Southern India - 15 February 2012 (2)

Mysore Palace

Kite over Mysore Palace

Entrance Gate to Mysore Palace

Gopuram in Walls of Mysore Palace

Guruprasad was now in a hurry to get to Mysore – and so were lots of other drivers.  There was a lot of overtaking on blind bends or following an overtaking vehicle without knowing what was ahead: manoeuvres which are so accurately replicated at the beginning of “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel”.  I was at the very back of the bus, so I felt every jolt when we were forced off the tarmac and every swing when we suddenly changed lane.  Amazingly, we made it to Mysore in one piece and reached the Hotel KVC International, where we checked in, dashed to the room and immediately went to lunch.

Mysore Palace

Mysore Palace

Lunch was a fiasco.  It took ages to get served as they gave priority to the Indians who came after us.  Pam never got her meal.  We asked for the bills when the food finally came, but we never got them.  We were due to go out at 1345, so we were keen to be off.  I went up to the waiters, waving rupees to pay, but they just ignored me and continued to run around like headless chickens.  Eventually, Lukose said that if there were no bills, then we didn’t have to pay.  So out we went.  There was more excitement at reception as Steve, normally so happy and placid, was kicking up a real fuss as they had short-changed him Rs500.

Tiger Guarding Mysore Palace

Mysore Palace

I was also in a hurry as I wanted to go back to the room and get a couple of t-shirts and put them in to be washed, just to make sure I had enough to the end of the trip and an extra one for the night on the train.  Reception showed me the price list and it looked very reasonable, so I went ahead.

First stop on the afternoon’s sight-seeing was Mysore Palace.  The entry procedures were lengthy.  We had to leave our cameras in security and then our shoes.  Pat also left her passport so that we could get the audio guides.  Then we had to queue and eventually got inside.

Cool Dudes Outside Mysore Palace

Cows in Mysore Palace

The palace was quite stunning with rooms full of columns and paintings.  Some of the rooms had stained glass ceilings.  The prevailing colours were turquoise and gold with some pink thrown in.  The pillars were all painted and there were chandeliers and inlaid doors throughout.  The previous palace had burnt down, so the use of wood was kept to a minimum.  However, one room had a wooden ceiling which was so much better than those in the Dutch Palace in Kochi.  There was some wooden panelling too.  I can only guess that the wood used was a type which was very resistant to fire.

Pigeons Roost or Gate of Mysore Palace

I took a long while to go round and was one of the last to complete the tour as I had had problems with my audio guide at the beginning.  The guide was very good though, with lots of extra information.  I did listen to all of it.

Brahmini Kite over Mysore Palace

Lukose appeared as we came out.  Mike was with him, helping him to return our cameras and Pat was sitting with the shoes.  She was very pleased to have got her passport back.  Then we were given time to wander around the outside of the palace and snap to our hearts’ content.  While we were wandering at the far end, a herd of cows came in and started to trot towards us.  They had painted horns, green for the left horn and red for the right, and gave us a wide berth.  Once again, people wanted photos taken and I spent the last few minutes doing some bird-watching.  A brahmini kite soared overhead and I spotted a mynah singing in a tree.  The funniest was all the pigeons who had turned the ornate carvings on the inside of the entrance gate into a pigeon roost.