Who: Dhruv, Abhi and Soni Shrivastava of Denver, Colorado
Where: Mysore Palace, Mysore (Near Bangalore), Karnataka, India
Out and About: The Maharaja’s Palace is one of the important sights in Mysore. Built in Indo-Saracenic (a style of architecture used by British architects in the late 19th century in India.) style with domes, turrets, arches and colonnades, the Palace is a treasure house of exquisite carvings and works of art from all over the world. Intricately carved doors open on to luxuriously furnished rooms. The majestic “Durbar” (court) Hall has an ornate ceiling and many sculpted pillars. The magnificent jewel studded golden throne of the “Wodeyars”( dynasty that ruled Mysore) is displayed here during the “Dasera”, a Hindu festival. Illuminated on Sundays and public holidays, the palace presents a spectacle of breathtaking beauty. Nearby, “Brindavan” Gardens is one of the best gardens in South India. Spread over 150 acres, “Brindavan” Gardens has since the 1960s provided the backdrop for many Indian films. Special attractions include the ‘Dancing Fountains’ and light show.
Travel Tip: Lufthansa flies directly from Denver to Bangalore (The silicon city of India), capitol of Karnataka state. Bangalore has many places to visit too. Best to book hotel in advance using http://www.karnataka.com/tourism/ and stay in Bangalore. From there you can rent a cab with a driver for barely $60/day to go to Mysore. They will show many attractions in the way while going to Mysore like “Chamundi Hill”, King Tipu’s Summer Palace and many ancient Temples and Churches. One day trip will cover most of the attractions.
