When nature meets culture
This week has been a very busy, and it ended even more busy, but it did ended with a special trip on the last day - sunday. It was so sudden, just had finished a couple of drinks and then got a call and invitation to visit Mysore, wanted to go somewhere, so just agreed, even though I have been to Mysore 4 times before this.
The mobile phone rang relentlessly on this chilly sunday morning and I hated it for disturbing me, however it's a machine, which works on my choice, my setting last evening before I hit bed. I sprang out of bed when I remembered that my friends are on their way to pick me up. Took a shower in a flash, the hot water and hot tea, awoke me, felt good, when I stood in the balcony breathing fresh air. Soon was on my way to Mysore, cruising through the new built highway to Mysore. The roads of India are changing and if they can maintain what they make, we won't be far from having good roads, good infrastructure.
The Qualis jolted to a halt at the parking lot of the bird sanctuary, Ranganathittu. I suddenly felt a difference from the concrete jungles of Bangalore to the deep lap of nature. I can smell the aroma of the trees, chirp of the birds all around, sound of the water in the lake and the breeze that runs a chill down your spine, makes you feel so nice.
Walked down the swinging roads leading to the boat jetty, watching the small boards on either side of the road. My fingers were moving on my camera. I just couldn't stop clicking, and one of them is on the left. The breathtaking array of birds, left me wondering about how beautiful can nature be, and even though this is my third trip to this part, I just love it here and to watch these birds, their relentless effort to survive the encroachment of mankind into their lives. I see them gathering twigs for their tiny nest, from which peeps little ones, the amazing creatures of tomorrow. I see a lot the parent birds, waiting patiently to make the catch of the day to feed their little ones as well themselves. The patience is just not comparable. As I moved through the lake in a rowed boat, saw some wonderful birds. Even though saw a set of three predators - crocodiles who lie in the sun, soaking their back in the warmth of the sun, in this chilly morning. Far on a couple of trees, I see some black bats, in deep deep slumber. Come evening, they will be alive again and moving around the park, while rest of the birds take a sleep. Life is constant all through day and night in this park, and all across nature.
A while later, we were back on the road driving towards Mysore city and soon we were in the city of culture. It looks like a sleeping town/city, however it's a wi-fi enabled city, which surprises me. I feel this is a sleeping giant, still in the folds of the cultural heritage, but when it awakes, it would take a lot on its way and would surely be one for the future.
We drove to Lalit Mahal Palace. A Palace in it's true sense. The white color of it makes it elegant, makes it attractive and royal. The palace is truly royal in nature. A royal treatment awaited us and we had a very good lunch in the palace turned hotel. The food was delicious, the ambience was royal, with a live classical music presentation, setting the tone for that royal treatment. The service was awesome and I made it a point to thank one of the waiters and mentioned that I truly enjoyed the experience. I came out and once again my fingers rolled on my camera and I quickly captured the palace bathing in bright sunshine. I just couldn't resist and went on clicking a few shots including this one, the one above.
We drove back to the middle of Mysore as the palace disappeared behind the trees and we moved towards the beautiful Mysore Palace,
crossing th Mysore Zoo and St. Philomona's
church. The palace was majestic and I watched it with jaws apart and kept looking at it with wonder. How much time, patience, committment, dedication was needed to buid this landmark of heritage, culture and keeps me wondering, when it stands tall among the massive concretization of the world.
The galleries, the display, the canons, the collections, the halls, the mirrors, the dresses, the celings, I can just go on, every piece of it's so majestic, so well designed, so well crafted and so well preserved for so many years. It's a great heritage and we should do all possible to preserve this wonderful landmark of Indian culture and heritage.
The winding roads of mysore lead us towards Krishnaraj Sagar Dam, the garden around it was
truly amazing. The fountains were amazing, the all running thorough fountains, even looked great without the lights. Just loved walking through the beautiful gardens, fountains and lovely children in thier school uniform. Reminded me of my school days when we went on a picnic to Botanics in Kolkata, it was so wonderful time and its been so many years since I left school. Still can't forget those days and these kids at the garden reminded me of those old days, old pals, old times.
The fountains were so nice, I clicked some more pics, before I just watched them relentlessly flowing and the crowd that has gathered. I watched some play, some being romantic, some trying to find their old romance, some drooling, some watching the nature, some busy with cameras, some eating nuts and other edibles. Sometimes I wonder why people eat so much when they come to visit places. They keep on eating and eating and eating. I watched a foreigner, looking at her book and trying to match what they read and the smile of satisfaction in their eyes was awesome.
The final frontier was the beatifully lit up Mysore Palace. Loved all the lights. They are simply
awesome. The palace looked like a princess dressed up in bridal attire. A foreigner mentioned it being like christmas, I laughed and told her, the difference is that we have it twice a week. We laughed. The lights created a mood of festivity around and with the effect of a classical orchestra performing in front of the palace, time seemed to be stopped and we are back in the century of royalty and the heritage is so alive. Thanks to the person who thought about this idea of lighting up the palace. It must be expensive but the feeling it generates is priceless and hence we realize that a lot of things in this world which moves us, thrills us, pleases us is actually free and hence a heartful thanks to out culture and heritage.
