Eternal India Encyclopedia

ETERNAL INDIA encyclopedia

A GREAT DESTINATION

Mysore. The exhibits highlight the various applications of science and technology in industry and human welfare. Lalbagh Botanical Gardens : This is a beautiful and popular park . It covers an area of 96 hectares and was laid out in the 18th century by Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan. It contains many centuries-old trees (most of them labelled), lakes, lotus ponds, flower beds, a deer park and one of the largest collections of rare tropical and sub-tropical plants in India. There is an exhibition house known as the Glass House built on the lines of the Crystal Palace of London. The Fort : This was originally a mud-brick structure built in 1537 by Kempe Gowda. It was later rebuilt in stone in the 18th century by Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan, but much of it was destroyed during the wars with the British. Tipu Sultan's Summer Palace : Situated on Albert Victor Road near the junction with Krishnarajendra Road, this palace was begun by Tipu Sultan's father, Hyder Ali, and completed by Tipu in 1789. The Bull Temple : Situated on Bugle Rock at the end of Bull Temple road, this is one of Bangalore's oldest temples (16th C). It contains a huge monolith of Nandi similar to the one on Cha- mundi Hill at Mysore. Non-Hindus are allowed to enter. Ulsoor Lake : To the east of Cubbon Park, has boating facilities and a swimming pool. The Karnataka Folk Art Museum at Kumara Park West has displays of' folk art, costumes, toys and an extensive recorded music collection. AROUND BANGALORE Nandi Hills : This hill station 68 km from Bangalore was a popular summer retreat even in Tipu Sultan's days. Tipu's drop, a 600 metre-high cliff face, provides a good view over the surrounding country. There are two ancient temples here. Bhimeswari: On the river Cauvery, the Cauvery fishing camp is an ideal spot for quiet river lovers and anglers. The river is perhaps the only one in India that is still home to‘the Mahseer, whose name has been formed from the Hindustani words-Maha (great) and Sir (head). Anglers can go out on the river in a coracle, a circular rustic boat. The fishing camp is 100 kms from Bangalore down the Kanakapura Highway off the village of Bhimeswari. Kabini River Lodge : 80 km from Mysore. Here tourists can watch forest wildlife from the comfort of a river lodge. Mysore : Until independence, the city was the seat of the Maha- rajas of Mysore, a princely state covering about a third of pres- ent-day Karnataka. The walled Indo-Saracenic palace in the centre of the city is a major attraction. Just south of the city lies Chamundi Hill, topped by its Shiva temple. Wildlife Sanctuaries : Wildlife sanctuaries at Bandipur (80km from Mysore) and Nagarhole (93km from Mysore). Bandipur : This wildlife sanctuary is part of a larger national park which also includes the neighbouring wildlife sanctuaries of Mudumalai in Tamil Nadu and Wynad in Kerala. The sanctuary is noted for its herds of bison, spotted deer, elephant, sambar, tiger and leopard. In Mudumalai, you can go on safari on elephant- back. Boats are available for use on the river. The best time to go is between October and May.

Nagarhole : It is south-east of Coorg. The best time to visit is from October to May. Maharaja's Palace : This Indo-Saracenic palace, the seat of the Maharajas of Mysore, dominates the city's skyline. It was built in 1911-12 at a cost of Rs. 4.2 million to replace the former palace which burned down. There are also beautiful carved wooden doors and mosaic floors as well as paintings depicting life in Mysore during Edwardian Raj. It has beautifully carved mahogany ceilings, solid silver doors, white marble floors and superb columned Durbar Hall. The palace even has its own Hindu temple inside the walls, complete with gopuram. On Sunday nights the palace is spectacularly illu- minated. Chamundi Hill: Walking up the 1000 steps to the top of this hill where the temple of Sri Chamundeswari stands 1,062 m above sea level, three-quarters of the way you come across the famous Nandi (Shiva's bull) carved out of solid rock and, at 5 m high, one of the largest in India. It's always garlanded with flowers and con- stantly visited by pilgrims offering prasada to the priest in atten- dance there. Sri Chamundeswari temple on the summit is a huge structure with a seven-storey gopuram 40 metres high. AROUND MYSORE Srirangapatnam : 16 km from Mysore . The fort where Tipu Sultan was killed in his final battle with the British. Inside the walls there is also a mosque and the Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple, a popular place of pilgrimage with Hindus Non-Hindus can go all the way inside except to the inner santtum, where there is a black stone image of sleeping Vishnu. The population of the town inside the fort is about 20,000. Srirangapatnam is an island between two branches of the River Cauvery. Across the other side of the road from Srirangapatnam stands the Daria Daulat Bagh, once Tipu's summer palace, and the Gum- baz, Tipu's mausoleum. Somnathpur : Built around 1260 A.D during the heyday of the Hoysala kings, the Sri Channakeshava temple is at Somnathpur, 45 km east of Mysore. The walls of the star-shaped temple are covered with superb sculptures in stone depicting various scenes from the Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagvadgita and the life and times of the Hoysala kings.The Hoysala temples at Belur and Halebid, north of Mysore, are equally famous. Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary : The sanctuary is on one of three islands in the Cauvery River, 3 km from Srirangapatnam. Best time to visit is between June and September. Brindavan Gardens'. These ornamental gardens are laid out below the Krishnarajasagar dam across the Cauvery River, 19 km from Mysore. They are popular for picnics. They are colourfully lit for two hours each night. 4 Shivasamudram : India's first hydro-electric power station was built here at the Cauvery River falls in 1902. Shivasamudram is 80 km east of Mysore, beyond Somnathpur. The twin falls known as Ganganachukki and Bharchukki drop nearly 100 metres in a series of cascades. Hunsur : Outside of Hunsur, to the west of Mysore, is a Tibetan refugee settlement called Rabgayling- which means 'Good Prog- ress Place'. There are two carpet factories. Hassan : The most convenient base from which to explore Belur. Halebid and Sravanabelagola.