Located 770m above sea level
and 140 Kms from Bangalore, Mysore, the imperial city, was the erstwhile
capital of the Wodeyars. Also known as the city of Palaces, Mysore
has never failed to mesmerise the tourists with its quaint charm, rich
heritage, magnificent palaces, beautifully laid-out gardens, imposing
buildings, broad shady avenues and sacred temples.
Mysore
is the erstwhile capital of Wodeyars, the rulers of Mysore State. The
Wodeyar family ruled Mysore since 14th century except for a short period of
40 years when Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan were the rulers. Today Mysore is one
of the major cities of Karnataka. Mysore has emerged as a thriving market
for exotic sandalwood & incense, the Mysore silk sarees and stone-carved
sculptures.
Mysore is certainly a charming, old-fashioned
and undaunting town dominated by the spectacular Maharaja's Palace, around
which the boulevards of the city radiate. Nearby is the city centre
with the colourful and frenetic Devaraja Market is inviting a stroll. On the
outskirts of Mysore, Srirangapatnam still harbours architectural gems from
the days of the great Indian hero, Tipu Sultan, and the magnificent Hoysala
temple of Somnathpur lies little more than an hour's drive away.
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Major Attractions of Mysore |
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Badami Caves : The capital of the Early
Chalukyas, Badami is picturesquely situated at the mouth of a ravine between
two rocky hills, Badami is famous for its cave temples - all hewn out of
sand stone on the precipice of a hill.
Badami is an interesting
place to visit in Karnataka what with its artificial lake, ancient temples,
Museum and Hindu and Jain caves carved in the Sandstone hills. The largest
and most ornamental is the third cave temple dedicated to Vishnu.
Overlooking the cave temples is a reservoir dotted with temples dedicated to
Vishnu and Shiva. Also a must are the Bhutanath temples that lend their name
to the lake beneath the cave temples. The main attractions of Badami are the
caves found there.
Viceregal Lodge & Botanical
Gardens : On the Observatory Hills is located Viceregal Lodge, which is
also known as "Rashtrapati Niwas". This magnificent building was
the residence of the British Viceroy Lord Dufferin. This lodge was completed
in 1888 and it is said that every brick for the building was carried by
mules. This is a six-storey building and is surrounded by well-maintained
gardens and lawns. The lodge has now been converted into Institute of
Advanced Study and is further 2-km from State Museum.
Gol
Gumbaz : Gol Gumbaz, situated in Bijapur is an astounding engineering
feat. Its enormous "Whispering" dome is second in size only to St.
Peter's Basilica in Rome. The dome is the second largest in the world, 124
feet in diameter. The dome stands unsupported by pillars. The fantastic
acoustical system in the dome carries the faintest whisper around the dome
and returns it to the listener nine times.
Hampi :
Hampi, the land of surprises was founded in the middle of 14th Century
by two local princes, Hakka & Bukka. The Vijayanagar Empire came to be
celebrated for its might and wealth and as a show piece of imperial
magnificence. Vijayanagara is such that the pupil of the eye has never seen
a place like it... " So eulogized Abdul Razaq, a Muslim envoy who
visited Hampi.
The city was sacked pillaged and burnt in 1565 AD,
after the combined attack of armies of Muslim Sultanates of the Deccan
defeated the Vijayanagar Military Commander and the King fled the Capital.
Rocky hills and the mighty Tungabhadra River, which flows through this
rugged landscape, dominate the terrain.
Nandi Hills
: 60 kms north of Bangalore is the summer resort called Nandi Hills.
Also known as Nandidurga, it was one of the summer retreats of Tipu Sultan.
Nandi Hills was popular with the British too who built bungalows and laid
out gardens here.
Today of course, it's a hot favourite among
Bangaloreans who find this an ideal get-away for weekends. The 1478-m high
Nandi Hills is the originating point of many rivers. And the forests
surrounding the hills, abound with wild animals. Around the Nandi Hills are
several smaller hills, which can be visited on foot.