Enchanting Train Journey to Mysore & back; Visits by Walk/TukTuk

We arrive at Devaraja Market about 3.5 hours after pickup from Bangalore. One of the most fascinating visits to South India, especially in the eyes of Western travelers, is this colorful and vibrant market. A visit to this market is a quintessential part of Mysore itineraries. This 365-days-a-year market is laid out on a rectangular grid and has separate sections for Vegetables, Fruits and Flowers. It is so photogenic that tourists let loose themselves often forgetting the paths they took. Add to this the street vendors, perfume makers, chai-wallahs, garland makers, color pigment sellers, bag sellers, etc. all vie with each other to garner your attention and sell their wares to you. If ever you want to see a microcosm of India at work, visit a market such as this. Come and experience it yourself! From here, the guide will take you to the Central Bus Stand and will catch a public transport to Chamundi Hill which is a half an hour drive.

Chamundi Hills, which form the backdrop of Mysore, is an inseparable part of Mysore. Built on top of this hill is a temple dedicated to Chamundeshwari who slayed Mahishasura the demon. In fact, the town of Mysuru is derived from the name of this demon. The temple attracts so many people that is almost impossible to visit it. But to compensate, there is a quiet and ancient Shiva temple in the vicinity. The color, the fervor, the bazaar, the offerings, the priests, flower-sellers, vendors, cows, shop-keepers, shoe-keepers, photographers, talisman sellers, etc jostle for space on this happening hill top. In fact, the environs of the temple is more interesting and arresting than the temple itself! The bus drive to the foot of the hill appreciating the panoramic views of Mysore city is enthralling. Lunch would be provided at a local vegetarian restaurant.

The Mysore palace is the most extravagant and luxurious palace in South India. It is called the "Palace of Versailles" of India. It was built in 1912 in Indo-Saracenic style with the Chief Architect being Henry Irwin, an Englishman. The grandeur of Mysore Palace is such that it is embellished with - tiles from England, marble from Italy, Chandeliers from Czeckoslovakia, cast iron pillars & stained glasses from Scotland, teak wood from Burma, jaguar bronze statues from England, etc. The Mysore palace stands in the middle of a sprawling 45 acres of land which houses many temples as well. It is divided into two halves - one (better) half managed by the State Govt while the other belongs to the royal Wodeyar family. The fame of Mysore palace is such that it attracts more visitors annually than the Taj Mahal!

This Palace, built in 1861, is one of the prominent landmarks of Mysore. It currently houses one of the most wonderful collections of paintings from Raja Ravi Verma, Nikolai Roerich, Haldenkar (the famous Lady with the Lamp painting), apart from murals and extraordinary contemporary paintings from famous Indian artists. The Art Gallery also houses exhibits which include weapons of war, classical musical instruments, sculptures, brassware, antique coins, and currencies. A unique artefact exhibited here is a French clock which has a mechanism in which a parade of miniature soldiers is displayed every hour, beating drums marking the seconds, and a bugle marking the minute. Tourists ignore this treasure trove which represents Indian Art and Handicrafts in its abundance. After this visit, we head to the Mysore Train Station to catch our train to Bangalore. Its a 2.5 hour train journey and we are expected to be in Bangalore by 9 pm.