Mysore, Sep 13 (H M Aravind, TNN): Ahead of Dasara, tourists are milling Mysore.

On Sunday, the Mysore Zoo's single day revenue crossed Rs 9 lac, a first this season. Such is the mad rush in Mysore that there has been bumper-to-bumper traffic in the city known for its slow pace of life.

The Dasara season is starting on a big note: While extended holiday is the reason for flocking of visitors, it is also taken as an indicator of the tourists' renewed interest towards Mysore.

Last year, the Dasara season was hit by H1N1 scare that had plummeted tourist numbers. Cut to present: The city is relatively free from the bird flu scare and insulated from dengue deaths.

During the weekend, the tourists are coming in hordes and it's chock-a-block like at the parking lot of the Mysore Palace. Since the parking lot could not accommodate all vehicles, they were redirected to the football grounds opposite the Palace.

On Friday, the zoo's collection stood at Rs 2.11 lac while the next day it reached Rs 6.29 lac. It is worth recalling that during last year's Jamboo Savari on September 28, 2009, the zoo's revenue was Rs 8.37 lac.

Normally on weekends, the number surges but this is something unexpected, sources told The Times of India. Generally, the zoo's collection is Rs 4 lac during the weekends, they stated.

They pointed out that the visitors are mainly from Kerala and Karnataka. For Dasara, there will be visitors fromNorth India too. "Even overseas tourists will be here around that time. The season has opened on a good note," they stated.

It's not just Mysore that is reaping the benefits. The number of tourists has gone up at spots like Shivanasamudra Falls on the Mandya-Chamarajnagar border, Brindavan Gardens at Krishnarajsagar dam.