BLR first. What else to see? What interests you?

Markets -

• Russell market
• City market

- traditional indian market selling most everything.

Can't think of anything else without knowing interests.

Mysore, in general has more things to do from a historic perspective. Not only the palaces, museum, zoo in Mysore, but excursions to chamundi hill, Srirangapatnam and the Cauvery river make it worthwhile.

While you can certainly do a train trip down to Mysore, i wouldn't advise it. As a point of reference, there are about 4-6 trains daily b'ween BLR and Mysore. This url www.indianrail.gov.in/inet_metro_trns.html indicates there are at least 3 trains with an AC chair car. I know of the Shatabdi and the Tippu express. When traveling on these trains, keep a close eye on your belongings. I've known friends to loose stuff when they are deliberately distracted. One accomplice distracts, the other makes off with a laptop or ipod. So, beware. In general, its safe.

Rather than ride the train down, get a car with driver from the Park and drive down to Mysore. The BLR-Mysore road is far better now than it was a few years ago. The trip can be made in 3-4 hrs.

Plenty of interesting detours en route.

• Maddur for the vada.
• Closer to Mandya - you have Pandavapura (temple), Melkote (Sanskrit research institute, temple)
• Channapatna - for handcrafted toys (no match for chinese mass produced ones, but handcrafted and worth the stop).

With a car you can also use it to drive in and around Mysore.

OTOH, if you want to do some hiking, head to Coorg/Kodagu. The Park should be able to get you accomodations in Coorg for a night. the Brahmagiri park has some trails. Or, ask for a local guide and hike to the Cauvery and back. Watch for Elephant ditches, those are big and deep.

Further south, you have the B.R Hills, again with a temple and a forest for some hiking. No marked trails, but hire a local.

A little west of Bangalore en route to Hassan, you have Belur, Halebid and Southwest is Somnathpur, Talakad. Somnathpur's Channakesava temple is a great example of Hoysala architecture (as at Melkote, but far more intricate). So is Belur and Halebid. You can cover all these places in a day trip.