An experience of its kind

This blog is a diary of sorts of my recent trip to mysore. It was a memorable experience because this was an actual “TRIP” and not the usual roaming around we do every hols. I wont throw much light into describing the places – you can find it elsewhere.

 

It all began during our sem exams when me Danya and Swathy decided that we go to Swathy’s native Chitradurga during hols. The first big thing was to convince Danya’s parents and I as usual was vested upon with this strenuous task because Danya (and some part of me too) believes that her parents trust me more than her! It didn’t take much time though to convince them that we were not going to run away but return home safe and sound. Great. Next the plan was formulated and well, so much like a fairy tale that I knew by my instincts that something would go wrong and it did!! The trip was canceled. Devastating. But since we had spent too much of time and energy in convincing our parents into letting us go on our own I decided why not my native – Mysore? And mysore being my native and my favorite city I have been there at least a thousand times. But owing to my relatives I never had got a chance to visit those monumental places the city is known for (barring the temples of course - those are the places my parents would never hesitate to take me over and over again much to my distress).

 

So, this time I wanted to visit all those places and not my relatives. Talking of my instincts I knew this trip would succeed as it went through many odds. First it was my 6 mega pixel digicam giving away and we had to make up with another 4 mp cam with just 16 mb (that means less pictures – something I dread the most owing to my interest in photography). Next it was Danya who fell sick just hours before we were to leave and she falling sick is a very BIG deal! It needs immense talent to take care of her in such a situation, an art perfected only by her mom. But I must confess I admire her enthusiasm to be with us and enjoy that she got better and how! The thing which completely brought down my enthusiasm to minuscule levels was Danya’s father approving of a trip to her native Sringeri – a place I have been vying to go for quite sometime. (we didn’t even think of asking her parents for this fearing a big NO!). Now this was a complete shocker. I mean its such a rarity that her dad agrees that meteoroid collision to earth would sound more frequent! (no exaggeration here - I am sure Danya will agree with this!)

 

Anyway barring all odds our trip finally turned into a reality as the train starting moving towards our first point of destination – Srirangapatna, historical town. (I am just quoting what the big banners on the Mysore-Bangalore road boast of the city – infact all the cities en route). Now, you are a tourist (quite obviously, with luggage in your hands) and a group of three and on top of it all three are girls then you are bound to turn an attraction yourself – attraction of auto drivers who very well know they are needed! We too were attacked by one such guy who followed us all the way to Ranganathaswamy temple and Col. Bailey’s Dungeon (which apparently was a jail at one time) despite our numerous no’s and nah’s and go-away’s. Until of course Danya got into her quintessential best and yelled royally at him that might have scared the Britishers had she been born then!

 

But we did need an auto and quickly found one too after much bargaining from my side. He seemed to be pretty good and showed us all the places well telling stories related to each place all along the way (Swathy didn’t understand most of them though!). Anyway, we went to water gate (there is nothing to see there), Jamia Masjid (again nothing to see), Tipu’s death place, Dariya Daulat (Tipu’s summer palace – now a museum that has many paintings and pictures depicting that era), Gumbaz (also called Tipu’s tomb – it houses Hyder Ali’s, Tipu’s amd his mother’s tomb), Kaveri sangama and finally to bus stand. On the whole it was a nice experience. Next we headed towards mysore.

 

Our first place of visit once we entered Mysore was the majestic Mysore Palace – a place I admire the most, a place I always wanted to visit even as a kid but never got a chance and the place where my mom studied for three years (yes people, she did her 7, 8, 9 classes with the King’s daughters!). Though I did say I will not throw much light upon the places but this one place is worth mentioning. Standing magnificently bright and large it takes everybody in complete awe. But for us it was more than awe – it was jealousy. We for once wished we were born to or married into the Wodeyars! Or atleast had a chance like my mom had to study there, play with the prince and the princesses (prince I mean Srikantadatta), stroll around the palace and oh not to forget the pick and drop service offered in the Maharaja’s car! The durbar hall, the glass art, the paintings on the walls, the pillars, the wooden carved doors everything – everything about the palace mesmerized us!

 

One of my fondest memories of Mysore as a young girl was the tongas which once was a mode of transport but now even that is a tourist attraction! I loved traveling on a tonga and never missed a chance and this time too I wanted to travel as for any short distance didn’t matter and relive those memories. So we took a tonga to my aunt’s place to rest for sometime and then headed in the evening towards St. Phelomena’s Church – again beautifully built architecture both on the inside and outside. We ended our day by having dinner at – again one of my fondest hotels as a kid – Siddharta.

 

My next day typically began with scaring a poor Swathy at a dark 6 o clock in the morning by switching to her bed while she was away (well that’s just me). But it actually started with me and Swathy boiling water for bath in old style hande using kerosene and dry coconut shells. It was kinda fun – again a first experience. Once fresh we headed towards Chamundi Betta by bus (yes we decided to avoid autos after we counted our first day’s expenses!). Again it was an experience as I almost got my brother married to a fellow passenger’s daughter who insisted he would find the perfect bride for him if I gave my address to him. Oh, by the way, his daughter is in ‘software’ (whatever that implies!) and earns 30000 and he has got his SEVEN sisters married so he has a reputation at it! My next few minutes at the temple were spent in avoiding that guy who otherwise I am sure was determined to get grooms for all three of us! (though I don’t think the other two would have minded that!)

 

Next we went to karanji kere – a place I never knew existed until the famous koorakkuknalli kere song. It was an overwhelming experience. The bird park is worth more than a mention. So many beautiful birds walking so carelessly in and around you looking the least scared and way too happy to pose for all the snaps that you would want to take them home! Peacocks, white peacocks, ducks, cranes, hens – all so lovely. Then there is something called the Butterfly Park. You are made to walk about one and a half kilometers, walking past all the couples “kuchikoo-ing” with each other, then you stand in a place where all your inner fears of having got lost come strikingly alive and in a split second, without any warning there is a firework – firework of butterflies flying all around you and all you do is stand there awe-struck! It really was amazing.

 

Mysore zoo – one of India’s largest zoos, hosting a wide range of animals (most of which were asleep by the time we went) – was our next destination. In the evening we went to KRS.

 

It is always advisable to go to KRS in your own vehicle unless you are used to traveling in those raging private buses and fighting with those auto drivers (yes, here too!). KRS dam, Brindavan Gardens, the various fountains, musical fountain everything was mind boggling.

 

On the last day we went to Jaganmohan Palace. If you are a first timer you might easily get muddled by the posters of politicians and retail shops. It looks nothing like a palace and the entrance for the art gallery is also at an invisible place. Once inside you will see a number of paintings (including those of revered Ravi Varma) and various other artifacts, of course the most famous Clock (which sadly was out of order when we went).

 

All we did from there with whatever little energy we had was to rush to the suburb bus stop to catch a bus to Bangalore. It was possibly the end of the trip for all of us. But for me it was much more. I always knew I loved this city and belonged to it, now I knew the city a lot better.