Mysore, close to Bangalore

Mysore was the ancient capital of Tipu sultan kingdom. It is the best heritage city in Karnataka and a weekend getaway from Bangalore. It has the splendorous palaces, and is also famous for its silk. I started from Mysore Palace also known as Ornate which is the focal point of the city and the home of the Wodeyars; it was designed by the English architect Henry Irwin. This palace is made on the ashes of the old wooden palace which caught fire during the marriage of princess. The Durbar Hall with its sculpted pillars, the Kaalyana Mantapa, the jewel encrusted Golden throne which is displayed only during the Dussehra celebrations and the Golden Howdah which is an elephant seat are amongst the palace’s other treasures. It has a residential museum which is run by the royal family of Wodeyar. It has the collection of royal family silver ware, chandeliers, furniture, crystal, royal trousseaux and many things. Ornate as the palace when 97000 electric bulbs light up once it looks like royal purple attire. I had to take off my shoes to enter the palace but at the entrance gate there is stand in the right side where I had to pay for the safety of my shoes.

I also visited the Jaganmohan Palace which Maharaja Krishnaraja Wodeyar built in 1861 as an alternative retreat for the royal family. The palace now has been turned into Jayachamarajendra art Gallery which displays the fabulous paintings of Mysore and Tanjore style sculptures and musical instruments.

Then there is the chamundi Hill which guards the city also has a temple on its top. It has 1000 steps and half way up is a 16 ft monolith of a Nandi bull, Lord Shiva’s mount. While I was coming back from the Hill I passed the Mysore race club which had a deviation to the left and onto Maharana Pratap singh Road in Nazarband is famed for its Go Carting track. So I tried some of the bowling in bowling alley and my brother tried the go carting thing.

Next day we saw the one of the grandest and tallest churches in India; it was a beautiful Gothic structure with twin spires and is near the five lights circle. Then the Folklore Museum which is housed in the majestic and sprawling Mysore University Campus called Manasa Gangotri, the museum is an excellent store of Mysore art. A visit to the museum is incomplete without a stroll on the Kukkarahalli Lake Bund. I also watched the Lingambudhi Lake which is a home to many species of bird.

Because of my taxi driver I came to know about an amusement park on the outskirts of Mysore located in 20 acres of land GRS Fantasy Park and has a restaurant serving the veg food. I bought many types of incense in sandalwood, few silk sarees for my mom from its Devaraja Market

Travel Directions from: Bangalore to Mysore

Mehrangarh fort in Jodhpur

I went to Jodhpur to attend my friend’s wedding last weekend. The city is small in radius of 15km only but then there is the famous Mehrangarh Fort and the Umeid Palace. After attending her wedding I visited the fort. It was in old Jodhpur so it took only 15 minutes from my hotel to reach the place in the afternoon as it closed around 5 in the evening. The fort was amazingly beautiful on the top of a hill the fort can be seen from the city as well. I took the lift facility in the fort as because of so much of dancing in the wedding I was not in a mood to walk. The lift stopped at the peak of the fort form where I could see the entire city. And from there the museum of the fort also started with first showing the famous baggies in which the king family used to travel and they were all different from each other as there was one which I liked the most of peacock head and the carriage having the lion in build in the front of the baggie. The next room showed the antique clocks used by again the king family. I still remember there was one globe clock which had stopped working since some 18’s. Then I saw the arms and the swords of the king, the bedroom, the clothes, the dining area, the meeting area. After the museum is over there comes the shops of the museums from where I got my self a mirror and few things for my family. When I came out there were two girls wearing the particular rajasthani dress in black who were dancing and 2 guys playing flute and singing the folk song. There were tanks kept on the border of the fort. And then came the temple of their kul Devi which is very famous in Marwari’s. The fort in short is must watch, its architecture and the build is very beautiful and cannot be find anywhere according to me.

Driving Directions from Delhi to Jodhpur