'How about we go for donut 🍩 and coffee ☕' asked Lina, 'sure why not!' Lina is a fun-loving and outdoorsy type, and working out a share-and-stay deal at her flat in Mysore was a good idea. I now have more time at hand to catch up with some personal work and explore places around Mysore at leisure.
#1 BRINDAVAN GARDENS
The Brindavan gardens right beside the Krishnarajasagara Dam (KR dam) is a much-hyped tourist attraction, and most tour operators include this place in their 1 Day Mysore local-sightseeing tour.
 |
| An evening at Brindavan gardens, Mysore |
What makes the Brindavan gardens special?
Is Karnataka tourism's sound and laser extravaganza held here every evening and as always, never lets you down~ be it at Jog falls, Mysore Palace or Brindavan gardens. The music is mostly patriotic and represents local cultural pride. The weekend crowd join in with much gusto enough to make even an indifferent tourist feel nostalgic.
#2 Somnathpura Kesava temple, Talakaddu, Shivanasamudra falls (day trip) 90 kms
This one day itinerary has a mix of ancient temples, history, mystery and nature at best. So start the day early, pack some snacks and picnic lunch, camera and a change of clothes.
 |
| Shivanasamudra falls, around Mysore Karnataka |
#3 SRIRANGAPATNA : On the trail of Tipu Sultan
The town of Srirangapatna is almost synonymous with Tipu Sultan. And while there has been much debate on the topic of #TipuJayantiRow on social media recently. I thought it a good idea to follow the trail of the Tiger as he was called simply to feel the course of history.
¶ Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple
Point to note was that this temple at Shrirangapatnam temple was destroyed by Marathas and repaired by TipuSultan later.
This is a indeed a very large temple adjoining the Srirangapatanam fort and has a very positive vibe. I took a long time walking inside the temple to draw in the positive energy. The temple's uniquen because Goddess Lakshmi is not seen seated at Lord Ranganatha's (Vishnu) lotus feet, instead goddess Kaveri is.
¶ Srirangapatna fort
The fort was originally built in 1454 by Timmanna Nayaka who were rulers of Chitradurga (Karnataka) then, but in the course of several invasions there have been many modifications and improvements such as the chilling Colonel Bailey's dungeon where prisoners were made to stand in waist-deep leech infested cold water, while being chained to the wall.
Who were these prisoners? I asked my guide. They were the British soldiers who were held captive by Tipu Sultan. Tipu Sultan had no doubt been a nightmare for the colonial British rulers who ultimately on 4 May 1799 under cover attacked and killed him in this very fort.
Srirangapatna is an island on the river Kaveri which can be seen flowing on one side of the fort. The Jama masjid or Masjie-e-Ala adjoining the fort is a mosque which was built by Tipu Sultan and this is where he prayed. There is also a madrasa attached to the mosque.
 |
| Gumbaz, Tipu Sultan's mausoleum at Srirangapatna |
¶ Gumbaz – The Tomb of Tipu Sultan
Right opposite Daria Daulat Bagh is the final resting place of Tipu Sultan. Beside him is the tomb of his father Hyder Ali. Note the ivory inlaid doors, similar to the one I saw at Mysore palace. Walking around the Gumbaz one can also see the tombs of Tipu's mother, family members and close ones.
¶ Daria Daulat Bagh
Tipu's summer palace is set amidst the beautiful, well-manicured gardens called Daria Daulat Bagh. The palace was built in 1784 and made mostly of teakwood. The frescoes on the walls are stunning and have stood the test of time.
¶ Sri Ranganathittu bird sanctuary
Is a small island like bird sanctuary within the Kaveri. A boat ride is an excellent way to explore the sanctuary. Weekends and public holidays bring in more visitors and is definitely a good time get shared boats on hire. Of the wide variety of birds different types of storks are in abundance. I could also spot a some crocodiles at the edges.
#4 Driving through Hassan : Shravanabelagola, Shettihalli church, Saklespur
Indian roads have really come of age, and it's easy to see this as you drive through National Highway 75 from Bangalore or for that matter from Mysore.
 |
| Shettihalli church ruins, around Hassan Karnataka |
Shravanabelagola~ Jainism's holiest site, the Shettihalli church ruins on the banks of the Hemavati reservoir and the tea estates of Sakleshpur are all within an 1- 2 hours distance from Hassan and is an easy doable trip.
#5 TREKS FROM MYSORE & BANGALORE
Bangalore has a significant number of white collared office-goers who work at their desks long hours on weekdays. They are lovingly called as I.T. guys~ they earn well, dress well and party hard on weekends. 'Well, not all' said Lina. 'There are also those like me who love exploring the nearby hills.' 'What a wonderful idea' I thought, almost falling off my chair in excitement.
So, if you too love adventure, buy a good pair of trekking shoes and get in touch with any of the innumerable adventure and trek organizers. Many of them are found online and get busloads of thrill seekers from Bangalore over the weekend.
Tip : I have found trekking with a group a safer option, as there always help at hand.
 |
| Trekking through the boulder-like hills around Mysore, Karnataka |
KUNTI BETTA NIGHT TREK highlights
A Night trek to the nearby hills of Kunti betta this weekend, proved to be a great way to set the ball rolling. It was Lina's idea that we carry an extra pair of nice clothes. which came in handy for the 🍷 wine-tasting tour that followed at Ramanagara. But all I could think of now was to hang my muddy boots and have a nice long sleep right now.
KABALLADURGA TREK
'So how did your KabbalaDurga trek go'? asked Lina. It was 4 pm, and I was already back from my scariest trek so far. And even though I've had momentary panic situations, the KabbalaDurga episode lasted for as long as the climb and descent did. All I could think of right now is a sense of relief, and a hot cup of tea 🍵 to feel good.
#6 Exploring COORG
And since I hadn't slept well last night with strange nightmares of falling off a cliff, I woke up with more clarity about how my next trip should be.
"So what do you have in mind?" asked Lina. " A good food destination please", I replied. So then let's head to COORG... Read : A jolly weekend at Coorg
Besides good food, the Coorg region of Karnataka is also popular with trekkers who travel mostly overnight from Bangalore to experience the surrounding hills. After a jolly weekend and surprise birthday party with friends, I stayed back at Bhagamandala (about 1 hour from Madikeri) and was fortunate to do two good treks here.
 |
| Tadiandamol hills, Coorg Karnataka |
The next day, I took up lodgings at Virajpet about 1 hour further south from Bhagamandala, as I wished to trek the second highest mountain in Karnataka.
#7 Adventures at Wayanad
Lina has been sad over the past few days. Her appraisal she mentioned hadn't gone well, and this year her salary increment was way below expectation. "So why don't you ask for a one~to~one meeting with your boss, to find out what went wrong" I asked. She nodded her head, but knowing Lina as a timid person, I wondered how that would turn out. Meantime, I was glad to have caught up with a great deal of work myself, and looked forward to an adventure at Wayanad!
Comments
Post a Comment