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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.
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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.