Mysore Palace (sounds painful)

Getting to Mysore

I tried feeding myself a bit more during breakfast in case the journey to Mysore took longer than expected and there wasn’t decent grub along the way. Trouble was I had been feeling bloated for the last day or two so I didn’t end up eating too much.

A search on the bus company’s website last night showed that travel time ranged from 2h to around 5h. A non-stop bus would take around 3h and a multi-stop around 5h; I don’t know what kind of bus would do it in 2h on the same road.

I timed myself to get to the Satellite Bus Stand (by rickshaw) in time for the 0935 which is supposed to take only 2h. At around 0800, the roads were deserted and I was at the station at 0830 just as a bus was pulling out for Mysore.

The ride cost INR180 instead of INR270 per the website; this must be the non-luxury version. The seats were comfy enough and A/C wasn’t necessary at this altitude (it was actually cold on the rickshaw to the station).

The journey was all too easy and took 3h20. I suppose the only thing of interest to me that I spotted along the way, was a cocoon market where people bought traded little puffy balls of silkworm cocoons.

At Mysore bus stand, they operate counter system for the rickshaws. You pay the counter INR1 (about NZD0.02) for a computer printed quote of your fare which the driver must adhere to. The fare to my hotel was INR20 (very little) and the rickshaw next in line didn’t want to take me (and no other driver wanted to either). As it turns out, my hotel was just about 150m away so I walked.

Amazingly ornate Mysore Palace

After lunch and a brief rest, I walked to the Palace grounds which is just across the road. But of course, the entrance in use was on the far side and I had a few unsuccessful attempts through the other locked gates.

There were lots of domestic visitors to the Palace that is built in the Indo-Saracenic style. Foreigner pay an inflated price but it does come with an audio guide (which I found to be very good yesterday at Bangalore Palace).

The highlight of the Palace was the Marriage Pavilion. It had elaborate iron pillars which looked as if it was carved from wood. It was topped with beautiful stained-glass skylights which featured peacock feather (painted on).

Next was the Public Durbar Hall where the Sultan would give an audience to the public. It was essentially platform with many decorated pillars, which overlooked the city.

The royal residences which I paid for separately (cost even more than the main ticket) wasn’t that worthwhile.

Those two spots make the interior of the palace the most spectacular I can recall seeing. Sadly, cameras were not permitted so I will have no lasting memories of this architectural masterpiece.

After dinner, I walked back to the palace. Being a Sunday night, it should be all lit up from 7:00 till 8:00pm. I got there as soon as possible after dinner at 7:40pm and managed to fit in one photo before some bastard turned the lights off! I hadn’t even had a chance to absorb the atmosphere or get a closer look.