Brindavan Gardens Mysore with Luxury Heritage Hotel

Our final stop before going home (back to our hotel...) on that very long but oh so wonderful day!
Now on to Brindavan Gardens Mysore with its former Palace converted into a Luxury Heritage Hotel.
Brindavan Gardens are modeled after the design of the Shalimar Gardens of Kashmir (State in the North where husband Pieter visited in 1981) in the Mughal style. There are numerous terraces, parterres, fountains, running and cascading water channels, water chutes, lush green lawns, flower beds, shrubs and trees.
It sure is world famous for its ethereal beauty, grandeur and illumination/musical fountain.
See more from the short video that I placed below...

Here we are at yet another dreamlike Palace with a huge 60 acre (24.3 hectare) garden!
The Palace you see behind my husband Pieter, is now a Luxury Heritage Hotel...
Sudha, Sarath and Pieter enjoying the view of these majestic Brindavan Gardens.

It all looks like a dream...

There is a huge dam at the very end... with a big lake.
The Krishna Raja Sagara a gravity dam on the Kaveri river, just click pink hyperlink for more.
This is the view, straight ahead from the terrace.

So many heavenly impressions for that entire day...

Such a happy time together in paradise for one day...
Sudha told me that numerous movies have been made here!

Sudha and Sarath happy and for us they were the best guides we ever could wish for!
Sarath was also the one that traveled with Pieter to Madras (Chennai) on his ADVENTUROUS trip, see post below.

We are sitting here now below the terrace from where we overlooked part of Brindavan Gardens.

A happy husband Pieter!
What a WONDERFUL DAY HAD.
For getting a far better idea about these spectacular Brindavan Gardens near Krishnaraja Sagar Dam, watch the short video below.

We start our long journey back by 18:30 = 12 hours on the road already!
Driving in the dark rather soon and we had to stop several times throughout the Mudamalai Wildlife Sanctuary, for giving yield to the Muntjac deer; we spotted some 20.
Full moon so that was a bonus.
We all 4 had dinner together, at our Savoy hotel, but we were more tired and sleepy than hungry, after such a long day that started very early.
But how very special, thanks to such warm and kind people that offered this to us!

On Monday, next day, back to work as usual.

On Friday, we left for Coimbatore again, by car and a flight to Madras via Bangalore.
We dined with the export manager and his wife and stayed at a very posh Sheraton hotel.
Saturday, we went shopping in Madras with the export manager's wife.
After a full lunch we were dropped off at the airport, via a ride along the beach.
Flight to Delhi and we again met with our contact person from Pond's India and he dropped us off at the beautiful Taj Palace hotel.
Too bad that we're only feeling like going to bed, we have to rise again at 4:30 and fly from Delhi to Singapore in some 6 hours and on to Jakarta in about 1.5 hour on KLM Royal Dutch Airlines for our job there for the coming years...

Thanks for your visit and comment!

Previous posts:
Lalitha Mahal and Maharaja Palace Mysore | previous post by me
Chamundeshwari Temple and Chamundi Hills in Mysuru India | previous post by me
Trip from Ooty to Mysuru through Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary | previous post by me
Wearing a Saree for ONE Day and Lending my Jeans | previous post by me
Pond's (India) Limited Mushroom Project | previous post by me
My 1st Trip to India - Consulting Together with Husband Pieter | previous post by me
Husband Pieter's ADVENTUROUS 2nd Trip to India | previous post by me

Lalitha Mahal and Maharaja Palace Mysore

After the visit to the temple we now go to the beautiful Lalitha Mahal in Mysore, India that is built on a hill with wonderful view of the valley.
Mysore or Mysuru as it is officially called, is truly the Southern Gem of India.
Did you know that Yoga originated from here?
And also the fragrant sandalwood comes from here.

This is the 2nd largest Palace in Mysore and built in 1921 for the Maharaja.

There hung an elephant head on the wall, that the Maharaja shot in 1955...
Lalitha Mahal is one of India's most beautiful palaces.
It is built on raising ground, the palace has been fashioned after the lines of the St. Paul's Cathedral in London and became one of the imposing structures in Mysore city.

Here we stand on top of Lalitha Mahal, overlooking the valley and to the right you even can see the Chamundeshwari Temple where we visited, as you could read in my previous post (link is below this post).

What an impressive view from this Palace's top!
Here you also can see Sudha's fresh jasmine flowers in her hair.
Indian ladies can dress so very gracefully and they have the most lovely hair-do!
On our way home, she also gifted me with such a jasmine adornment for my hair...

