KARNATAKA TRAVEL GUIDE · UPDATED OCTOBER 2026
Brindavan Gardens Mysore: Timings, Tickets, Musical Fountain Show and How to Reach
A terraced garden below the KRS dam that is best seen at dusk. Here is when to arrive, what the sources say about tickets and show times (they disagree), and how to fit it into a Mysuru day.
Quick answer: when and how to visit Brindavan Gardens
Reach the gardens by about 4:30 pm, walk the terraces in daylight, and get a spot at the fountain gallery before the evening show, which sources place between about 6:30 and 7 pm. Entry is a few tens of rupees per person; the amount differs by source, so carry cash and confirm at the gate. Weekends are more crowded and the show runs later.
Brindavan Gardens sits beside the Krishna Raja Sagara (KRS) dam on the Cauvery, in Srirangapatna taluk of Mandya district, about 20 km north-west of Mysuru city by most counts. It is a formal terraced garden, 60 acres by Wikipedia’s figure, with fountains, topiary, pergolas, a boating lake and a musical fountain. It is a short, easy evening outing, not a full-day destination, and its value depends almost entirely on timing: in the afternoon sun it is a tidy garden; at dusk, with the fountains lit, it is what people travel for.
Fees, show times and even the opening hours vary from source to source and change without a notice board update, so this page gives ranges and tells you which figures conflict. Pair it with a morning at Srirangapatna or the Mysore Palace, and see our Mysuru district guide for the wider area.
Brindavan Gardens at a glance
| Item | What sources say | Our reading |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Below the KRS dam, Srirangapatna taluk, Mandya district; about 18 km from Srirangapatna | Agreed |
| Distance from Mysuru | 12 km (Wikipedia), 18, 20 and 22 km on other pages; taxis take 30 to 45 minutes | Plan 35 to 45 minutes by road |
| Distance from Bengaluru | About 143 to 145 km | Allow roughly three hours; an estimate, not a quoted figure |
| Opened | Layout began 1927 and was finished in 1932 | Wikipedia and Veena World agree |
| Designer | Gustav Hermann Krumbiegel, conceived under Diwan Sir Mirza Ismail | Wikipedia, Housing.com and others agree |
| Size | 60 acres of terraced garden; one listing says about 150 acres | 60 acres is the figure most sources repeat |
| Garden hours | Opens 6, 7 or 8 am; closes 8 pm on weekdays and 9 pm on weekends | Arrive after 9 am for a safe margin |
| Entry | ₹15 adult and ₹5 child on older pages; ₹50 adult and ₹30 child on a December 2024 page | Budget ₹50 each and be glad if it is less |
The musical fountain show: when it runs
Usual startabout 6:30 to 7 pmLengthabout 30 minutes, sources varySeatsgallery and rain shelter, North Brindavan
The fountain show is the reason most people come, and it is also where the sources disagree most. Several pages list a seasonal timetable: from January to September, Monday to Friday from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm, with weekends from about 7 pm; from October to December, a start at 7 pm. The end times they quote range from 7:30 pm to 8:55 pm, which looks like the window the lights stay on rather than the length of one show, and one FAQ says the show itself lasts about 30 minutes. Wikipedia’s KRS entry mentions illumination on Saturdays and Sundays at 7 pm, so check at the gate whether a weekday show is running on your date.
What this means in practice: be in place by 6:15 pm on weekdays and 6:45 pm on weekends, stay for the first show, and treat anything later as a bonus. The musical fountain was added in 1985 according to one page, and Wikipedia records a ₹5 crore (₹50 million) renovation in 2005 that digitised the system and repaired non-working fountains. North Brindavan has a gallery and a rain shelter for the show, so you do not need to stand through a drizzle.
Tickets, parking and extra charges
| Item | Reported price | Source note |
|---|---|---|
| Adult entry | ₹15 to ₹50 | ₹15 on older pages; ₹50 on a page dated 25 December 2024 |
| Child entry | ₹5 to ₹30 | Age bands differ: under 10, 5 to 10, above 3 |
| Camera | Free to ₹100 | Sources conflict; commercial videography is not allowed |
| Boating | ₹40 one way, ₹80 round trip | Run by KSTDC; reported suspended in November 2024 for a bridge leak |
| Car parking | ₹100 | Single source, with a separate ₹100 toll |
The jump from ₹15 to ₹50 is probably a price revision rather than a different counter, because the older figures come from pages that read like pre-2020 copy. Treat ₹50 per adult as the safer planning number, add parking if you drive, and carry small notes. Because the pages also disagree on whether a camera ticket exists, ask before you buy one; a phone is fine in practice. Videography is prohibited, and Veena World cites a ₹50 fine for unauthorised camera use, so do not shoot video with a dedicated camera.
How to reach Brindavan Gardens
| From | How | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mysuru | Cab, own vehicle, or KSRTC and city bus | One page names bus numbers 303 and 303A from Mysuru bus stand; confirm at the stand. Taxis take 30 to 45 minutes. |
| Bengaluru | Drive via the Bengaluru–Mysuru highway and the KRS road | About 143 to 145 km. Add the Mysuru leg only if you are staying in the city. |
| Srirangapatna | Short drive | About 17 to 18 km |
| Rail | Mysuru Junction, then road | About 21 km from the gardens, per one source |
There is no train to the gate; the nearest main station is Mysuru. The line that carries the garden’s name is the Brindavan Express, introduced in 1964, which runs to Mysuru, so you will pass the namesake without stopping. If you are coming from Bengaluru for the day, see our weekend getaways from Bangalore guide and combine the gardens with Srirangapatna, Ranganathittu and a Mysuru dinner.
