My Travel

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Jagan Mohan Palace & Sri Jaya Chamarajendra Art gallery (near the City Bus Stand) is located behind the Mysore palace.
Timings : 830 am to 530 pm, Rs 20 entry with no inside photography.

Sri Chamarajendra Zoological gardens (Timings : 830 am to 530 pm except Tuesdays, Rs 30 entry, Still camera Rs 10, Video Rs 150). The animals include Wild boar, giraffe, monkey, chimpanzee, langaur, zebra, Hippopotamus, sloth bear, Rhinoceros, deer, antelope, elephant, African elephant, Gaur, crocodile, Lion and a variety of birds viz Peacock, cuckatoo, parrot, love birds, crane, swan, pelican, ostrich and other water birds. Snake park has Cobra, viper, python, star tortoise, poisonous sea snake and King cobra.

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Bus No 201 from City Bus Stand (CBS) goes via Zoological gardens to Chamundi hills (19 km). The AC bus travel costs Rs 12. From the top there is Mahishasura statue and a temple with high gopuram. A 400 steps climb down take one to the famous 4.8 m tall Nandi (Bull) statue.

From the junction after the gate at base of the Chamundi hill, take the right side road to reach a helipad. Cross it to reach the Lalitha Mahal Palace hotel (2 km). One can stay at Lalitha Mahala Palace Hotel at Rs 3000 per night.

Chamundi hills & Lalitha Mahal palace Video

Bus No 303 from City Bus Stand (CBS) goes via Mysore Railway museum (Entry Rs 5, Rs 10 for Camera) to Brindavan gardens (19 km). The dam, dancing fountains, boating are the main attractions. The garden will be lighted in the evenings.

Srirangapatna (18 km) is famed for the bravery of Tipu Sulthan, the 17 th century Muslim king who fought against the British. Bus No 313 & 316 from City Bus Stand (CBS) goes to Srirangapatna, Tipu Sultan's capital. Get down near the Sriranganatha swamy temple, visit the temple (life size golden deities, no inside photography) and the near by Colonel Bailey's dungeon.

Sriranganatha swamy temple



Colonel Bailey's dungeon



Walk about 250 m to reach the place where Tipu Sulthan's body was found (Water gate leading to Cauvery river).



A further 500 m walk take one to the Tipu's Jamia masjid.

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The road goes through two fort gates (Bangalore gate) to the bus stand. Cross the main road, the Summer palace is a kilometre away (Entry : Rs 5, no inside photography).

Summer palace (Dariya Daulat Bagh), the 1784 teak pillared palace has rare paintings of Tipu Sulthan and war scene murals on its walls. Further the road leads to Gumbaz - Hyder Ali & Tipu Sulthan's tombs (2 km). The river Cauvery bifurcates to two streams one km away from the Gumbaz at Sangam. One can travel back to city from Gumbaz by Bus no 316.

Summer Palace, Srirangapatna



Gumabz - Tomb of Tipu Sulthan : Video





Ranganathittu bird sanctuary is 3 km away from Srirangapatna.

Museum of art & archaeology and Folklore museum are located at Manasa Gangotri (Mysore University campus near Mysore railway station).

How to Reach

Kozhikode, in Kerala is well connected with Mysore. Travel time is 5 to 5.5 hour costing Rs 127 in LSFP (KSRTC) and Rs 147 in Super Express bus.

The NH 212 from Kozhikode goes via Thamarassery and climbs to Lakkidi via 9 hair pin curves. The route further goes via Kalpetta, Sulthan Bathery and Muthanga (wildlife sanctuary). A kilometer further is the Karnataka forest check post and the road goes via forested route for around 20 km. Evening time is the best to watch Deers and elephants when they cross the road. Don't get down from the vehicles as this is not a picnic area. The next village is Gundulpet, from where one can visit the famous Bandipur National park (20 km), Muthumalai National Park (35 km), Gudallur and the hill station Ooty (80 km). The road from Gundulpet leads to Mysore via Nanjangud (23 km from Mysore, famous for the Nanjangudeswara temple and chariot festival).

