When I was first asked to work from the cleanest city of
India (Mysore) on a short term basis, I was really excited about the place and
its surroundings. First of all, the Infosys campus itself is an incredible with
state of the art facilities spread over 350 acres and the climate is an add on
to it for giving such an wonderful experience. But this trip is outside Infosys
campus J(exploring
Mysore)
It has been more than a month since I arrived at Mysore but
didn’t get a chance to visit the places that are quite famous around here because
of frequent weekend visits to home town or due to my laziness. Though I have
made up my mind to visit these well-known places once I came to know about my Business
travel to Mysore, I didn’t get company of my friends/colleagues for going to
places because of their other commitments. Finally the day has come, to break
all the obstacles and decided to embark on a journey to Chamundi hills &
Brindavan garden.
I have started on my own on a beautiful Saturday (moderate
sunny+ cool) (19/Sep/2015).I was not quite sure how I’m going to manage things,
since only info (from google) I know was about the distance which is 13 KMs
from city bus stand. Since I have planned to go by walk, I was sceptical about
my kannada for asking directions and also bit afraid of the path to walk.
Somehow, I managed to find the foot route for climbing up. Initially, people
(It was a road side food seller along with few school students) were laughing
at me saying that it is difficult to go up since it is bit farer. However, I
was firm to go by walk and just ensured that there is no risk of wild
animals/other safety issues by enquiring few other fellows. I thought going by
walk would boost my confidence level further up and also it would be an
increased visibility to the goddess Chamundi about my devotion!!
I was of the opinion that it would really be an uphill task
to climb up based on the different inputs that I have received from people. I
have prepared myself mentally to walk up and started climbing slowly. While
going up, I have enjoyed the greenery covered with trees, small plants, etc. and
the pleasant sounds of birds were really mesmerizing me. I have noticed quite
few couples sitting in the steps and just moved on wondering whether these
people could be really loving each other!!Few other people were climbing along with
me and few were going down after completing their dharshan. When I was just few
minutes away reaching the half way mark, I have seen an old man selling
cucumber and an old woman selling butter milk. I felt dehydrated and thought of
drinking it but didn’t drink thinking it may not be hygienic. I went ahead and
saw a small water pipe and washed my face and then I have arrived at the Nandhi
statue. It is one of the biggest Nandhi statue that I have ever seen. After
praying at the statue, I walked through the steps and reached the chamundi
temple in 20 mins (approx). I made it to upstairs quite comfortably with just
little struggle!! Wow!!
This time I cannot escape myself from the need (citing hygiene)
since my body needed water desperately. Luckily, I found tender coconut sellers
there and drank 2 tender coconuts for Rs.50.In the meanwhile, while climbing
upstairs to capture the moments I was taking selfies in regular intervals. I started
walking around 12.40 PM and it was already around 2.00 PM.I have given my
slipper to the safe guarder and went inside the temple. I have seen the goddess
and while moving in the queue the goddess main door was closed as per the
temple timings. I understood that, if I have to see the glimpse of goddess
again I have to wait till 3.30 PM for reopening time. I was bit lucky since the
door was closed after I have seen the goddess and then I came out of main area.
In the meantime, I had a cucumber and worked out another plan (i.e. visiting
Brindavan Garden!!).
I had a day bus pass (Rs.50) taken when started in the
morning from Infosys campus.so I came down by bus and reached city bus stand
again. While waiting for the bus towards KRS & Brindavan, I met one stranger
(a young boy about 20 years of age) who was also waiting for the same bus (as
of mine). I had a short discussion with him and I understood from the young boy
that he is working in a jewellery design firm (with a goldsmith) and he is from
Kolkata, west Bengal. We travelled in the same bus till Brindavan garden (helped
each other to get seats by one standing outside(himself) near window and not allowing
the others to sit till the another one(myself) comes inside for occupying the
seats!!The same strategy helped while returning also).
After taking entry pass for Brindavan garden, we had an
unspoken agreement that each other will help taking photographs and since I had
camera in my mobile, I have taken his pictures and transferred his photographs
to his brother’s number he had provided. The KRS dam (Adjoining Brindavan garden)
is another testimony to Visvesvaraya’s engineering skill (off course, Mettur
dam was also built by him with more water preserving capacity).As part of the
security measures, people were not allowed to go over the bridge. The Brindavan
garden had amazing flower plants, trees, artificial water sprinklers in different
shapes. Water dance (An artificial way of making the water flow in different patterns
which would make people feel like dancing) is quite famous here with different colour
light effects (with background music) which starts usually by 7.00 PM .I have
enjoyed all these things by capturing the moments with photographs.
I had a wonderful trip of my life time to remember and felt
really happy after returning back. The natural beauty of chamundi hills, the
artificial yet well maintained Brindavan garden and marvellous KRS dam will
always be there in my memory to cherish as nostalgia and definitely in ‘ again must
see’ places list for the future!! It is also one of the cheapest trips, I had
been to!!
Signing off for now!! Thanks for readingJ.
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