Mysore: Making Way to Tourist Hotspots

 

‘Mysore’, I heard, and all I could think of was Mysore pak. Yes, I am the kind of person who first thinks about food before setting foot in a new place. The occasion was the wedding of a friend and off I was to be a part of her most memorable days, to congratulate her and to explore Mysore beyond its lip-smacking, soft and melting sweets.

My visit to Mysore lasted for a week and in between celebrations, ceremonies and gossip, we managed to get to see, taste and buy the best of Mysore. In this series of three blogs on Mysore, read about this pulsating city, its traditions and culture.

The City of Palaces

First things first. Any acquaintance with a city starts with a sightseeing tour to understand its history, culture and ethos through its monuments. In the City of Palaces, Mysore, we strolled down the elaborate pathways of the famous Mysore Palace and Jagmohan Palace. Mysore Palace is a lavish building that has been restructured four times and is now a culmination of Dravidian, European and Roman architectural styles. The sprawling palace is full of intricate motifs on the ceiling, chandeliers and furniture befitting a royal household. Other than registered guides, audio tracks of a tour through the palace are also available. What’s more, we visited the palace again on a Sunday evening and were left spell bound by the scene! Some 97,000 bulbs were lit all over the palace to make the structure dazzle against the dark night sky - the iconic image of Mysore was right in front of us!

Gardens, Lakes and More…

Next stop, Brindavan Gardens. Situated slightly outside the city, the garden is a hotspot for locals and is famous for the musical fountain show. It was around dusk when we entered the gardens and throngs of people were only starting to flood in. When there is such sprawling natural beauty, I would have rather been left alone and let imagination take the lead, but for the crowd that weekend! However, I did find solace on an early morning visit to Karanji Lake. Bordered by the beautiful Chamundi Hills, this grand lake is perhaps the best place in Mysore to experience tranquillity. The lake has a beautiful butterfly park and India’s largest aviary too. Boating in the lake was almost as enjoyable as strolling in the park and capturing a number of birds (peacocks, swans and pelicans) and butterflies in my camera.

Temple Run

After this rejuvenating halt at the lake, I headed to the famous Chamundeshwari Temple. This ancient Hindu temple is dedicated to goddess Durga’s Chamundeshwari avatar. The temple is built in the typical Dravidian style and has an impressive gateway or gopuram.

Moving to and fro in Mysore from its historical treasures to natural wonders and from temples to churches was one fine ride that brought me closer to the city. However, I was still looking for treasures to take home. Pictures are just not enough sometimes.

Silks, sweets and shopping in Mysore? Watch out for this space.

Note: Mysore can be conveniently reached through a direct flight or via a flight to Bangalore and further by taxi.

Where to Stay? Hotel Jade Garden (3 star), Regaalis (4 star), Country Inn & Suites by Carlson (5 star) Budget: Rs 13,000 per person (inclusive of 3-star hotel stay for 2 nights in Ooty and 1 night in Mysore)

Distance from Bangalore: 144 km

Traveller Type: Families, History Lovers, Couples

If you are travelling from Kolkata, take a flight to Mysore. The approximate flight duration is 6 hours.

To explore other exciting quick getaways across India, click here.