Evening return traffic from the KRS road is heavy on weekends and holidays, especially after the show, when everyone leaves at once. If you need to be back in Bengaluru the same night, leave after the first show rather than waiting for the second.
What to see inside, and is it worth it?
The garden has two halves, North and South Brindavan, joined by a walkway bridge over the water. North Brindavan holds the four main terraces, the central fountains and the show gallery. South Brindavan has a glass house with ornamental plants for sale and a children’s park. Wikipedia lists topiary animal figures, pergolas and gazebos, a lake with boating, and plantings of Ficus, Duranta, Euphorbia, Celosia, marigold and bougainvillea. Near the main gate, the Nagavana horticulture farm covers 30 acres and the smaller Chandravana farm about 5 acres, alongside a 75-acre orchard that is not open to casual visitors.
Is it worth it? Our view, which is an opinion and not a measured fact: yes, if you treat it as a two-hour evening stop with a clear plan, and no if you expect a nature outing or a long day. It is crowded at weekends, the fountains look best after dark, and the formal layout rewards a slow walk rather than photography. Families with children, couples after sunset, and anyone on a Mysuru day-trip loop get the most from it. If you prefer quieter water and wildlife, the bird sanctuaries in Karnataka page points to Ranganathittu nearby.
A simple half-day plan from Mysuru
| Time | Plan | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Late morning | Srirangapatna: Tipu’s palace and the Ranganathaswamy temple | Both are 17 to 18 km from the gardens; see our Srirangapatna guide |
| 3:30 to 4 pm | Drive to KRS | Gets you in with daylight to spare |
| 4:30 to 6 pm | Walk the terraces and the bridge | Best light, thinner crowds |
| 6:15 pm | Take a place at the fountain gallery | Seats fill early on weekends |
| After the show | Return to Mysuru for dinner | Leave before the main rush if you can |
If you are visiting Mysuru for Dasara, read our Mysore Dasara 2026 page, because Housing.com says the gardens look their fullest around Dasara and Independence Day, when they are decorated with flowers and lights. Crowds also peak then, so arrive earlier.
Best time of year
One source recommends October to March, when Mysuru runs about 15 to 27 degrees Celsius, and Housing.com recommends July to February for Mysuru overall. The gardens remain open all year, though heavy rain can close them briefly: in June 2023 high winds uprooted trees and the gardens shut for a day before reopening. In the monsoon, check the weather before driving out. Our Karnataka in winter and Karnataka in monsoon guides cover the seasonal trade-offs.
Costs and mistakes to avoid
Entry for two adults is likely to land between ₹30 and ₹100 depending on which price applies. Add ₹100 for car parking and ₹80 to ₹160 for boating if it is running. The real cost is transport: a cab from Mysuru for the evening, or fuel for roughly 40 to 50 km round trip in your own vehicle, which is our estimate. Check with a driver for a fixed return fare before you leave.
Mistakes that spoil the evening
- Arriving at 6:30 pm and finding the gallery full. Be seated by 6:15 pm.
- Assuming a weekday show runs every day without checking at the gate.
- Carrying a video camera and being stopped at the entrance.
- Leaving the show together with every other car and hitting a long queue on the KRS road.
- Booking a taxi without agreeing on waiting time.
- Expecting to boat when the service may be suspended for repairs.
Brindavan Gardens: frequently asked questions
What are the Brindavan Gardens timings?
Sources give opening between 6 and 8 am and closing at about 8 pm on weekdays and 9 pm on weekends. Arrive in the afternoon and confirm at the gate.
What is the Brindavan Gardens ticket price?
Older pages list ₹15 for adults and ₹5 for children; a page dated December 2024 lists ₹50 and ₹30. Plan for ₹50 per adult and confirm at the counter.
What time is the musical fountain show?
Sources place it at about 6:30 pm on weekdays and about 7 pm on weekends, with an autumn start near 7 pm. Be seated 15 minutes early and check the day’s schedule at the gate.
How far is Brindavan Gardens from Mysuru?
Sources give 12 to 22 km. Allow 35 to 45 minutes by road, longer on weekend evenings.
How far is it from Bengaluru?
About 143 to 145 km by road. Allow roughly three hours each way as a planning estimate, more in weekend traffic.
Can I take a camera or video inside?
Phones are fine in practice, sources conflict on a camera fee of up to ₹100, and videography is prohibited. Ask at the gate.
Is boating available?
Boating is run by KSTDC at about ₹40 one way or ₹80 round trip, but a page reported it suspended in November 2024 for a bridge leak. Confirm before you plan around it.
When is the best time to visit?
Evenings, for the lit fountains, between October and March for the mildest weather. Dasara and Independence Day bring decorations and bigger crowds.
Keep exploring Karnataka
Extend the trip with the Mysore Palace guide, the Chamundi Hills guide and the Srirangapatna guide, or browse the Mandya district guide for the KRS side of the river.
Fees, timings, show schedules and boating availability are approximate and change often. Confirm at the gate before you travel. Updated October 2026.