Thursday, September 6, 2007
Mysore is the second biggest city in the State of Karnataka lying 130 kms from the State Headquarters, Bangalore. Mysore is said to have derived its name from this the demon-king, Mahishasura, who once lived here and was vanquished by Goddess Chamundi. It is a city of palaces, gardens, and sacred temples. The city is famous for its silk and is also a thriving sandalwood and incense centre.
This lovely city will cover you up under a spell of sandalwood as soon as you set foot in it. Besides that, it is also the paradise for incense lovers. Whatever sort of scent you're looking for, there is a vendor stall that’s sells it. What Varanasi is to the north of India when it comes to silk, Mysore is to the south. Several streets are lined with silk emporia where you can buy nice pieces of silk and then you can go to a tailor and let them have a go at it.
Places to See in Mysore:
• Srirangapatnam
About 15 km from the royal city of Mysore lies the town of Srirangapatnam. There are many interesting places here of which the summer palace of Tipu Sultan is a must visit. Built in 1784 in the Indo-Saracenic style, the palace also has a small museum where Tipu's trivia, including a gold-embroidered tunic, old paintings and a coin collection, are displayed. A little away from the palace is the Gumbaz, the mausoleum of Tipu Sultan and his father, Hyder Ali. Another famous place to visit is Jami Masjid. The slender minarets of this mosque are visible from several kilometers.
• Mysore Palace
The Mysore Palace was built over one thousand years ago, in 897 AD. Saracenic in style, the palace has both Hindu as well as Muslim influences. After a fire in 1897, Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV rebuilt the palace as we see it today, under the supervision of architect Henry Irwin. The main building is of massive gray granite with a tower covered by a gilded dome. A temple is situated within the royal courtyard.
• Brindavan Garden
This garden is situated 19 km northwest of Mysore. The garden is open daily, but the fountain show is held only in spring. The main attraction is the 'dancing musical fountains'. The garden is fully illuminated during the night.
• Chamundi Hill
The temple on the hill, which is 2000 years old, is dedicated to Durga Devi or goddess Chamundi (avatar of Parvathi, Shiva's consort) for celebrating her victory over the demon Mahishasura. From the top of hill you can have a panoramic view of Mysore. There is a giant statue of Mahishasura, the demon who was killed by the goddess Chamundi (Durga Devi) near the temple. Halfway up the hill an ornamented monolithic statue of the Nandi Bull can be found.
• Government Silk Weaving Factory
The Maharaja of Mysore created this factory in 1932 to obtain the finest hand-loomed silks for himself and his royal family. Today the Karnataka Silk Industries Corporation runs it. Here you can see craftsmen at work and also buy silk, fresh from the looms.
• Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery
Shri Jayachamarajendra Art Gallery was established in 1875 and has a rare collection of some beautiful paintings from the same era. The gallery is located in Jagmohan Palace and exhibits paintings by Raja Ravi Varma, Svetsolav Roerich and traditional paintings from Mysore.
Excursions of Mysore:
• Somnathpur
Thirty-five kilometers east of Mysore lies Somnathpur, a town famous for the temple built by the Hoysala kings. The beautiful building of the Keshava temple built in 1268 is the major attraction here. The walls of this star-shaped temple are covered with sculptures in stone depicting various scenes from the Ramayana, Mahabharata and the Bhagavad Gita and the life and times of the Hoysala Kings.
• Belur
One of the three major Hoysala temples still in daily use today is the Channekeshava Temple of Belur. The construction of the temple, which took almost a century, was started in 1116 to commemorate the Hoysalas' victory over the Cholas. Enclosed in a paved compound, the temple complex includes a well and a bathing tank. It is believed that every major deity of the Hindu pantheon is represented in the temple.
• Bandipur
On the way to Ooty, about 80 km off Mysore, is situated the Bandipur National Park. The park, spread over an area of 875 km, is a famous tiger reserve. Besides tiger, the other animals you can see here are the barking deer, tuskers, and bison.
Shopping Attractions:
The Mysore shopping highlights are sandalwood products, oil, and fine silk fabrics featuring the hand-woven silk sarees and garments along with rosewood and sandalwood handicrafts, copperware, stoneware, brassware, wooden furniture, sandalwood powder, perfumes and lacquer ware. Sayaji Rao Road is the best market place of the town. However, during the festival season, wares from all over the country are available here.
How to get There:
By Air
The nearest airport is Bangalore that is a mere 140km away. All domestic airlines are operating flights to and from Bangalore to all major cities of the country. A few international flights to the Middle East are also operated from Bangalore.
By Rail
There are many train services operating between Bangalore and Mysore. The Shatabdi Express connects Mysore to Chennai. The ideal route to reach Mysore is via Bangalore.
By Road
State Highways connect Mysore to the national Highways and to all parts of the country. Bus services by Karnataka Road Transport Corporation and transport corporations of the neighboring states as well as private tour operators make it easy to reach the city without any difficulty. It is only a 3 hour journey from Bangalore.
