Payana Vintage Car Museum
A tyre-shaped museum on the expressway with 70+ vintage cars, including ones that belonged to the last Maharaja of Mysore and Sir C.V. Raman.
- Open9:00 AM to 8:00 PM daily
- Time needed2 to 3 hours
- Entry₹75 adults, under 12 free
Somewhere between Bengaluru and Mysuru, just as the highway starts to flatten into the Deccan plains, a building shaped like a giant tyre rises from the landscape. It is not easy to miss, and it is not meant to be.
That tyre is the entrance to Payana Vintage Car Museum, one of South India's most exciting new cultural landmarks. Opened in April 2024 on the Bengaluru to Mysuru Expressway, it has quickly become a must-stop for road-trippers, car lovers, history buffs and families looking for something more memorable than the usual circuit.
What is Payana?
"Payana" is the Kannada word for journey, the right name for a museum built on the idea that every car tells a story, not just of engineering but of the people and eras that shaped it.
It was founded by Shree D. Veerendra Heggade, the Dharmadhikari of Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala and a Rajya Sabha member, as an extension of the renowned Manjusha Museum in Dharmasthala. His lifelong passion for vintage cars and cultural preservation shaped a museum that feels less like a showroom and more like a living archive. It spreads across 23 acres and holds 70+ vintage and classic vehicles, from pre-Independence cars to iconic Indian models.
The collection
Cars that belonged to history-makers
- Jayachamarajendra Wadiyar's car: owned by the last Maharaja of Mysore.
- Sir C.V. Raman's car: the Nobel laureate's own automobile.
- Dr. Vishnuvardhan's car: the beloved Kannada film icon's vehicle, always a crowd favourite.
- Dr. Veerendra Heggade's student-era car: a personal touch from the founder.
From 1925 to the present
The collection spans nearly a century, from a 1925 Austin Seven onwards. Look for:
- A 1938 Buick 8, a pre-war American classic
- A 1947 Frazer Nash and a 1949 Daimler DE 36, rare British craftsmanship
- A 1962 Standard Herald, now scarce because spare parts are so hard to find
- A Rolls-Royce timeline tracing every model from 1904 to 2022
- Mumbai's double-decker bus and the black-and-yellow kaali-peeli taxis
- World War 2 jeeps and Willys trucks
- A 1980s Mercedes-Benz, a 1991 Contessa and the electric Reva, the first chapter of India's EV story
Interactive exhibits
Dissected cars expose engines, transmissions and chassis in cross-section, genuinely educational for curious children. Every vehicle also has a QR code linking to its history, specifications and story.
Tickets and timings
| Timings | 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM, every day including public holidays |
|---|---|
| Adults (13 and above) | ₹75 |
| Children (under 12) | Free |
| Time needed | 2 to 3 hours |
Prices and timings are approximate and may change. Please verify before visiting.
The museum was designed to be disabled-friendly, with ramps instead of stairs throughout, an unusually thoughtful touch for any museum in India.
Location and how to reach
Address: next to SKDRDP RO Office, Bengaluru to Mysuru Expressway, Brahmapura, opposite Bharat Benz, Srirangapatna, Karnataka 571477.
- From Mysuru: 9 km on NH275, 15 to 20 minutes.
- From Bengaluru: about 2 hours via the expressway, on the left as you head towards Mysuru. Take the service road, and watch for the large hoardings a few kilometres before.
Driving is the most practical option. Autos run from Mysuru, but plan for the return trip, since no KSRTC bus stops at the gate.
Facilities
- Food court and restaurant for snacks and meals.
- Open-air theatre for seasonal cultural and automotive events.
- Restoration unit: a working workshop where vintage cars are restored from scrap, with mechanical, tinkering and painting sections. Watching the mechanics puts the whole collection in context.
- Restrooms, including accessible ones, and a large car and bus park.
What to see first
- The royal and celebrity cars: Wadiyar, C.V. Raman and Vishnuvardhan, with the richest stories.
- The Rolls-Royce timeline: every model from 1904 to 2022 in one space.
- The dissected engines: illuminating even for non-engineers.
- The World War 2 vehicles: the Willys trucks and Dodge Power Wagon.
- The QR deep dives: pick four or five cars and scan for the full stories.
Why Payana is different
India has fine car museums in Udaipur, Ahmedabad and Coimbatore. Payana stands apart for its storytelling, its deep ties to Mysore royalty, Kannada cinema and South Indian history, its working restoration unit, and its location on one of India's busiest highways, rather than tucked away in a city centre. Its website has also won design awards, a sign of how seriously the museum presents itself.
Practical tips
- Best time: weekday mornings, 9 to 11 AM. Sundays bring large groups and school tours.
- Time: at least 2 hours, 3 with children, and half a day for serious car lovers.
- Photography: allowed throughout, and the tyre-shaped entrance makes a great photo.
- Wear comfortable shoes: the 23-acre campus means a lot of walking.
- Combine with Srirangapatna, 15 minutes away, for Tipu Sultan's island fortress and the Ranganathaswamy Temple.
What visitors say
Recent reviews consistently praise the cleanliness, the depth of the collection and the accessibility. A recurring theme is nostalgia mixed with learning: for visitors who grew up around Ambassadors, Contessas and Premier Padminis, it sparks real recognition, while younger visitors get a window into a world they have only seen in photos.
Frequently asked questions
Is Payana open on Sunday?
Yes, every day including Sundays and public holidays, from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
What is the entry fee?
₹75 for adults aged 13 and above. Children under 12 enter free.
How many cars are on display?
More than 70 vintage and classic vehicles, from a 1925 Austin Seven to models from 2008 and beyond.
How far is it from Mysuru?
About 9 km from the city centre, 15 to 20 minutes via NH275.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
Yes, it was designed with ramps instead of stairs throughout.
Who founded the museum?
Shree D. Veerendra Heggade, Dharmadhikari of Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala and a Rajya Sabha member.
Final word
Payana is not simply a place to look at old cars. It is a reflection on how machines carry memory, of people, of eras, of roads not yet built when these cars first rolled out. For anyone travelling between Bengaluru and Mysuru, it has become an essential stop, and the tyre-shaped building on the highway is worth every minute you give it.
Continue the Mysuru road trip, and take home a box of fresh Mysore Pak.