At loggerheads with Tipu

A long weekend owing to unforeseen circumstances in Bangalore can lead to the mass exodus of souls suffering from wanderlust. Not one to take on long jaunts, I restricted myslef to the great ruler's kingdom that is Mysore. The ticket booking issue once again raised its mighty hood only to unravel the changing face of the Indian railways once again. Was a pleasant surprise to be able to book Shatabdi tickets just one day in advance on the internet, thanks to the e-ticketing service from IRCTC. Wonder what competition can do even to elephantine organizations. This (and the Indian telecom sector ) can surely be a case study for analysing the aftermath of private entrepreneurship against state owned cartels. The Mysore palace came up first principally because of its proximity to my lodgings and secondarily becuase of its operative timings. An afternoon spent on the sprawling complex can be rewarding if you manage to save your naked feet from the charring ground. Extravagance of the Wodeyars stares you in the face with facile paintings adorning the walls and a fair sprnikling of colour all around. Space certainly wasnt at a premium for the erstwhile royals. However, couldnt really see why photography wasnt allowed within the premises. The main attraction, an unimpeded view of a grand passage leading to the palace from the first floor where the monarch himself might have presided over the proceedings. Next in line were the Vrindavan gardens. Located in the basin of the Krishnarajsagr dam around 20 kms from Mysore, this botanical landscape is a sight for sore eyes. Lush green presents itself over the whole landscape and flowers are not just an embellishment but the principal fabric of this lovely panorama. A light drizzle only added to the charm of this natural haven. The main draw however remains the lighting that takes over from the sun. A canvass blazing in myriad coulours giving those fountains a look that can best be describes as surreal. A musical fountain capable of highly complex patterns attracts the most attention. A place for shutterbugs by far. One can be intimidated with the crowds on weekends here but the humanity is bearable for the sight. Day two was devoted to ornithology. The Ranganthittu bird sanctuary flattered to deceive. The blame however may squarely be on my shoulders to have visited the place in the heat of things. The sounds that greeted us made promising forebodings but the originators were nowhere to be seen. A trip on the boat did allow for a few sightings but nothing that can be classified as "risque". The siberian stork seemed to provide a perfect foil to the bats hanging upsides down with its attentive frame. With its breeding season on the way, this aviator seemed to have its beak in every inch of the water. The sanctuary is well maintained and should be a good place for some serious bird watching in the winters. Last but of course not the least was a visit to the great Tipu. His summer retreat termed as "Daulatbagh" depicts his rise and fall along side his exploits in languages and breeding. You read it right, the great Sultan was father to seven strapping sons ( or was it eight ), all dilligently chronicled on the canvass in form of portraits. The paintings on the walls did evoke some feeling of the grandeur that he might have lived and fought in but nothing awe inspiring. Again, a restriction on photography played spoil sport. The last two destinations were covered on an auto-rickshaw that allowed a decent reflection on the coutry side. Green dominated over brown at this time of the year. The return journey on a KSRTC bus proved quite uneventful except for a little brush with a truck on the highway. A trip on a shoestring that didnt disappoint on the whole.