For more details on Mysore Travel visit www.times2travel.com
Bulgaria Travels - Free guide of Varna city accommodation
Varna is the largest city on the Bulgarian Black Sea Coast, third-largest in Bulgaria after Sofia and Plovdiv, and 79th-largest in the European Union, with a population of 357,752.
Moreover, for anyone that owns a personal website or a travel blog, the travel guides (London, Rome, Amsterdam, Florence, Prague, Barcelona and more coming on soon!) come for free and can be used as an extra travel resource for theirs users.
A growing budget hotels and cheap hostel Varna directory specializing in budget accommodation in Bulgaria, Flashbooking is a recognized source of information and services for independent travellers who love creating their trips and book their bed nights securely online.
Commonly referred to as the marine capital of Bulgaria, Varna is a major tourist destination, seaport, and headquarters of the Bulgarian Navy and merchant marine, as well as the centre of Varna Province and Bulgaria's North-Eastern planning region, comprising the provinces of Dobrich, Shumen, Silistra, and Varna.
In particular Flashbooking provides a large selection of cheap accommodation offers in Varna where there are plenty of low cost solutions for backpackers in budget Bed and Breakfast, cheap hotels and guest house Varna.
The city has in excess of 20 km of sand beaches and abounds in thermal mineral water sources. It enjoys a mild continental climate influenced by the proximity to the sea.
Flashbooking provides backpackers, students and families with a list of budget selected and independent accommodations worldwide -mostly run by locals- in order to promote an alternative tourism respectful of cultures and different societies.
Major roads include European routes E70 and E87 and national motorways A2 and A3; there are bus lines to many Bulgarian and European cities from two bus terminals.
Flashbooking accommodation database is easily available online and comes completed with all relevant information about hostel location, description, contacts, prices, instant real availability, customer ratings, facilities and pictures.
The public transit system is extensive and reasonably priced, with dozens of local and express bus, electrical bus, and fixed-route minibus lines, and there is a large fleet of taxicabs.
As an online booker service Flashboking guarantees instantly confirmed and secure reservations thanks to a secure server, certified SSL provided by Thawte (the global certificate authority). This system encrypts all the processed data and guarantees that this will not be read, used or modified by other parties. Online bookings mean that your holiday is just a click away.
In Flashbooking website there is also a section dedicated to the world cities events where you can also get a quite exhaustive list of main festivals, exhibitions, concerts and cool things to do and see in other top European cities.
So mates, we are looking forward to finding the best accommodation for you on your next trip!
This article was written by Michele De Capitani with support from cheap hotels Varna. For any information on how travel insurance, please visit the Flashbooking website to download your free pocket travel guides for Varna City.
Wedding in Italy: Getting Married in Rome
Where else could the Italian wedding come from if it's not celebrated in one of the most beautiful, romantic and culturally rich countries in the world?
Italy is the quintessential birthplace of all that is creative, ethnic and authentic. The Mona Lisa, The statue of David, the Colosseum, the Vatican, the Ferrari sport car, as well as renomated celebrities like Valentino are all Italians.
The physical aspect of the country is fascinating with its agricultural features, stunning mountains and breathtaking mediterranean coastlines. Its people are like no other in the world, known for their animated, charming and charismatic nature.
Nearly all italian things are world renowned like Chianti and it's not difficult to familiarize with the italians at all.Many already know that Italy is the boot shaped country with two smaller islands near the toe, and that the land is made up of many cities within different regions where each have its own charm and unique characteristics. For example when one thinks of Venice, gondolas, canals and bridges come to mind. Rome instead is famous for the antiquity and the art heritage. Tuscany recalls to mind rolling vineyards and cottages.
Why you decided to adopt the Italian wedding style ?
Perhaps you feel the Italian heritage in your wedding, or perhaps you are simply looking for a unifying theme to make your wedding special. No matter how much Italian tradition you decide to incorporate into your own wedding, the elements you do use are sure to give your special day an adequate dose of festivity.
A wedding by nature is a joyous occasion. It's the celebration of love and commitment between two people. It's the joining of family and friends. Most couples who decide to get married in Italy are excited about the trip and want to share their excitement with their loved ones.
Large or small wedding, planning to spend the rest of your life with someone is an event to celebrate and if it's done in Rome it adds more prestige to your ceremony.
If you are of Italian descent, using Italian traditions and customs like Confetti in your wedding will make it that much more significant to you and your guests. And if you are like most Italians, your family means great deal to you, so you probably will be thrilled to take their preferences into consideration.
Having an Italian wedding means a lot to the parents, grandparents and other close relatives of the bridal couple. It further links them with their Italian roots, brings back fond memories and gives them a sense of pride. Plus it lets them know that this heritage that they have passed down to the younger generations is as cherished as it always has been, and that this couple will pass it on to future generations.
Planning a marriage in Rome can be a momentous event for other Italians in attendance who might be distant relatives of the couple, or friends with Italian roots.
Italians incorporate their heritage into every aspect of their daily life and an Italian wedding is a true celebration of who you are, where you came from and where you are going.
Planning a bridal event in Rome is a ceremony that needs to be organized very carefully. Claudia Ruffo di Calabria is a wedding planner specialist about Italy on http://www.claudiaruffodicalabria.com
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