Wayanad Video

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Tourist spots around Mysore

The tourist sopts around Mysore are Shivsamudram falls, Hogenakkal falls, Somathpur, Sravanabelagola, Belur and Halebeedu.

Belur is 32 km from Hassan and is famous for the Chennakesava temple and the Veeranarayan temple. Both temples are located in a walled temple complex one km from bus stand. The Chennakesava temple has 60 large ornate sculptures. Belur is 163 km from Mysore via Hassan.

Channakeshava temple tower



Channakeshava temple



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Halebidu is famous for the Hoysala temple and Archaeological museum. It is 17 km from Belur. The 32 km Halebidu - Hassan route has Merrigold fields and windmills. Video

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Somathpur Hoysala temple is 32 km from Srirangapatna via Bannur). On the route, one can see sugarcane fields and sugar processing. Somnathpur is 8 km from Bannur and the route is less frequented by buses.

Somnathpur temple video



Sravanabelagola (85 km from Mysore). From Srirangapatna, reach Channarayapatna via Krishanrajapet (60 km). Sravanabelagola is 11 km away. Sravanabelagola is a major Jain pilgrim centre where Gomateswara statue of 300 BC (17 m high) reached by 640 steps. Head annoying ceremony is celebrated once in 12 years. Next is due in 2018.

A 52 km road journey is to Hassan via Channarayapatna. Hassan city is where Master Control Facility is located, by which satellites are controlled from earth.

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Kollegal (60 km from Mysore) - Chamrajanagar - Satyamangalam - Coimbatore is the forested area where late Veerappan poached hundreds of elephants and sandalwood. The famous Sivasamudram falls is 18 km from Kollegal.



From Kollegal another forested route goes via Hanur - Anthiyur - Bhavani - Erode. From where one can visit Hogenakkal waterfalls (2 hour travel from Dharmapuri, Tamil Nadu).

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Thrissur Pooram is called pooram of all poorams. It attracts huge congregation of people and more than 50 elephants to the city. Pooram day falls in the mid April to mid May period (Pooram day in the Malayalam month of Medom). The venue of the Pooram is the Vadakkunatha temple's thekkinkadu madian. In 2009, it was on 3 May. By 12 noon there was a pooram of 15 caparisoned elephants near the temple gate. A grand panchavadyam (a combination of five percussion and wind instruments) display of more than 250 artists were performed at around 1500 h in the presence of 15 caparisoned elephants. A sample fireworks display with huge colored umbrellas foretell the grand display of fireworks in the next day early morning 3 am.

Kudamattom is the main event of the Pooram day begins at around 4.30 pm. The temple premises will be an ocean of humans. Devotees form two groups (Paramekkavu and Thiruvambadi) of 15 caparisoned elephants each, come with a number of colored parasols. The raising of Aalavattom and venchamaram will increase the spirit. The groups display these colored parasols in their turn with competitive spirit. At around 6.30 pm the event comes to an end and the crowd retreats to home. The next main item is the 3 am grand display of fireworks.



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St. Angelo's Fort was built in 1505 by Dom Francisco de Almeida, the first Portuguese Viceroy of India and is on the Arabian sea about 3 km from Kannur town. The fort changed hands several times. In 1663 the Dutch captured it and sold it to the Arakkal Royal family in 1772. The British conquered it in 1790 and transformed it into one of their major military stations on the Malabar coast. The fort is in Cannanore cantonment area and open from 8 am to 6 pm daily.



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Marad massacre

Special court in Kozhikode on January 15, 2009 sentenced 62 of the 63 convicts to life in the May 2003 Marad carnage case. The case relates to the murder of eight Hindu Arayan fishermen by an armed mob at Marad beach on the night of May 2, 2003. One of the assailants (Muslim) was also killed during the attack.

There is direct bus from city to Marad beach. The area has still armed police presence and patrolling. Suspected/ wanderers will be questioned by the locals and the police.

