TravelEscapades
BY MOUNTAIN TRAIL HOLIDAYS PVT LTD
Mysore-The Grand Heritage City
Experiencing the Historical palaces & forts of Mysore, the temples, the festivals, the culinary delights, yoga and meditation which is always in the air, the rich culture, the silk, the incense sticks, the sandalwood, the tuk tuk rides, the culinary delights, the Dussehra festivities and the list goes on & on.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Erstwhile Mysore now known as Mysuru lies at the bottom of the state of Karnataka, right at the border of Kerala. It is one of the most popular tourist towns of South India – A historical treasure trove with royal palaces, imperial buildings, rich culture, traditions, legacies and more. The Opulent Mysore palace, the main palace belonging to the Wodeyar Dynasty is a world heritage listed monument which is visited by travelers from all over. The lighting of this grand palace after 7pm, with approx. 100,000 light bulbs, is an enchanting sight. Another huge attraction is the festival of Dasara (Dussehra) the celebration of which engages the entire city with all its resources, all its people and all its elephants for ten days. One of the cleanest cities of India Mysore has a long list of temples and one of the most visited by travelers is the Chamundeshwari Temple on the steps of which sits the Nandi bull. The local bazaars are replete with spice and incense stores apart from local veggies, fruits and flowers. The city exudes the yoga and meditation vibrations and is the base for Ashtanga Yoga.
ITINERARY DETAILS
Day1 - Stay at Bangalore. Meal included - Dinner
Arrival at Bangalore (Kempegowda International Airport) and transfer to a luxury, five star hotel so that you have a comfortable and relaxing first night.
Day2 – Stay at Mysore. Meal included – Breakfast & Dinner
Drive to Mysore City (5Hrs) with a pit stop or two en-route, enjoying some local food like Dosa, Idli-Sambhar, Coconut Chutney & of course the famous filter coffee (Kappa) of Southern India. We plan the itinerary in a way that you land at Mysore on a Sunday so that you get to experience the lighting of the Mysore Palace which happens 07:00-08:00pm on Sundays and on public holidays only.
Day3- Stay at Mysore. Meal included – Breakfast & Dinner
Today explore the historic city on Tuk Tuks (the small, three wheeled, take you anywhere, rides). We’ll be accompanied with a guide / a local friend who will tell you basics about the city, just to get some idea of where’s what and assist you with the Tuk Tuk ride experience. You can have lunch at an Indian Restaurant serving local delights. The RRR (a restaurant) comes recommended for their Biryani (Rice dish flavoured with Indian spices) served on a banana leaf with several condiments to enhance the culinary experience. Evening you have a guided walking tour of the Mysore city, starting at around 5pm which also includes a mix of local culinary experiences like Indian Samosa. The walk ends at about 08:30pm. Post the walk we return to the hotel.
Day4- Stay at Mysore. Meal included – Breakfast & Dinner
Early Morning (before breakfast) you head out, in tuk tuks or a mini coach, as preferred by you, to the famous Chamundi Hill to visit the Goddess Chamundeshwari Temple and the Nandi Bull statue. You have an option of climbing the whole 1000 steps or the last 300 or getting dropped all the way on top of the hill where the temple is. Same options on your way back.
Return after the temple visit, should be in good time for breakfast which is usually at one of the most popular South Indian restaurants at Mysore where you should try the Mysore Masala Dosa. Return to the hotel and rest of the day at leisure. You can use the day to explore the local markets and indulge in some shopping. Some can also visit the sandalwood soap factory, silk weaving factory, the natural essential oils shop, the incense sticks shop and the bidi (mini cigars) making workshop. Separate Tuk tuks can be arranged on request for any/all transfers. Overnight stay at Mysore
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Day5- Stay at Mysore. Meal included – Breakfast & Dinner
Visit the famous heritage site of Srirangapatna – Surrounded by river Kaveri (Cauvery), Srirangapatna is one of the most important Vaishnavite centers of pilgrimage in South India and the temple here was built by the Ganga Dynasty in the 9th century. The Srirangapatna fort is considered to be the second toughest fort of India.
Srirangapatna is also where Tipu Sultan, the great warrior king who was known as the mysore Tiger, built his summer palace in 1784. Built mostly in teak wood, it is one of the main tourist attractions near Mysore.
Day6- Stay at Mysore. Meal included – Breakfast & Dinner
This is a day at Leisure. Spend the day as you like. Visit Gokulam a very interesting locality offering yoga classes, culinary classes, cafes, eateries, massage centers also offers interesting places to shop. Can also plan a visit to the silk factory, sandalwood soap factory, incense stick or even the Biddi (local Indian tobocco smokes) making units.
Day7- Departure from Mysore. Meal included - Breakfast
Post breakfast transfer by road (5Hrs) to Bangalore. A one night’s at a luxury hotel at Bangalore where you can relax, rejuvenate and prepare for your journey back home.
VIDEOS
About:
Mysore
State: Karnataka
Weather: Main seasons being Summer from March to May, peaking at about 39 DegC, the monsoon season from June to September brings in moderate rains and humidity. Winter from November to February can dip to a minimum of about 10 DegC and is overall very pleasant.
Closest airport: International – Bangalore (5 Hrs). Domestic – Mandakalli Airport (Mysore)
Closest Railway Station: Mysore
Best time to visit: All round the year. Best Period comparatively – November to February.
Generally spoken language: Kannada, Hindi and English
Altitude: 763 Mtrs ASL approx.