Christmas festivities, year-end vacations and school holidays have ushered in a surge of tourists to Mysuru, transforming the city into a bustling hub.

Popular attractions like the Mysore Palace and the Mysuru Zoo witnessed a steady influx of visitors, leading to long queues at ticket counters.

The overwhelming tourist flow even caused chaotic parking scenes behind the Dasara Exhibition Grounds, the usual parking place for Zoo visitors. With parking lots reaching full capacity, vehicles spilled onto residential areas, shopping malls and every available corner, prompting frustration among local residents. Following their Zoo visit, many tourists resorted to resting on stone benches along roadsides under the shade of trees.

In response to the tourist influx, the Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary in Srirangapatna has extended its operating hours from 6 am to 5.30 pm until Jan. 2, 2024.