Marad Beach video Marad temple video

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Basilica of Our Lady of Dolours (Puthan Pally) is the tallest Gothic church in Asia. The foundation stone was laid on 21 December 1929, by Mar Francis Vazhappilly, the late Bishop of Thrissur. Has an area of 2,300 m2, it has soaring belfries (42.672 m height) at the entrance, double storeyed aisles all along the nave and transepts, and eleven altars, five on either side of the main one. Its exuberant interior decorations include fine specimens of murals, images of saints and scenes from the scriptures. The Bible tower (inaugurated on January 7, 2007) of 79.248 m height, located at the back side of the church has a lift going up to 48.768 m, from where viewers have to climb the steps to the top.

Location : Near the Vadakkunnatha temple, Thrissur, Kerala, India.



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St Mary's Forane church, Pallipuram is located 10 km away from Cherthala in Alapuzha Dt of Kerala, India. The festival of Mother Mary is celebrated on 15 August. The markets mainly the meat market selling pork is worth visiting.

The specialties of the church include - The first church made by St Thomas in India, Miraculous painting of Mother Mary and infant Jesus by St Luke (located at the second level in the 16th century Portuguese made wooden altar and Wooden cross supposed to be made by St Thomas. The cross has be thrown in the Vembanad backwaters by miscreants and later discovered near Mattel church.

Blessed Fr Chavara Kuriakose was vicar of the church. The baptistery of his time is located near the 150 year old seminary building. One can see old inscriptions related to the church and ancient well used by Fr Malpan, founder of CMI sect.



Festival Videos

Pallipuram church festival
Pallipuram church procession
Live brutal killing

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Athachamayam

Location : Tripunithura, Kochi, Kerala, India

Atham (23 Aug 2009) in the Malayalam month of Chingam is the starting of the Onam festivities. Chingam is the auspicious day for marriages. In Guruvaayur temple, there were 123 marriages on the Atham day. Onam is the Kerala's state festival. On the Onam day, Karanavar (eldest member of the family) presents new cloths to all members of the family. Atham was celebrated in Thripunithura even during time of Cochin Kingdom. Maharaja (king) himself accompanied with all his entourage during the cultural procession. The procession during the old times traveled up to the Thrikkakara Vamanamurthy temple and Maharaja offered prayers there.



Thrikkakara Vamanamurthy temple : It is one of the oldest temples in India having 18 stone inscriptions of 10 to 13 AD. It is the only temple in India, which is dedicated to Vamana (Thrikkakara Appan), the fifth incarnation of Lord Vishnu. The main festival days of the temple are Atham and Onam.

Onasadya (Great Onam lunch)



The Athachamayam 2009 was inaugurated by Home minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan at Boys High school ground near the Private bus stand, Tripunithua. The procession was started at 11.00 am. The route was via Private bus stand, turned right at the statue, then turned left at junction near church and entered the town via Sree Poornathrayeesa temple (Lord Vishnu) and statue. The procession ended at the Boys school ground around 1 pm.

On 1960 onwards, State government organizes the procession. The secular cultural procession is of caparisoned elephants, temple art forms like Kathakali, Theyyam, Ammankudam, Pulikali, Padayani etc. Chendamelam, Panchavadyam etc can be enjoyed during this occasion. Thiruvathira, Mohiniyattam, Ottamthullal, Kalaripayattu, Karate, king Mahabali, Vamana, Kavadiyattom, Mayil kavadi, Peacock dance, etc were in the procession. Numerous floats depicts the contemporary social situations is also exhibited.

The same day (Atham) a boat race is organizes at Eroor Champakkara canal near Vytila at 3 pm. It also attracts a large number of race enthusiasts.

How to Reach

Tripunithura Railway station is 1 km from town. It is well connected by bus service from Kochi city (10 km). Hill Palace museum is the main tourist attraction of the fortified Royal city. Chottanikkara Bhagavathy temple is nearby.

Athachamayam Video 1 || Video 2 || Video 3 || Tableau
St Mary's church & Onam flowers

Pulikali dance video