The mobile phone rang relentlessly on this chilly sunday morning and I hated it for disturbing me, however it's a machine, which works on my choice, my setting last evening before I hit bed. I sprang out of bed when I remembered that my friends are on their way to pick me up. Took a shower in a flash, the hot water and hot tea, awoke me, felt good, when I stood in the balcony breathing fresh air. Soon was on my way to Mysore, cruising through the new built highway to Mysore. The roads of India are changing and if they can maintain what they make, we won't be far from having good roads, good infrastructure.
The Qualis jolted to a halt at the parking lot of the bird sanctuary, Ranganathittu. I suddenly felt a difference from the concrete jungles of Bangalore to the deep lap of nature. I can smell the aroma of the trees, chirp of the birds all around, sound of the water in the lake and the breeze that runs a chill down your spine, makes you feel so nice.
Walked down the swinging roads leading to the boat jetty, watching the small boards on either side of the road. My fingers were moving on my camera. I just couldn't stop clicking, and one of them is on the left. The breathtaking array of birds, left me wondering about how beautiful can nature be, and even though this is my third trip to this part, I just love it here and to watch these birds, their relentless effort to survive the encroachment of mankind into their lives. I see them gathering twigs for their tiny nest, from which peeps little ones, the amazing creatures of tomorrow. I see a lot the parent birds, waiting patiently to make the catch of the day to feed their little ones as well themselves. The patience is just not comparable. As I moved through the lake in a rowed boat, saw some wonderful birds. Even though saw a set of three predators - crocodiles who lie in the sun, soaking their back in the warmth of the sun, in this chilly morning. Far on a couple of trees, I see some black bats, in deep deep slumber. Come evening, they will be alive again and moving around the park, while rest of the birds take a sleep. Life is constant all through day and night in this park, and all across nature.
A while later, we were back on the road driving towards Mysore city and soon we were in the city of culture. It looks like a sleeping town/city, however it's a wi-fi enabled city, which surprises me. I feel this is a sleeping giant, still in the folds of the cultural heritage, but when it awakes, it would take a lot on its way and would surely be one for the future.
We drove to Lalit Mahal Palace. A Palace in it's true sense. The white color of it makes it elegant, makes it attractive and royal. The palace is truly royal in nature. A royal treatment awaited us and we had a very good lunch in the palace turned hotel. The food was delicious, the ambience was royal, with a live classical music presentation, setting the tone for that royal treatment. The service was awesome and I made it a point to thank one of the waiters and mentioned that I truly enjoyed the experience. I came out and once again my fingers rolled on my camera and I quickly captured the palace bathing in bright sunshine. I just couldn't resist and went on clicking a few shots including this one, the one above.We drove back to the middle of Mysore as the palace disappeared behind the trees and we moved towards the beautiful Mysore Palace,
crossing th Mysore Zoo and St. Philomona'schurch. The palace was majestic and I watched it with jaws apart and kept looking at it with wonder. How much time, patience, committment, dedication was needed to buid this landmark of heritage, culture and keeps me wondering, when it stands tall among the massive concretization of the world.
The galleries, the display, the canons, the collections, the halls, the mirrors, the dresses, the celings, I can just go on, every piece of it's so majestic, so well designed, so well crafted and so well preserved for so many years. It's a great heritage and we should do all possible to preserve this wonderful landmark of Indian culture and heritage.
The winding roads of mysore lead us towards Krishnaraj Sagar Dam, the garden around it was
truly amazing. The fountains were amazing, the all running thorough fountains, even looked great without the lights. Just loved walking through the beautiful gardens, fountains and lovely children in thier school uniform. Reminded me of my school days when we went on a picnic to Botanics in Kolkata, it was so wonderful time and its been so many years since I left school. Still can't forget those days and these kids at the garden reminded me of those old days, old pals, old times.The fountains were so nice, I clicked some more pics, before I just watched them relentlessly flowing and the crowd that has gathered. I watched some play, some being romantic, some trying to find their old romance, some drooling, some watching the nature, some busy with cameras, some eating nuts and other edibles. Sometimes I wonder why people eat so much when they come to visit places. They keep on eating and eating and eating. I watched a foreigner, looking at her book and trying to match what they read and the smile of satisfaction in their eyes was awesome.
The final frontier was the beatifully lit up Mysore Palace. Loved all the lights. They are simply
awesome. The palace looked like a princess dressed up in bridal attire. A foreigner mentioned it being like christmas, I laughed and told her, the difference is that we have it twice a week. We laughed. The lights created a mood of festivity around and with the effect of a classical orchestra performing in front of the palace, time seemed to be stopped and we are back in the century of royalty and the heritage is so alive. Thanks to the person who thought about this idea of lighting up the palace. It must be expensive but the feeling it generates is priceless and hence we realize that a lot of things in this world which moves us, thrills us, pleases us is actually free and hence a heartful thanks to out culture and heritage.
posted by ~Soumen | Tuesday, January 24, 2006
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