Enchanting Train Journey to Mysore & back; Visits by Walk/TukTuk
This tour is ideal for those who wish to visit Mysore from Bangalore in a day but want to avoid the time-consuming & tiring road journey. This tour is good if you wish to explore places by foot & blend with native people in local transport. This package gives you an enchanting experience of train journey in India. Imagine passing by the rocks of Ramanagar, sailing over rivers, cutting through lush rice & sugarcane fields, catching various birds in flight, passing by forts & monuments, watching rural life, interacting with locals, eating local snacks, etc. At Mysore we intend to cover the famous Mysore Palace, the colorful Devaraja Market and the Chamundi Hills at the very least. To do so, we use local transport such as buses and tuktuks apart from lots of walking. Onward train would be normally at 8 am from Bangalore KSR Railway station and the return train would start from Mysore at either 1655 or 1820 hrs. Participants should carry Passport/ID to be able to travel by train.
Options
Guide traveling from Bangalore
Accompanying guide in train: Here the guide will accompany participants in the train, showcase Mysore & return along with them by train back to Bangalore.
What's included in Enchanting Train Journey to Mysore & back; Visits by Walk/TukTuk
(Subject to Option Inclusions)Itinerary
Devaraja Market
We arrive at Devaraja Market about 3.5 hours after pickup from Bangalore. One of the most fascinating visits to South India, especially in the eyes of Western travelers, is this colorful and vibrant market. A visit to this market is a quintessential part of Mysore itineraries. This 365-days-a-year market is laid out on a rectangular grid and has separate sections for Vegetables, Fruits and Flowers. It is so photogenic that tourists let loose themselves often forgetting the paths they took. Add to this the street vendors, perfume makers, chai-wallahs, garland makers, color pigment sellers, bag sellers, etc. all vie with each other to garner your attention and sell their wares to you. If ever you want to see a microcosm of India at work, visit a market such as this. Come and experience it yourself! From here, the guide will take you to the Central Bus Stand and will catch a public transport to Chamundi Hill which is a half an hour drive.
Chamundi Hills
Chamundi Hills, which form the backdrop of Mysore, is an inseparable part of Mysore. Built on top of this hill is a temple dedicated to Chamundeshwari who slayed Mahishasura the demon. In fact, the town of Mysuru is derived from the name of this demon. The temple attracts so many people that is almost impossible to visit it. But to compensate, there is a quiet and ancient Shiva temple in the vicinity. The color, the fervor, the bazaar, the offerings, the priests, flower-sellers, vendors, cows, shop-keepers, shoe-keepers, photographers, talisman sellers, etc jostle for space on this happening hill top. In fact, the environs of the temple is more interesting and arresting than the temple itself! The bus drive to the foot of the hill appreciating the panoramic views of Mysore city is enthralling. Lunch would be provided at a local vegetarian restaurant.
Mysuru Palace
The Mysore palace is the most extravagant and luxurious palace in South India. It is called the "Palace of Versailles" of India. It was built in 1912 in Indo-Saracenic style with the Chief Architect being Henry Irwin, an Englishman. The grandeur of Mysore Palace is such that it is embellished with - tiles from England, marble from Italy, Chandeliers from Czeckoslovakia, cast iron pillars & stained glasses from Scotland, teak wood from Burma, jaguar bronze statues from England, etc. The Mysore palace stands in the middle of a sprawling 45 acres of land which houses many temples as well. It is divided into two halves - one (better) half managed by the State Govt while the other belongs to the royal Wodeyar family. The fame of Mysore palace is such that it attracts more visitors annually than the Taj Mahal!
Inclusions
- Services of a Government Approved Licensed Guide
- Vegetarian Indian Lunch
- All Fees and Taxes
- Train tickets, local buses and tuktuk fares
- Extra fee of 500 Rupee/person if you need a French, German, Italian guides (subject to availability)
- Tips for Driver/guide/other personnel
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Not advisable for children below 5 Years
- Total Duration: 13 hours includes the travel time
Meet
Pickup and Dropoff
You will make your own way to the meeting points
Meeting / End Points
- The Guide will meet you at the main entrance of the KSR Bangalore station at 7.30 am and will take you to the train. Seats are normally booked on 3 AC but if not available then non-AC seats will be booked. Enjoy the train journey, which normally takes 2.5 hours, and snacking all the way.
