The Modest Mysore- Day 2

Prologue:
Wondered why it takes a humid sun and drenching drizzle, for a rainbow to smile across the sky? Like it were teasing, “Oooo, I like my view from top here, what about you peeps down there? :D” Ok, let’s save the drama and cut the chase. Such was our evening on Day 1, when the sun was tired and needed some rest, and we had started to drive back to Mysore. It was like a sunny feeling, leaving behind a beautiful Kabini and the rain- soaked child like excitement of entering Mysore (finally). And guess what welcomed us? The rains! Like it were, although, ending our day at Kabini, but also beginning our journey in Mysore, leaving us all smiles (and rolled up windows, ughh!)

Wet roads and that smell of rains- The perfect petrichor moment

All exhausted and hungry, (as always), impatient we checked into our hotel- Country Inn & Suites by Radisson Blu. Moved in our rooms (quickly scanned through, if we could work our way up for a free upgrade :P), gotten comfortable, we had one huge task left for the day. What? Rambling stomachs, throwing tantrums for no fine dining but somewhere rustic and the defying feet which refused to step outside anymore. It took a little bribing- freshening up, a little rolling on the bed with my chipmunk- and the feet agreed! After a lot of picture gazing and zomato review research, we zeroed in on a pizzeria. On a cold and drizzling night, cozied up in our car, drove a few miles to be greeted by “Wood burnt” pizzas, only what one can dream of!

Pizza- Alle Verdure;
L to R: Healthy Old House Signature Salad, Biancaneve (it’s thin crust pizza base seasoned and wood burnt) and Alfredo Pasta.
Usually, not a white sauce fan but when you have a doll like niece, she knows how to work her way up, phew!

Day 2

After a good night’s sleep, and a blazing sun up, started our next day. Headed for breakfast, for everyone it was a lavish breakfast, from croissants to dosas, it was a world food map but me, I was stuck between these two:

9:30 am being too lazy a morning for a vacation.

I did hear a lot of “Are you crazy?” and “Have more!”, but who cared, because I was now looking forward to swim time. Pool filled with freezing- cold rain water from last night. Although all geared up for a dip, it took us baby steps (and courage) before we were shivering- soaked. Oh yes! it was insanely cold.

Think of it and it gives me chills even now.

After a nice float in the pool, it was time to get out and get dry to check out for an extremely exciting eventful day planned ahead. As we headed out of the hotel, we got really excited on seeing a tapri (small shop) make maggi and fried rice, and we decided, somewhere between let’s luncheon and let’s skip, this was it. And after all, hill stations, clouds and maggi, I know you are drooling too.

There is something about journeys and skies.
This was when we found our luncheon tapri very close to our hotel.

With my chipmunk, a 3 year old niece and a bunch of we grown ups, we had the famous Mysore zoo up on the top. With a ticking clock on, numerous places to cover, 1.5 hours was the ceiling limit to feel home at zoo (pun totally intended). It was only a matter of time until we entered the vast expanse and realised 1.5 hours? Well, still optimistic, battery cars was the plan, (with JUST 1 hour of queue time :/), we decided it was time for the feet to come into action again.

The moment we entered, we saw tall necked grass grazing creatures, when we said Oh! Statues and Oh! So natural, only till we realised Oh man! they actually are GIRAFFES. From chimpanzees to peacocks to royal bengal tigers to GIRAFFE, (no offense, but we skipped the slimy snake) we had a ball of a time. The birds with mesh cages were a little difficult to capture, in disguise being a good thing, because it was fauna at its best. Just absorbing so much around rather than trying to fit them in my camera’s frame. Anyway, with the ladies shopping at the little souvenir shops and munching (in the designated restricted area) zoo tour soon came to an end.

Next up was the much awaited royal and regal Mysore palace. Not being a person who appreciates architecture much, but for the love of Indian culture and history, I was impatient. As we drove up, from a distance I caught a glimpse of the palace, and I was in complete awe. After all, Mysore is called the City of Palaces for a reason. With 3 different entrances, this current structure was commissioned by Maharani Kempananjammanni Devi and her son Maharaja Krishnaraja Woodeyar IV. The aura of this palace is known to be completely different during the Dusshera festivities with the palace known to having about 90,000 bulbs lining the structure, and are all lit.

About the insides, one that fascinated me the most were the royal looking silver chairs, which apparently were brought out only when special guests honored the palace with their visit. Since we relied on the audio tour of the palace, which later ditched us, all we could do was eavesdrop when the guides were touring their guests around. Irrespective, glad that we finally made it and were fortunate to see the beautiful and intricate planning which is now more than a century old, and a testimony to Indian architecture.

In so many other things sold outside the palace spot this. Sometimes, happiness and sour do go together. This was like bumping into childhood in a cup unlike trees this time.

Our palace tour was not over yet. Why? You will eventually know. Well, we did have sometime in hand before we could finish the rest of the tour, so meanwhile, we took a detour to Chamundi Hills (an impromptu plan). Also to mention, the palace itself has been constructed with its east side facing these hills. Chamundi named after goddess herself, is a another jewel in the crown of Mysore. Now a famous pilgrimage place, is flooded with bhakts (devotees) which also includes our ancestors i.e. monkeys. To think of it most of the Indian pilgrimage places are so. With all the snatching and goofing around with the worshippers, they put up quite a show.

There are some amazing array of snacks and beverages outside the Chamundi temple, I was just a little monkey conscious, so quickly managed these two.

Saving some labour energy, by using this mechanised equipment which helps them roast the corn.

It was time to pick up where we left. We, therefore, headed back to the palace, and when we did we could not believe our eyes. Such was the beauty on seeing which gleamed in our eyes. Swarmed with thousands of people and everyone trying to capture the royal and regal structure at its best.

That part of the palace where once upon a time the king interacted with it’s people and now a different set of us wondering what could have that felt like!
The palace lights are switched on every Sunday, for about an hour 7pm- 8pm, apart from the Dusshera puja.

A little carriage tour around the palace and our tourist map and goals were now saturated. Our Mysore sand timer leaving us just enough time to fill us with our precise choices of “Aaare bas ab toh Dal makhani and paneer ki sabzi.” Again with some Zomato’s soul searching we found an authentic vegetarian punjabi restaurant- Kapoor’s Cafe. The moment we stepped in, we pat ourselves for finding just the perfect last meal in Mysore- a terrace restaurant, pleasantly cold, cots to sit with legs folded and steaming hot food.

Started off with Bangalore, this restaurant is very famous in both the cities now. From paneer to dal makhani, it was just perfect. And so were these Cheese parathans, which safely can be referred to as Indian style of quesadillas.

How can anyone finish a stomach full Punjabi meal without a glass of Lassi!

And on the sweet and minty notes of Paan, this weekend, which was planned over a week was now bidding us adieu. It was time to start the engine to drive back home just to drive into another chapter of yet another limb of our Mystical India, waiting to be explored, someday.