Today we decide to visit Mysore and the famous palace from the Wodeyar dynasty. As usual we go to the station and board a bus, but this time we notice that we take one that seems to stop everywhere… it finally takes us 4 hours to get there! We will sure try to get a faster and perhaps even an air-con bus back in the evening!
Along the way we see many huge cut-outs of famous actors. They are more than life size, almost like giants! I wonder what that must feel like seeing yourself so big as an actor! Of course there was also a cut-out of Shah Ruh Khan who seems to play in pratically every Bollywood movie. I think you either love him or hate him… I have never seen an actors face on so many different advertisement campains as his, all over the country! He must have a great manager!
The palace has been the home of the Wodeyar family since 1399 who ruled the kingdom of Mysore until India’s Independance in 1947. Unfortunately lightning struck it in 1638 and it was partially damaged. In 1793 it was demolished and rebuilt again in 1803. Unfortunately there was a fire and the palace was destroyed in 1897 on a normally happy occasion… the wedding of Princess Jayalakshmanni. Finally in 1912 a new palace stood, as we see it now, built by a British Architect named Henry Irwin.
We are amazed at the at the size of the palace as we walk around most of the outer wall surrounding it. There are many entrances, but we are to learn that there is only one main entrance for visitors. At one entrance someone tried to cheat us by telling us the palace was closed for 2 hours and to not waste time waiting for it to re-open you can take my rickshaw or horse and buggy and visit the other points of interest. That was the only time on the trip that someone tried to cheat to us… Of course this happens mostly in such heavily visited places like this or at the Taj Mahal.
We stand in line with many classes coming to visit the palace. It was funny as many of the girls shook hands with us giggling and saying hello. It was interesting to see all their different colored uniforms depending on the school. Some of the male school teachers looked pretty strict with the boys... Other students stood in perfect lines, looking happy to be an excursion and away from school.
The palace itself is a mix of different styles of buidling and actually (for my taste) a bit too much. I like the Kalyana Mantapa (wedding and reception hall) with its open and airy room, many of the important family history painted on the walls and high glass stained dome. Otherwise there is a mix of heavy silver doors and pillared rooms, huge chandeliers… I actually enjoyed visiting the older palace area to the back more. If you were up to it you could have an elephant or camel ride on the palace grounds. Before leaving we go see the souvenir shop and get ourselves some famous Mysore sandalwood soap and incense sticks made in the area.
After a quick look at the market it is already time to head back back to Bangalore again. This time we hop on an air conditionned and fast bus back taking only 2 ½ hours. Then nicest thing was that the driver sat in a closed cabin and you could not hear the honking horn from inside the bus!
Along the way we see many huge cut-outs of famous actors. They are more than life size, almost like giants! I wonder what that must feel like seeing yourself so big as an actor! Of course there was also a cut-out of Shah Ruh Khan who seems to play in pratically every Bollywood movie. I think you either love him or hate him… I have never seen an actors face on so many different advertisement campains as his, all over the country! He must have a great manager!
The palace has been the home of the Wodeyar family since 1399 who ruled the kingdom of Mysore until India’s Independance in 1947. Unfortunately lightning struck it in 1638 and it was partially damaged. In 1793 it was demolished and rebuilt again in 1803. Unfortunately there was a fire and the palace was destroyed in 1897 on a normally happy occasion… the wedding of Princess Jayalakshmanni. Finally in 1912 a new palace stood, as we see it now, built by a British Architect named Henry Irwin.
We are amazed at the at the size of the palace as we walk around most of the outer wall surrounding it. There are many entrances, but we are to learn that there is only one main entrance for visitors. At one entrance someone tried to cheat us by telling us the palace was closed for 2 hours and to not waste time waiting for it to re-open you can take my rickshaw or horse and buggy and visit the other points of interest. That was the only time on the trip that someone tried to cheat to us… Of course this happens mostly in such heavily visited places like this or at the Taj Mahal.
We stand in line with many classes coming to visit the palace. It was funny as many of the girls shook hands with us giggling and saying hello. It was interesting to see all their different colored uniforms depending on the school. Some of the male school teachers looked pretty strict with the boys... Other students stood in perfect lines, looking happy to be an excursion and away from school.
The palace itself is a mix of different styles of buidling and actually (for my taste) a bit too much. I like the Kalyana Mantapa (wedding and reception hall) with its open and airy room, many of the important family history painted on the walls and high glass stained dome. Otherwise there is a mix of heavy silver doors and pillared rooms, huge chandeliers… I actually enjoyed visiting the older palace area to the back more. If you were up to it you could have an elephant or camel ride on the palace grounds. Before leaving we go see the souvenir shop and get ourselves some famous Mysore sandalwood soap and incense sticks made in the area.
After a quick look at the market it is already time to head back back to Bangalore again. This time we hop on an air conditionned and fast bus back taking only 2 ½ hours. Then nicest thing was that the driver sat in a closed cabin and you could not hear the honking horn from inside the bus!
