Day trip from Bangalore to Mysore, Somnathapura & Srirangapatna

The Keshava temple at Somanthapur has been recently classified as a World Heritage monument by UNESCO. It is an extraordinary temple built in the 13th CE during the reign of the Hoysala dynasty. It is one of the top 3 temples among the 92 built by Hoysalas during their reign. The temple is built on a star-shaped platform with high-quality sculptures all around. The most prominent features of this temple are the highly symmetric & geometric lathe-turned pillars; 16 ceilings inside the temple with each one different but with a motif of banana flower; exquisite statues of Venugopala & Janardhana in 2 of the 3 sanctum sanctora; the highly intricate vimanas; 480 elephants carved on the bottom level with each one different from the other; a galaxy of gods & goddesses; etc. It took 500 artists about 40 years to build this temple which was later vandalized by the marauding Mughals in the 14th CE. It stands abandoned from a ritualistic perspective but stands tall as an artistic achievement.

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 Czechoslovakia, 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!

Srirangapatna is a historic town that was the former capital of the Wodeyar dynasty and later of Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan. Srirangapatna is actually an island formed by two arms of the river Kaveri which is considered as the Ganges of the South. It is a town enclosed in a double-walled fortress which was first built in the 16th CE and later fortified in the 18th CE. This fort is surrounded by water on 3 sides and a moat dug around on one side. Srirangapatna has a string of attractions both for Indian as well as International visitors such as - the fort itself; Sriranganatha temple; Col. Bailey's dungeon; ruins of Tipu palace inside the fort; the impressive summer palace 'Daria Daulat Bagh' outside the fort; mausoleum of Tipu 'Gumbaz'; river ghats for bathing and rituals; the place where Tipu's dead body was found; Jami Masjid & its minarets; etc. A drive around the fort area and a visit to Tipu Palace is suggested.

Daria Daulat bagh, literally meaning "Wealthy Garden" is a charming palace built in late 18th CE. The palace & garden was created by Tipu Sultan to house his harem outside the Fort area. This palace has much more to offer than what it's somber facade suggests - the largest battle-scene murals in the country; vibrant floral motifs drawn with vegetable colors; 200-year-old block-printed silk adorning the ceilings; pencil sketches of Tipu Sultan's final moments before dying on the battlefield; medallion minted by the British to honor its soldiers; a painting that captures the fall of Srirangapatna; beautiful paintings of Forts held by Tipu; ornate teak wood carvings all around; period furniture from 18th CE; swords & other weapons from Tipu's armory; a 3-D painting of Tipu by John Zoffany whose eyes & shoes follow you 180 degrees; cannons & cannon balls in the vicinity of the palace; beautiful mango trees, araucarias, mahoganies, etc in the garden; pigeon holes at the entrance; and so on!