Mysore : Excursions
13 km off Mysore City are the chamundi hills. Halfway-up is the nandi bull, a 4.8 metre monolith. Right on top is the 2000-year-old chamundeswari temple, dedicated to the patron goddess of the royal family.
19 km north-west is the Krishna Raja Sagar Dam and the Brindavan Gardens. The ornamental terraced gardens, the swirling fountains, the colourful fairy lights, brindavan gardens attracts thousands of visitors, especially to its “dancing musical fountains".
14 km north-east of mysore on the Bangalore-Mysore highway is Srirangapat-Nam, the island fortress that was once the capital of the warrior-kings Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan, the tiger of mysore. Tipu’s summer palace, daria daulat, built in 1784,
Was his favourite retreat. Now a museum, it tells eloquently of his valour and his losing battle against the british. It has ornate and beautiful frescoes. Tipu’s fort at Srirangapatnam holds within it a mosque and the Ranganathaswamy Temple. Outside the fort is the gumbaz, the tiger’s tomb, with doors of ebony inlaid with ivory. 3 km south of srirangapatnam is the sangam, where the two branches of river cauvery re-unite.
4 km from Srirangapatnam and 18 km from mysore is Ranganathittu, a bird sanctuary that allows a close view of exotic and familiar birds such as the white ibis, openbilled stork and cormorants, and of crocodiles that resemble mud banks. Birds from as far away as siberia make this their home between june and october. 48 km north is melkote, a pilgrim centre, known for its vairamudi festival in march-april. Melkote is also known for its handlooms.
35 km east is somnathpur with its star-shaped, 13th century Hoysala Temples in excellent condition. The exterior walls of the temple are frescoed with episodes from the epics. Worth visiting if you cannot travel to belur and halebid.
85 km southeast is Shivasamudram where the river cauvery cascades down in two picturesque waterfalls, alongside asia’s first hydro-electric power station. 82 km away is the cauvery fishing camp, at Bhimeshwar is a paradise for anglers where mahaseer is found in abundance. The fish has to be returned to the river by the angler. This camp is also accessible from bangalore (100 km).
96 km north is the Nagarhole National Park with the kabini river lodge to the south-east.
Biligiriranga Betta is 114 km southeast of mysore. A pleasant hill station, there is also a wildlife camp here, run by the forest department. Right on top of the hill stands the Biligirangaswamy Temple, from which the hill takes its name. A Ratha Festival is held every january and april.
Bandipur national park, spread over 875 sq. Km, is 80 km out of mysore on the way to ooty and a project tiger reserve. The sanctuary has, among others, tigers, barking deer, tuskers and bison. A treat from september to april. Closed on mondays. Accommodation is available at forest lodges, rest houses and cottages. Transport within the forest is by bus. Charges: per seat from 7 to 9 am and 4 to 6 pm only. Private vehicles are charged each. It is better to make bookings in advance.
