Depart Bangalore after early breakfast, travelling south west along the expressway to Mysore (139 km/3.5 hours).
The erstwhile princely state of Mysore came into being with the establishment of the Wodeyar dynasty in the 15th century, and continued for another 450 years until Independence, albeit with a few significant interruptions when Tipu Sultan rose to power and clashed with Lord Wellesley towards the end of the 18th century. More of a stately, pleasant and sleepy backwater until its proximity to Bangalore came into play at the beginning of this century with the beneficial effects of the burgeoning information technology that have supplanted the city’s dependence on sandalwood, silks, incense and tourism.
During the day, visit the monumental and extravagant Amber Vilas Palace of the Wodeyars, a Henry Irwin creation in the Indo Saracenic genre with unrelenting and sometimes breathtakingly beautiful detail – Glaswegian cast-iron pillars, Belgian stained glass, carved doors, rosewood furniture with mother of pearl inlay, enormous bronze tigers, a royal elephant saddle encrusted in gold, and walls coated in arabesque are but a few blandishments.
At the nearby Jaganmohan Palace, the Sri Chamarajendra Art Gallery displays a collection of musical instruments and miniature paintings, and outstanding murals depicting royal pastimes.
The lively and colourful Devaraja market, a honeycomb of stalls selling various types of produce, spices, sandalwood, flowers, incense, silks and handicrafts is over a century old and an important fixture in the daily lives of Mysore’s inhabitants and a meeting place. The constant buzz of activity is heightened as evening approaches, when shoppers gather in large numbers.
On the immediate outskirts of Mysore at Srirangapatna, a river-island fortress on the Cauvery River that is the most visible and potent symbol of the unrelenting war that raged between Tipu Sultan and the British, until the former was defeated in 1799. The remains at Srirangapatnaday are numerous, filling the visitor with a sense of history.
Untouched over the centuries and conflicts is the great Rangaswamy temple of over a thousand years vintage, developed and protected by the dynasties that ruled Mysore.
Tipu Sultan’s summer palace at Daria Daulat Bagh reveals fine and well preserved ornamental interiors, murals and a small exhibition of royal memorabilia.
Drive back to Bangalore early evening.
Prices
Tempo Traveller (6 persons) – Rs 5,838 per person
Inclusions are:
- roundtrip transportation
- accompanying guide
- applicable entry fees
- lunch
All Tours start on 28 July 2023
For Tour Bookings, please contact:
Reet Hazarika
Managing Director, Quo Vadis
(+91) 98104 25252
reet.hazarika@quovadisindia.com
Slow Travel in The Indian Subcontinent