Which r da good places to take my foreign client for trip in or around Bangalore and Mysore?

Question

Which r da good places to take my foreign client for trip in or around Bangalore and Mysore?

Answer 1

There are some interesting historical and natural sites in Karnataka. The pleasant capital, Bangalore, is one of the most important computer and technological centers in India. Three hours southwest of Bangalore is the city of Mysore, a popular city for foreign tourists in South India. It has a fascinating palace. Between Mysore and Bangalore is the important Sri Ranganatha Vishnu Temple at Srirangapatnam.

North of Mysore there are interesting temples in the towns of Belur and Halebid. Further north is the all but deserted city of Hampi, which at one time had a population of over half a million people. Further north are Badami, Pattadakal, and Aihole, all of which have ancient temples. In the extreme north of Karnataka are the towns of Bijapur, Gulbarga, and Bidar, all onetime capitals of the Bahmini kingdoms which contains Muslims historical sites.

Karnataka has several important active temples and pilgrimage places. Udupi, on the coast near Mangalore, has the famous Sri Krishna Temple. This temple was established by the important Vaishnava saint, Madhvacharya. Further up the coast is an important Siva temple at Gokarna, the Mahaballeswara Temple. This area also has excellent and secluded beaches. There are also the highest waterfalls in India at Jog Falls.

History

It is said that Chandragupta Maurya, India’s emperor, became a Jain and renounced his kingdom. He retired at Sravanabelagola. In the 6th century, the Chalukyans built some of the earliest known Hindu temples in Aihole and Badami.

The Hoysalas, who ruled from the 11th to 14th centuries, built some of the best temples in India—in Belur, Halebid, and Somnathpur. In 1327 Mohammed Tughlaq’s Muslim army conquered the Chalukyans from Halebid. In 1346 the Hindu Vijayanagar kingdom gained control of the middle and southern parts of Karnataka. By the 1550s, they controlled a good part of south India. In 1565 the combined forces of the five Bahmani Muslim kingdoms defeated them and they lost control of Karnataka.

At this time, the five Bahmani kingdoms controlled northern Karnataka while the Wodeyars of Mysore gained control of southern Karnataka and other parts of South India. The Wodeyars ruled from Srirangapatnam until 1761, when one of their own generals, Hyder Ali overthrew them. Hyder Ali and his son, Tipu Sultan, with the support of the French, expanded their power.

Eventually the British defeated and killed Tipu Sultan in Srirangapatnam in 1799. They then returned the throne to the Wodeyars, who ruled until Independence, except for a period of fifty years beginning in 1830. In 1956, the areas where the language of Kannada was spoken were combined to form the present state of Karnataka.

Around Bangalore

Brindavan Whitefield Ashram (Sai Baba’s Ashram)

The Ashram is located in Whitefield, 16km from Bangalore, on Madras Rd. Sai Baba’s main ashram is in Puttaparthi in Andhra Pradesh, where he spends most of his time. Sai Baba is usually here between March and May. He has quite a large following and he uses a good percentage of the money donated to construct hospitals and schools.

You can stay at Whitefield for about Rs 100 a night. For information call 845-2233. To get here, you can take bus #333E or #319C from the City bus stand. By train, take the Chennai Passenger 96, 10.30 am, 1 hr; or the Marikuppan 256, 6.45 am, or Marikuppan 254, 6.10 pm.

S Babu & Co (226-1351), Cauvery Continental Hotel, 11 Cunningham Rd, arranges transportation to the ashram. There is a half-day trip (Rs 250) to Whitefield for either morning or evening darshan.

Nrityagram Dance Village

This dance school is on Bangalore–Pune Highway, 30km west of Bangalore (080 846-6314). The school was established by Protima Gauri, one of the best Odissi dancers in India. Students come from all over India to learn traditional dance.

The school is open August to May. An hour-long lecture demonstration can be arranged on Odissi and Kathak dance at a cost of Rs 500 per person (four people minimum).

There are buses to here, but they let you off 5km from the school. It is best to take a taxi, setting a price for waiting time (around Rs 500).

In the first week of February, there is an all-night dance and music performance by Protima Gauri and her students. Famous musicians such as Zakar Hussain and Amjad Ali Khan also perform. The place is packed—over 25,000 people attend each night—and it is best to arrive before 5.30 pm to get a seat.

Bannerghatta National Park

This park, 20km south of Bangalore, is home to Indian leopards, lions, tigers, and elephants. You can drive around on a zoo-safari where the animals are fenced in. The park also has a snake and crocodile farm. Open daily except Tues. You can get here by taking bus #365 (platform 15) at the City bus stand.

Muthyala Maduvu

Located here, 45km south of Bangalore, is a waterfall that drops 90m (300 ft). It is on the road to Anekal. There is also a Siva temple in the area.

Nandi Hills

Phone Code: 08156

Located 70km north of Bangalore, xe Nandi Hills (1615m) is a popular Hill Station. There are some good views in the area.

The KSTDC Hotel Mayura Pine Top (78624) has rooms with bath for Rs 225/250. It can be booked at the KSTDC office in Bangalore.

Buses from Bangalore to here depart from the Central bus stand (2 hr). A KSTDC tour from Bangalore also comes here.

