An impulsive decision while we pamper ourself at Bangalore club , a prompt one night booking at JP Fortune , and we are off early morning for Mysore. With just a day and half in hand, it shall be a whirlwind of revisiting the few places we had visited as school kids. Since we were told one day is enough for Mysore, Plan was simple, visit Chamundi hill, Mysore Palace and Brindavan Gardens, head back to Bangalore the next morning.Are we cutting this visit short, we shall find out soon enough.
Bouganvilla's add colour, while the Coconut, Sugarcane and Banana plantations add motifs of green. Too early in the morning for KFC, coffee and sandwitch at CCD it is ! Nearing Mysore, few interesting ruins come to view,which the driver mentions is Srirangapatna , Tipu Sultan's Palace. Curiosity cannot be indulged now, however , we decide to explore it the next day. He then mentions, the Golden Temple at Bylakuppe.We are like...... Golden temple, what are you talking about , thats at Amritsar. He gives clarity by saying , there is a Buddha idol, made in Gold, as is the temple, very beautiful and we should go there since its about an hour distance. The Golden Buddha bekons us, and we decide to take a detour. About 45mins drive , driver says its still another hour drive. Not knowing exactly how far, and what to expect, we do an about turn. We realize time has been lost however, we definetely do not want to miss out on our planned Mysore visits!
We take in the beauty of the flowering tree's strewn on the spiraling roads of Chamudi hills. Chamundeshwari temple, to pay obeisance to this Shakti Peeth, and the significance of the gigantic Mahisasura will not escape you. The thin lane to the temple is vibrant with stalls selling the most myriad of articles,.the beauty of the temple, the idols shall not escape you. The long line is daunting, short of time as we are, ask around and we are told to go to the counter and buy tickets , which will get us to the main idol in no time. We do that, to the main temple, however, we are knocked off on the entrance ( literally) by the throngs of people , who accumulate from 2 other directions. A little management get us inside to an exalted Darshan. Skip the gigantic Nandi and the second temple for another time!
Hunger pangs withstanding, and the heat killing us, we decide on a quick dekho of Mysore Palace. Its absolutely stunning. Breathtaking in the beauty of architecture ( blending the Hindu, Muslim and Gothic contours) , the colours of the palace , the temples and the gardens. Its a zip zap zoom tour of the palace. The driver of the battery operated cart double's as a guide. What does catch my interest is the his pointing out the idols of Hindu Gods infused within the designs of a Cathedral and Mosque, in the centre structure of the palace.We couldn't see it , rushed as we were....... next time i shall make a note and take a picture of who they are too! The walk through the Durbar halls totally mesmerize us, with the artifacts, paintings , carvings, dazzling colour schemes. Oh boy..... wish we had 2-3 hours with us, to truly appreciate this palace.
Ready as we are to die of the heat and hunger.... the driver loses his way and a 2 minute takes 15 minutes for us to reach JP Forture, a beautiful property.The staff is super efficient , we are checked in, baggages sent to our room, while we sit at the restaurant and enjoy Trunch( its a combination of Tea and Lunch afterall), of the most delicious chicken and meat dish. Rest tad and off we are to Brindavan gardens.
Brindavan is every bit as I remembered it. The flowers where Bouganvilla's reign, the cascading water , the distinct fountains, the pond ...... the transition of the entire garden luminating as night steps in..... Bollywood can still do a song and dance number here!
We are all set to head back to Bangalore after our Salaam Dua to Tipu Sultan. However , plans change, when we get calls from Aunt who insists we visit the Golden Temple. Heeding her advise, its a clueless 2 hour drive towards Coorg for the temple.
The golden rooftop of the temple, flaming with the rays of the sun welcomes us to Bylakuppe, as do the locals on the street, it feels like we have reached Dharamshala! We drive past a few beautiful intricate gates( which we learn later are entrance to the other monateries and nunneries of the first and largest tibetan settlement in India) , to stop at the entrance of the Nyingmapa Monastery. Stepping inside the courtyard transports us to another world. The stillness, the quite energy resonates, muting the activities in the couryard. Walking past the monks residential quarters, we are blown away by the sheer radiance of the temple that comes to view,the striking potrait of HH Pema Norbu Rinpoche, embracing all to be a part of the the Nyingma lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, thriving with the blessings of HH Dalai Lama! This temple is shut , so we walk across the beautiful landscaped gardens , watching Monks of all ages going about their chores. A large Gong, highlighted atop a solidary room, a monk kindling the extinquished Diya's lined symmetrically in many rows , is a delight. The Golden Buddha, in the main temple is an eye opener. Expecting one large golden Buddha, we are stupified by 3 mammoth gold statues of Buddha,Padmasambhava, and Amitayus.The shimmering gold, white, red and green cloths drapped in front of idols, the altar decorated with so much more than just flowers and incense sticks, colorful paintings and carvings on walls and pillars, pictures of the gurus, the motley of musical instrument ( the jumbo Conch standsout!), scriptures and beads on individual desk, await the monks for prayers. Not allowed inside till the prayers are over, with just one ( of the 3 ) grand door open, we are laconic witness to the halcyonic ambience. While the sparrrows play hide and seek within and outside the prayer hall , Monks, disciples of varied ages enter the temples. The temple that was shut is open, we step in , the hall a mini replica of the main temple filing up with the young monks, except that there are 7 majestic Golden idols of various God and Goddess. A young monk serves tea and the prayers begin. We sit in reverence , immersed in the purity of the hymns. Its difficult to break free from the grip of this serenity. However, we have to and we visit the third temple, dedicated to Goddess Tara and her divine forms. The chants , sounds of the instruments from the 3 temples resonate the entire monastery. Murals , lustrous paintings on walls are integral to the temples.The opulence of this Monastery is breathtaking as is the tranquility.
More than half a day and still so much that we have not explored, experienced, we should have stayed a night here. The colourful prayer flags bid us adieu , with a silent invitation , when many questions shall have an answer on the monastery, settlement.... relish the food and so much more!
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We cross an absolutely stunning imposing medieval architectural style Cathedral. Its stained glass windows are a display in the sun light.....St.Philomina......as always, for next time !
Just about 20 kms from Mysore towards Bylakuppe, 2 villages diagonally opposite, similiar in their design , construction.... merging with the landscape was invitation enough to swing the wheels for a cuppa coffee with a resident there........ that did not happen, but will someday !
Grace sure was working, Devi temple shuts between 2pm to 3.30 pm. Had we reached during this time, our entire day would have been disrupted!
And some ....
Give the musical fountain at Brindavan gardens a skip & Royal Orchid for chai instead, overlooking the Dam and Garden.
Mysore Palace, had we known we would have planned such that we saw the sound and light show in the evening ...and the Sunday spectacular illumination of the entire palace.
Google time ......
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tourist_attractions_in_Mysore
( On our... we should have list) .... Wax & Sand sculpture museum, Srirangapatna, Bird santuary & Talakad )
http://www.fortunehotels.in/resort/Mysore-Fortune_JP_Palace.aspx
http://www.mysorepalace.gov.in
http://www.horticulture.kar.nic.in/brindavan.htm
http://www.royalorchidhotels.com/royal-orchid-brindavan-garden-mysore/overview.asp
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