The view is really incredible!
Quite a place for the exclusive stay of the then Viceroy of India.
Since 1974 it is Lalitha Mahal Palace Hotel and has been converted into a luxury heritage grand hotel.
So if you want to live like a Viceroy or Vicerine; here you can and really feel on top of the world!

Now we went on to the Maharaja's Palace...

A quick shot through the window from the car, of the main approach... We did tour this most majestic Palace!

From a post card, main entrance Maharaja's Mysore Palace.

So here we entered for a tour...
We had to take our shoes off and they were put in lockers for which you paid to get them back. 
Pieter was lucky for still wearing socks!
Walking outside on the glowing hot red gravel makes you almost pee in your pants from pain!
Those small stones feel like they want to penetrate your skin!
BUT, sweet Sarath did give me his socks to walk on and he went barefoot instead. 
We westerners are not used to this...
Inside of the palace on the tiling it felt great but not outside in that hot and burning gravel!

Here you see the Maharaja's Palace being illuminated.
It is almost too much of pomp and beauty - considering that not far away in the mountain villages there still is so much poverty!

Taking photos inside was and still is forbidden...
But here below is a great video that shows you a lot from what is seen inside the Palace, like the unique head dress for the elephants with gold and all the pomp and beauty you can imagine.
Just to see a glimpse of the Palace and how the Maharaja is being transported and the dressed up elephants. This is a Parade in Mysore that lets you get a wonderful view of the pomp and beauty of that era. It is the actual Maharaja, riding in this parade and a great taste of south Indian culture, games and dance! ENJOY 
This is Jaganmohan Palace where the royal family lived during construction (due to fire burning the palace), just click the pink hyperlink.

This palace is a brilliant example of old-age architecture and interiors where you can witness everything from the furniture used by the royal family, to the work of art on their walls.

After so much eye candy and soul food (temple experience) we all four are ready to go to the Quality Inn for lunch.
Stay tuned as we will go to Brindavan Gardens next...

Thanks for your vist and comment!

Previous posts:
Chamundeshwari Temple and Chamundi Hills in Mysore India | previous post by me
Trip from Ooty to Mysore through Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary | previous post by me
Wearing a Saree for ONE Day and Lending my Jeans | previous post by me
Pond's (India) Limited Mushroom Project | previous post by me
My 1st Trip to India - Consulting Together with Husband Pieter | previous post by me
Husband Pieter's ADVENTUROUS 2nd Trip to India | previous post by me

Chamundeshwari Temple and Chamundi Hills in Mysore India

As mentioned in my previous post, we continue now on our way to Chamundeshwari Temple Mysore.
Sarath proved to be an excellent and knowledgeable guide and we all four went first to Chamundi Hills and did visit the famous temple of which the original shrine got built in the 12th century and  the towers in the 17th century. Click on the pink hyperlink above for more info.

This is the 17th century temple in all its splendor.
Famous for its 7-storied, 40 meter high gopuram.
The temple can be accessed on foot by its 1,000 steps.

Here you can see part of the side of the quadrangular structure, which looks different than the front and back.

Offerings for the temple are being sold outside.

Goddess Chamundeshwari, Mysore (officially Mysuru) in the state of Karnataka.
It is believed that this is made out of solid gold...
Both of us did go inside the shrine and it was quite an impression.
The Indian Hindu mystic is something that makes an impact on the visual effect of displaying a Goddess.
All the fragrant flowers and the beautiful temple architecture touches ones soul!
Partly also because of the intense experience of the people around you.
So we also walked up to the Hindu priest who put an orange dot on our forehead and it really did touch you, all those arches and see through areas with images that made you almost peek inside a kind of heaven!
You have to walk bare footed or on your socks...

Close to the Chamundeshwari Temple on Chamundi Hills stands the gigantic statue of the demon king Mahishasura with a sword in his right hand and a cobra in his left.

Half way up Chamundi Hills in Mysore is also is a huge granite Nandi (bull) a 94.8 m carved monolith.
This Nandi of Mysore is over 350 years old. Click pink hyperlink for more info.

Husband Pieter always loved those painted Indian trucks, so this one got captured on camera...

Stay tuned for Lalitha Mahal and Mysore Palace...

Thanks for your visit and comment!

Previous posts:
Trip from Ooty to Mysore through Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary | previous post by me
Wearing a Saree for ONE Day and Lending my Jeans | previous post by me
Pond's (India) Limited Mushroom Project | previous post by me
My 1st Trip to India - Consulting Together with Husband Pieter | previous post by me
Husband Pieter's ADVENTUROUS 2nd Trip to India | previous post by me