Around Mysore

Srirangapatnam

Pop: 22,000 Area

Phone Code: 08236

Srirangapatnam is on an island in the Kaveri River, 16km north of Mysore and 140km from Bangalore. Srirangapatnam was the capital city of Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan. Tipu Sultan was defeated and killed here by the British, who were commanded by Colonel Arthur Wellesley, also known as the Duke of Wellington.

Fort

The British dismantled most of the Fort, but there are still gates and battlements remaining. There are also ancient cannons. Due north of the Ranganatha Temple are dungeons, used to hold British prisoners captured by Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan. It is said that the prisoners stood in water with their arms crossed and chained. The Jama Masjid is a mosque built by Tipu Sultan.

There is the important Sri Ranganatha Vishnu Temple here. Hyder Ali helped to build the temple, even though he was a Muslim. Besides the temple, there are the remains of a large fort. There are also the Narasimha Temple and the Gangadhareswara Temple northeast of the palace harem enclosure.

Daria Daulat and Gumbaz

About 1km east of the fort is Daria Daulat, the summer palace of Tipu Sultan—now a museum. Battle scenes are painted on the palace’s walls and ceilings. In one outstanding painting, Tipu is shown wearing a tiger stripes outfit. Another depicts the Nizam of Hyderabad. Upstairs on display are possessions of Tipu Sultan and some 19th century European paintings. Open daily except Fri. Admission Rs 3. There is a hospital where Colonel Wellesley and his men stayed.

Three-km east is the white domed Gumbaz, the tomb of Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan. Open daily except Fri 9 am to 5 pm.

Sri Ranganatha Temple

This impressive temple dates back to the 10th century. Sri Ranganatha is a black stone Deity of Lord Vishnu reclining on Adi Sesa. Gautama Rishi and the river goddess Kaveri are at his feet. Sri Ranganatha is said to have been worshiped by Agastya Rishi. There is a Deity of Lakshmi as Ranganayaki and a Gopala Krishna Deity in the west shrine. There are also shrines dedicated to Ramanuja, Desikar, and all the Alwars.

Ramanujacharya spent time here in 1133 when he came to avoid the Cholas king’s repression.

Non-Hindus can enter the temple, but not the inner sanctum. This temple is 100m behind the railway station. Open 8 am to 1 pm and 4 to 8 pm.

Practicalities

Hotel Mayura River View (52114), a few km from the railway station and bus stand, has nice cottages for Rs 500. It has a restaurant. It is in a nice setting next to the Kaveri River.

Amblee Holiday Resort (52326; fax 577-137), on the Kaveri River, has a pool, health club, and a hotel lake. Rooms are Rs 900/1000 and Rs 1100/1200 with A/C.

You can rent a bicycle from a shop about half a km from the bus stand. It is difficult to see everything by foot because it is so spread out.

It is convenient to come here with a Mysore city tour. There are frequent buses from Mysore Central bus stand, and any Mysore to Bangalore train stops here. To get here from Mysore, you can take the #125 or #313 bus from the City bus stand, northwest of the Palace.

Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary

This sanctuary, 4km southwest of Srirangapatnam, attracts a large number of migrating birds. At this place, the Kaveri River is wide and there are several islands, providing sanctuary for the birds. It is possible to take a boat ride around the islands and view the birds. Viewing is especially good in October and November. Besides birds, there are crocodiles. Open daily 9 am to 6 pm Admission Rs 100. The most convenient way to get here is by rickshaw from Srirangapatnam. From Mysore, you take bus #126.

Brindavan Gardens & Krishnarajendra Dam

These are terraced gardens named after the original Brindavan, where Lord Krishna appeared and celebrated his pastimes. There is a large artificial lake and a number of fountains floodlit with multi-colored lights. There is a colorful Musical Fountain on the other side of the artificial lake, at the far end of the gardens. Maharaja Krishnaraja Wodeyar built Krishnarajendra Dam across the Kaveri River at the beginning of this century.

This is a popular place, especially on weekends. In April-May up to 400 tour buses a day arrive. It is located about twenty minutes by train from Mysore Junction. Bus #150 comes here.

The fountains are lit up in the summer (weekdays 7 to 7.55 pm, summer holidays 8 to 8.55 pm), and in the winter (weekdays 6.30 to 7.30 pm; winter holidays 6.30 to 8.30 pm). The fountain show may be later on Saturdays and Sundays. Peopl

Answer 2

Since this is a client, I am assuming you will need time for business meetings too. Therefore your site-seeing plan must be tight, convenient and at the same time enjoyable.

My suggestion is, if you have 2 days to spare, just cover Bangalore and Mysore. The places you must cover are Lalbagh and Vidhana Soudha in Bangalore and the Mysore Palace, Lalitha Mahal Palace and the Brindavan Gardens in Mysore. If you can take a car from Bangalore to Mysore, you can also stop over at the Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary. It doesnt have much, but if the weather is pleasant, your client will enjoy the boat ride.

Try and also include 2 other spots in your plan. In Bangalore, see if you can take your client to any of the many NGO's in the city. An example is the SOS Children's Village off Bannerghatta Road. If you visit here, you can also include a visit to the Bannerghatta National Park. An NGO visit will show your client the spirit of the city, in fact of our country. And in Mysore, dont forget to take him/her to the silk shops where you get the best silks at reasonable rates.

Hope your client enjoys the trip. Good luck.