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Published: September 9th 2007
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Indian Train
Setting out for adventures in Mysore. Note: I was told today that the name of the city where we’re staying has been changed. In the 9th century this area was called Hale Bengaluru, over time the name changed to Bangalore. Now, I’m told that they’ve changed the name back to Bengaluru, but many still refer to the city as Bangalore. I just want to make it clear that Bangalore and Bengaluru are, in fact, the same city. Currently, the estimated population is around 7 million; it fluctuates depending on censuses of slum-dwellers and seasonal workers.
This weekend, our group visited Mysore, which is the historical center of our state, Karnataka. Early in the morning on Thursday (Sept 6) we woke up for tea and coffee and then boarded Visthar’s bus to go to the train station. Even though we are on the city outskirts and we only had to catch the train from the main city station, it took us over an hour to get there. Our train ride was supposed to last three hours, but apparently it’s quite typical for a three hour ride to take upwards of four hours. The train wound through rice paddies, stands of coconut trees, and sugarcane fields. Periodically women
Mysore Palace
Outside the palace after our tour. would come through selling fruit while men announced newspapers and hot chai for sale. Beggars ride the train for free.
When we reached Mysore, we checked in at the NGO where we were staying and had a quick bite to eat before heading off to see the city. We immediately went to the Mysore Palace which was constructed between 1897 and 1912 and is so extravagant that many members of our group couldn’t believe that it was completed in only 15 years. In order to go on the palace tour we had to check both our cameras and our shoes outside. The fact about the palace that I found most intriguing was that it was constructed by a secular king who employed typical Hindu, Islamic, and Christian architecture in different sections of the palace so as to make his people feel united.
After leaving the palace, we went to celebrate the birthday of one of our group members. She requested Pizza Hut, so despite anti-globalization sentiments, that’s where we ate dinner.
Friday morning we set out to visit a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Vishnu, who is one of the main Hindu gods and the operator
Well Water
Hindu monk outside of the temple. of the universe. To enter the temple, we removed our shoes and put our cameras away. Inside, there were statues of various incarnations of Vishnu and other gods, and near each statue a tray for offerings to that particular god. Our tour guide placed the bindi on our foreheads and explained a little more of the religion. We boarded the bus again, removed the bindi, left our shoes on the bus, and went to visit a mosque. The mullah there showed us around the mosque and told us about its history. Inside the mosque there was also a school where free education is provided to the village’s boys. The only part of the Mosque that we were not allowed to enter was the prayer hall, because that room is considered sacred and is only used for the Muslim men of the village who go to pray 5 times a day.
After leaving the mosque, we went to the summer home (now museum) of Tipu Sultan. Tipu Sultan was a secular king who is known for opposing British colonialism. We also visited the mosque where he is buried and had a short lecture about the historical significance of Mysore.
Mosque
View of one of the towers from outside the mosque. Friday afternoon we were free to explore the city shops. On Saturday morning, we boarded the bus once again and headed south to the state of Tamil Nadu where we were to go on a half day elephant safari. After a two hour bus ride, we reached the national park, where they told us that most of the elephants had been sent to Mysore for the upcoming procession, and that each of us would have the chance to ride an elephant for about 20 minutes. Somehow, though, the bus ride was still worth it, because while we were waiting for our turn, we had ample opportunity to take pictures of the monkeys.
However, we soon came to understand why it is that monkeys are considered to be pests here, much like rats or gophers at home. KatyAnna and I had taken plenty of pictures of the monkeys, and so were sitting under a tree just chatting. We noticed a monkey getting close to us, but didn’t think much of it until it leapt and snatched KatyAnna’s purse. When she tried to grab it back, it hissed at her, and then tried to climb up the tree with it. Thankfully
Indian Countryside
Rice paddies and coconut trees. Naazar, the man from Visthar in charge of our group, came to our rescue with a granola bar that he laid down for the monkey. The monkey took greater interest in food than the mysterious bag, and we were able to snatch it back.
Saturday night we caught the train back to Bangalore. The seats in our car were clearly marked for three people, and in our section there were already five people between 2 seats. Then, a group of three friends came and squeezed in with us, so in a section for six, we sat eight, and nobody seemed to be bothered by that. It was ok, though, because the three friends turned out to be first year medical students from Mysore and they had plenty of stories to tell about school. The ride passed quickly while they told their stories, and it was a great opportunity to talk to people our age about Indian culture, school, jobs, etc.
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