Question 1

What is the "Fake sandalwood oil and perfume" scam in Mysore?

Accepted Answer

Sellers push 'pure Mysore sandalwood oil' and perfumes in attractive boxes, but the thin, watery liquid is usually diluted or synthetic rather than genuine sandalwood. Authentic oil is scarce and expensive because the government factory's supply is severely limited. Buy sandalwood oil and soap only from Karnataka Soaps & Detergents (KSDL) or the official Cauvery emporium. Treat very cheap 'sandalwood oil', free-gift packaging, and 'special tourist price' as red flags; genuine oil is viscous, not watery.

Question 2

What is the "Chamundi Hill temple offering pressure" scam in Mysore?

Accepted Answer

At the Chamundeshwari temple atop Chamundi Hill, priests or their aides have been documented placing a plate over the hundi (donation box) to push devotees into handing cash directly, and the hill's silk and souvenir shops falsely use government brand names. A temple priest was suspended after CCTV caught the forced-collection practice. Put any offering directly into the official hundi box rather than into a priest's hand or plate, and treat 'special puja' fee demands as optional. Buy silk on the hill only from verified KSIC outlets, not roadside shops borrowing the Cauvery name.

Street Scams in Mysore

Fake sandalwood oil and perfume

Chamundi Hill temple offering pressure

Experienced a scam here?