DAY 3: @ Mysore

Morning was So Pleasant. Before leaving from the GuestHouse we have taken some more photos and reached Nanjangud.

Nanjangud -

It is located at a distance of 23kms from Mysore. Here we visited the Nanjundeshwara temple of Lord Shiva.

On the way to Mysore ,tour contuined with a brief visit to the Sri Ganapati Sachchidananda Ahrama. It was quite boring.

Jayachamarajendra Zoological Garden -

After our lunch we visited Mysore Zoo. One should visit this place in Mysore. Main attractions are the white tiger, giraffe, zebra, different species of birds etc. I have captured max number of pics. Now my Camera battery showed 2 points.The park is around 5 kms and it taken one and half hr to cover.

400th Jambu Sawari procession -

This is the main reason for my visit to Mysore. We were late. By the time we reached the street where the procession take place was fully crowded. While some perched atop the roadside trees, some on terrace, others were standing on the Vehicles which are parked road side. We too tried to get into a lorry but all of them were full. I was very much disappointed. Fortunately, a jeep driver came along with her wife to watch to the procession. We requested him and climbed up on the top of the Jeep. It started raining (7-8 mins).

There was huge screaming and whistling once the Balarama (53-year-old elephant) appeared. The 750 kg golden 'howdah' (ornate carriage) with the idol of Hindu goddess Chamundeshwari was mounted on it. Balarama was accompanied by 11 other elephants and followed by horses, camels, cultural troupes. It was an awesome view and I can’t express my happiness and really enjoyed watching the traditional Jambu Sawari procession.

We thanked the Jeep driver and back to our Sumo with smiling faces. It has taken more than 30 mins to come out of the crowd and traffic.

Mysore palace -

We reached Mysore palace at 5:45 pm. Hundreds of Tourist and locals were there to see the lighting of Amba Vilas Palace. We waited patiently until 7 PM to watch the tremendous view of Palace with lights. The magnanimity and grandeur of the palace is absolutely breathtaking. I captured only two snaps of it due to low battery.

Mysore Exhibition -

We went to Dasara exhibition which is held in the exhibition grounds opposite to the Mysore
Palace. There were various stalls which sell items like clothes, plastic items, kitchenware,
cosmetics and eatables. It is not so good. Within half an hour we return back to our vehicle.

Mattae Sigona Mysore (meet you again sometime)

Due to lack of time we couldn’t able to visit few famous places in Mysore like Chamundi Hills, Ranganthithu Bird Sanctuary,Shivanasamudra Falls and St. Philomena's Church. And not even take a look inside the palace.

But over all I really had very good experience and sweet memories which stay for life long.. I will definitely plan another trip to Mysore may be after 2 – 3 yrs. (Hope Bhargav read this line).

On the way to Bangalore we had our dinner (Jeera rice and Dal fry) at some hotel. We were tried fully and slept like kids on others shoulders and laps. We used to change our sitting position for every 15 mins. It was 12:30 by the time we reached our house.

I must sign off now.
~Sandhya