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Main entrance to Mysore Palace Karnataka

First trip to Mysore: The package day tour of Mysore’s popular attractions

By Mithun Divakaran
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May 15, 2012
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India, Mysore, Travel

Date: 23rd September 2006

This one is another old trip of mine. The first time I went to the famous city of Mysore was with my mother, when we opted for one of the (many) day tours by bus. After being picked up from our pick-up points, we set off by 7am. Leaving Bangalore, we were obviously taking Mysore Road and our first ‘stop’ was a quick one at Channapatna, a town famed for its traditional wooden toys.

After the stop at the toy store, we entered Srirangapatna, home to the scene of the last and decisive battle fought between the British and Tipu Sultan, the famed ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore. The guide showed us Tipu Sultan’s damaged fortress and how he was sabotaged, as we drove around its now broken walls.

Ranganathaswamy temple Mysore Karnataka India — The tour bus stopped at Ranganathaswamy temple, which is quite famous in Srirangapatna

We reached Mysore city by lunch time and were dropped at a vegetarian restaurant. Post lunch, we were taken to Mysore’s most famous attraction – the grand Amba Vilas Palace – or Mysore Palace as it is more commonly known. Continue reading “First trip to Mysore: The package day tour of Mysore’s popular attractions” »

Second Goa Trip: The drive, the beaches (Baga, Ozran) and some more

By Mithun Divakaran
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Mar 19, 2012
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Goa, India, Travel

Date: March, 2008

Three years after my first trip to Goa, here I was another visit, but this time with a different group of people. We took another route from Bangalore to Goa, different from the route I was on in 2005. This time around we went from Bangalore -> Tumkur -> Kadur -> Shimoga -> Honavar -> Kumta -> Karwar -> Goa.

Loiyumba Dalmation dog — This was at our breakfast stop. That’s my friend Loi, the dalmatian wasn’t part of the tour group.

Ramesh driving to Goa — As was the case those days, we were in my friend Ramesh’s car

Road to Goa Karnataka India — We stopped along the way whenever we saw sights we never clicked before

Karnataka forest trees India — Sorry, but I don’t remember names of the places. It was a long time ago.

Twig branch Karnataka forest — I was using a Nikon D70S, borrowed from a colleague at work

Phadake Loiyumba Mithun Goa drive — Photograph by Ramesh

Tree house Karnataka drive — If my photos look a bit off, it’s because it was the first time using a Nikon and remember, these were days I was still learning how to use a DSLR camera (and Photoshop)

Road to Goa Karnataka — The roads we were on hardly saw much traffic

Ramesh car Goa trip — This was somewhere just outside Jog Falls

We decided to check out Jog Falls, but considering this was March (the start of summer in most of India) the waterfalls were not up to Jog Falls repute. During the rainy season, Jog Falls flows with so much force that it’s quite a sight. But all we saw was water trickling down, looked quite disappointing. Continue reading “Second Goa Trip: The drive, the beaches (Baga, Ozran) and some more” »

First Goa trip (Colva beach, Se Cathedral, Bom Jesus Basilica) and Murudeshwara

By Mithun Divakaran
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Mar 11, 2012
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Goa, India, Travel

Date: October 2005

Yes, 2005 🙂 I’m going all the way back in my travel archives! This was the first time I went to Goa, one of the most popular (and much hyped) tourist spots in India. It was group of two cars, all of whom were my friends and co-workers at the time.

Sunflower field highway Karnataka India — We left Bangalore very early in the morning

Continue reading “First Goa trip (Colva beach, Se Cathedral, Bom Jesus Basilica) and Murudeshwara” »