08-Mar-2026, Sunday
Bengaluru to Mysuru
Started from home around 8AM which is near by towards Kengeri and stopped for a breakfast at Kabamba's Hotel (Left of NICE ROAD exit to Mysuru Road) at around 8:30 AM and let towards around 9 AM. Took the new Bengaluru Mysuru Express Highway and reached to Mysuru in about 2 hrs but took another 45 mins to reach our direst destination of KRS Backwaters Venugopal Swamy Temple.
KRS Backwaters Venugopal Swamy Temple
History of Temple: As you visit inside you will find the restoration photographs of the temple which was lifted from KRS water and placed on the banks of KRS backwater by Senoir Khoday, all their photographs are on display as you enter the temple. No entry fees and also they mention nothing to be offered in money or flowers to the dieties there, no photographs allowed within the temple.
3 Layered Architecture of the temple, the outer of temple is surrounded by 3 sides of KRS water and nice curated gardens with Tualsi grown which looks so beautiful. Inner layer of temple nothing much to see they have also closed visitors to go around in this layer, second inner layer is where you find the dieties like Sapta Nadis (Rivers) - Ganga, Yamuna, Godavari, Saraswati, Narmada, Sindhu & Kaveri, Dashhavatara Dities- Statring from Matsya upto Kali, Sapta Rishis - From Kashyapa to Vasishta, etc will complete 1 round of inner prangana. Next within is the Venugopala Swamy Temple with a beautiful murthi of Kolalu Krishna standing under a Kalpavriksha tree.
Lunch @ Bhojana Priya - Authentic Madhva brahmana bhojana on a plantain leaf for Rs.250 very sumptuous and the unique feature being the Tappale Akki Rotti which is part of the lunch. Chefs Deepa madam is very famous on the Youtube channels for her authentic way of teaching her cookery skills. Nicely enjoyed the lunch and then moved towards the famous Mysuru Royal Palace.
Youtube Videos of Cooking- https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTZrezt5S--6JgpviCmoqBd1twF9bnmpX
Mysuru Royal Palace
Reached the Palace area where they have a nicely managed car parking area towards the North Gate of the Palace (Amabavilas Gate). Parked the car and took tickets for entry (Rs.150 for Adults & Rs.70 Children up to 18yrs). Note: Remember for some reason all transaction in & around the palace is in cash including the Entry tickets so ensure to carry some cash too, though some places they do accept mobile pay like the guide & shops within.
Immediately as you enter there is a buggy ride to take you around the 72 acre Palace for a complete round across and also can take snaps at spots, very useful for young and old as it was very sunny the covered buggy ride was a welcome. (Charges Rs.50 per head). We took the round around the palace he stopped right in front of the Place the East Gate where there are professional Photographer's who take your photos, print them and provide later for collection as a memory. After the complete tour of North Gate to Varahaswamy Temple on North East (was closed) to East gate Main entrance to Bhuvaneshwari Temple South East (was closed) to Narasimha Swamy Temple (Was open though buggy did not stop) also you find the Palace Servant Quarters at the back followed by Back Gate and the back to the North Gate from where the buggy ride started.
Entrance to the palace you are required to remove you footwear and deposit in the collection center and then you enter the Royal palace. At the entrance you will find some guides who can show you around the whole place in Ground & First Floor (Charged Rs.500 for 8 of us).
At the entrance on East side you will find the Maharaja Collections of Ambari & Chamundeshwari which goes on procession during the Dasara, White marble idols created from European craftsman. Then we take a few steps to enter the main hall where there are paintings which move as you move from their left to right giving a perspective as if they are viewing you always. Before this main hall you also have this center courtyard where the Royal Wrestlers (Kustipatu's) play a game of bout until blood comes from the wrestlers and then starts the Vijayadashami proceedings from the
Royal family members.
There is a Royal Dressing room with tables made of Belgium Glass full from Mirror to its stand & legs all made of reflective mirros, also
includes a chair made of crystals, Silver Chair & a Box seems like a jewellery chest in the middle of the Dressing Room & whole room cieling is made of wood carvings.
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