill; scooter snatching is rare. Violent crime against visitors is uncommon. Nationally, India records 2.8 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2022).
What number do I call in an emergency in Mysore?
Police 100 · Ambulance 108 · Fire 101 · Tourist police 1363 · All emergencies 112.
More about Mysore
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Karnataka Tourism
- K. Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Institute (KPJAYI)
- IRCTC
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.