A Trip to the Palace City-Mysore

Taking advantage of the perfect weather in Bangalore,we plan a weekend getaway almost every weekend as it serves as a refreshing break from the monotonous life without much pressure and expense.

This time it was to the Palace City-Mysore situated at approximately 146 kms from Bangalore,which also happens to be the largest city in the southern state of Karnataka,in India.

We set out early in the morning and just before 13 kms of reaching Mysore , we took a turn to Srirangapatna,which is famed as a pilgrimage site. A halt at the ancient temple of Ranganatha made all our fatigue vanish filling us with divine bliss. We then proceeded to the Jumma Masjid, Daria Daulat Gardens and the Mausoleum of Tipu Sultan,the defacto ruler of Mysore.

Though a few kilometers of drive would have taken us to the Rangantittu Bird Sanctuary famed for breeding various species of birds and to the Black Hill and the Nimishambha temple,we did not want to be late on our return journey to Bangalore,so,we headed towards Mysore where the sandalwood city had much more to offer.

After savouring some fresh idlis and dosas(famous snacks from South India),we set out to explore the most popular tourist spot of Mysore-The Mysore Palace also known as the Ambavilas Palace.

During Dussehra festival in the month of October,the palace infact the whole of Mysore wears a colourful,vibrant and gaudy look.Tourists flock the place from all corners of the globe to witness the 10 days long festivities.

The other palaces to visited were the Jaganmohana Palace, Jayalakshmi Palace and the Lalitha Mahal.

A drive to the Chamundi Hills took us to the Chamundeshwari temple where we could see long ques of devotees waiting to take a glimpse of the Goddess.

The Mysore Zoo,St.Philomena's Church,Karanji Lake and the Railway Museum were our last sightseeing spots.

It was time to hunt for some souvenirs and what better option could it be then to revel in the glory of some Mysore Silk Saree's which are famous across the globe for their rich textures and fine form.They are expensive and it is always better to opt for Govt. undertakings and look for the purity seal before making a hole in the pocket.

A short distance away was the Brindavan Gardens,famed for its musical fountains which is built besides a dam,erected on the Kaveri river.The spot is a favourite among tourists and is best visited in the evening before returning home as the beautiful display of coloured musical fountains refreshes one's mind and soul.

There is a also a hotel within the premises overlooking the Garden and an overnight stay would be worthwhile but plan to book it beforehand.

It was getting dark and we decided to drive back home with sweet fragrances of the sandalwood city looking forward to our next visit to discover those unexplored places which had to be left out due to dearth of time.