Mysore is the second largest city in the Indian state of Karnataka (Bangalore is the largest). Recently renamed Mysooru by the Government, the city is known for its palaces, sandalwood products and crafts, and is also famous for its celebration of the ten-day Dasara festival every year (in September). Mysore is an inspired mosiac of ornate palaces, gardens, boulevards, and planned markets-the legacy left by the Wodeyar dynasty.
What the book says: The Mysore Palace is the focal point and signature of the city. Built on the ashes of the old wooden palace that burnt to the ground in 1897, the palace was completed in 1912 and was home of the Wodeyars. Ornate as the palace is in its royal purple garb, when it is illuminated you have to be there to believe how it feels to see it when 100,000 electric bulbs light up at once.
My take: That's right-it took 15 years to build this place. We took a tour of the inside of the palace and also walked around the grounds for a good while taking pictures and whatnot. As the description above says, you have to be there to get the full effect of the 100,000 lights on the palace at night. Originally, our trip was planned for Saturday until we found out that the palace is only illuminated on Sunday evenings from 7pm-8pm.
What the book says: The summit of this 1,150 m (3,775 ft) hill commands a breathtaking view of Mysore. The peak is accessible by a motorable 13 km road, but is only 4 km via the 300 year-old flight of 1,000 steps leading up to the temple.
My take: I left my camera in the car while we were walking around, so I don't really have any photos to document. This place was really crowded and I can't imagine trying to get up there during Dasara. And no, we were not brave enough (or in good enough shape) to walk up the steps. We were instead escorted to the top by our driver.
What the book says: The Brindavan Gardens are laid out beside the Krishnaraja Sagara Dam, which itself is an architectural marvel that took 20 years to build. The gardens stretch out in terraces along the length of the dam and feature numerous flower beds, pools, and fountains. At night, the gardens are transformed into an almost fairyland with the concealed lights that add a new dimension to the gardens.
My take: I left out some of the adjectives in the description above because frankly, I did not think there were "beautifully laid out" flower beds or "well manicured" lawns at all. If we hadn't been tied up at the palace during the evening, I think this place would have been a completely different sight at night illuminated. If you are ever in the area, ONLY go here after dark.
What the book says: This is the largest church in South India, and is now known as St. Joseph's Church. It was built as a miniature reproduction of the Cologne Cathedral in the 1930s.
My take: A rare sight in a city where Hinduism dominates. But nonetheless, a beautiful, gothic style church.
What the book says: This palace was built in 1921 as a guest house for European friends of the King. The central dome is said to have been modelled on the lines of St. Paul's Cathedral in London. It is located at the foothills of Chamundi Hills, and was converted into a hotel in 1974.
My take: We stopped here to have lunch, which the main dining area is where the central dome is located. Very cool atmosphere in which to enjoy some Indian cuisine.
What the book says: About three-quarters of the way up the Chamundi Hills is the monolithic statue of the Nandi bull which according to legend was completed in just one night.
My take: You've probably seen smaller bronze replica's of this statue before. I didn't think there was anything really that great about it, though. If it were completed in just one night, it would be pretty impressive. But, I'm not buying that, especially considering the amount of time all the other sites we went to took to build (i.e. Mysore Palace-15 years).
Other Notables
While waiting for dusk to come and head back to Mysore Palace for the illumination, we made our way over to the Royal Orchid Hotel where Tiger Tails is located. Tiger Tails is a hot spot for tea, so we relaxed for about an hour sipping some tea in the courtyard there.
And last but not least, they had the option to ride an elephant or a camel on the Mysore palace grounds. While both of these are on my 'bucket list' for India, I opted for the elephant this time around for Rs. 50 (approx. $1).
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