Mysuru budget trip alongwith with Suraj's wedding
After invitation the same day we booked train tickets to Mysuru the lone train which is via Bangalore and takes about 14 hrs, so after rethink and for utilisation of time decided to cancel train and booked Karntaka bus Airavat leaves at 8pm and reach Mysuru @ 7.30am
day 1 Shravanbelgola
Ola auto to Mysuru suburban bus stand got a bus to Krishna Raya pett and from there to Shravanbelgola thru a rural pot holed road reached Shravanabelgola at 1pm. Lunch Tali meals at a nearby restaurant.
Chandragiri betta planned to climb this first as the difficulty level was low, small steps cut on the rocks, as the sun was at its peak, had a blistered foot. The first climb was little steep so after puffing and gasping, finding shades under the boulders, reached Chandragiri betta, saw basadis/ Jain shrine dedicated to Jain idols, inscriptions, and pillars
Vindyagiri
the steps to Gometeswara is a steep winding climb, with handrails and 3 lanes of steps on the way we can see Odegal basadi a structure unique with stone structures on the side to strengthen the walls
Gometeswara is a single stone structure 65 feet tall and a temple around this with pillars
Rain clouds were forming when we were on the top, planned to move down fast as it would be difficult to get down, when it's raining, reached down and it started raining, a Jain mutt was nearby but not open for visitors, Jain mutt has a bhojanalya serving free food 3 times a day
As we have to reach Mysuru palace with lights, got a direct bus to Mysuru, on the way a car hit our bus from behind, hoped on as bus which came after sometime, reached Mysuru Palace just had a sneak peek as the lights will be put off by 8pm
Mysore palace is with beautiful arches and halls ornate with coloured pillars
As it was Eid holiday, there was a large number of people in the palace but able to see all places. Long back cameras were not allowed but now we can take photos inside the palace
St Philomena's church was nearby got a bus and walked a few minutes to reach the church a massive Cathedral with big arches spend a few minutes and moved to Mysuru bus stand
Somnathpur, Kesava temple
Mysuru bus stand to Bannur and from there we got a shared van to Somanathpur. Tickets have to be purchased online and no offline mode, should have a ID proof which is to be entered into ASI's website to get the tickets, found a bit cumbersome, but the security helped to get the tickets.
A beautiful garden welcomes to the walled Kesava temple with beautiful pillars, and roof adorned with stone carvings, a beauty of Hoysala architecture
day 3
Chamundi hills
a solo 1000 steps to Chamundi hills, Dileep anna dropped me at the beginning of the steps, but saw a lot of activity, morning joggers going up and down, devotees applying kumkum and haldi on the steps
Steps are not so high, so difficulty level is low, a view point were we can the city scape and a big Nandi
Chamundi temple was not open when I reached there at 7am, had a stroll and saw Mahishasura idol nearby there is bus stand, came down by steps
