Final Tuesday

Started off with an optional tour. Only 4 of us were up for another adventure so we rented a car and went in grand style. We stopped at several small villages out of Mysore and walked around, talked to people, took pictures and smiled a lot. We stopped and watched sugar cane being cut and then again to see it loaded into the trucks and to see leaf bowls and plates for sale. These are getting more popular again now that recycling is becoming somewhat popular. We also stopped to see some painted push carts which are characteristic of Mysore- people either paint ehm themselves or have somone more skilled do it. We ended at Somanathpur Temple- probably way misspelled. It is a 10th-11th C. structure dedicated to Vishnu. Many intricate stone carvings along the walls and pillars. It is built of of stone blocks. Jewelry and decorations on the statues like decoration on a cake. We were there early so we had the temple almost all to ourselves with our beautiful guide dressed in bright red sari to contrast with the gray stone. She makes a wonderful model. Statues of Vishnu in his various avitars line the outside walls, below this row are lines of elephants, horses, warriors, makaras and floral patterns.

Next is lunch at the Lahile Palace-19th C. built for the Majaraja's non-vegetarian friends. A sumptuous lunch was accompanied by musicians and our personal servers behind or beside each of us. We each got a platter with about 10 bowls of various good sauces and meats, then comes rices, more meats, veges, fruit and 3 kinds of bread including naan and my favorite which I can never remember. A dessert plate had cheesecake, fruit and a mystery ball of coconut, carrots, raisons and sugar. The room was magnificent as were the other rooms we toured after lunch.

Then we went to the Mysore Palace which was bigger and grander than anything which came before. Rebuilt in the late 1800's after the wood structure burned to the ground this one is built of steel. The stained glass windows were from Belgium, chandeliers from Italy And the steel pillars from France. Hallways were covered with historical murals, silver thrones and 2 glass chairs were on display- for visiting dignitaries. The best part was the upper floor where the Maharaja and family still view the yearly festival and parade of elephants in the vast courtyard in front. I can hardly stand that I had to lock up my camera.....boo hoo.

From there we went to see a new temple on top of the mountain (Chamundi) overlooking Mysore.I was stopped to take a picture of 2 mama monkeys with their babies and when I bent over to take the picture a cow came up and butted me in the butt! I jumped really high but at first thought mom was playing with me - I was surprised to see the cow. We didn't go in this temple but just looked from the outside. We got blessed on our way by with a piece of orange yarn, some red stuff on our foreheads and some chanting.

Next we went to see the 4th largest Nandi statue which was 1/2 way back down the hill. I took my shoes off to get a picture but mom was tired of doing that so she got to hold the shoes. There were some people in front of the cow getting blessings from a priest and some lit incense.