What remains today from India’s powerful father-son duo is an enjoyable half day sightseeing of well marked spots set among lush greenery and the peaceful passing waters of Cauvery River. A relative absence of touts allows visitors the proper chance to pay respect to a person many Indians consider a hero. A handful of resorts stretch along the river, hidden under the tropical jungle covering, for travelers looking for an extended stay. The island is as well laid out today as it was hundreds of years ago which makes for easy access to all points of interest. Give yourself six to eight hours to fully enjoy a very clean, very interesting Srirangapatna.

What to See

Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple

Built in 889, the Hindu temple is open to visitors of all religions. Photography is prohibited inside, an unfortunate fact given the beauty which can be seen beyond the open air mandapa. Prepare for a long wait to reach the inner shrine unless you arrive early morning. The queue here is one of the most aggressive I’ve encountered in all India. If the idea of a long, hot wait is not of interest, at least explore the grassy space between the temple and outer wall. This area provides peaceful contemplation as well as good people watching.
 

Tipu’s Death Place

Yes, just as it sounds it really is the place where the body of Tipu Sultan was found. It’s a far cry from Delhi’s Rajghat, yet still a tasteful, well groomed space nestled under the canopy of palm trees. Tipu Sultan fell victim to a British soldier on May 4, 1799 along with many of his soldiers.
 
 
 
 

Lal Mahal Palace

Only the ruins of a foundation from Tipu Sultan’s former palace, Lal Mahal, remain. The man responsible for defeating the once powerful ruler, Colonel Wellesley, was the same man charged with dismantling Lal Mahal. It took two years, from 1807 to 1809, to turn the grandiose building into nothing more than a decaying platform of rubble. Of great note was the library full of rare manuscripts and books, which were shifted to England after Tipu Sultan’s death.
 
 

Bathing Ghats

Immerse yourself in daily life along with families who come to the ghats to bathe, to wash laundry, to dip in the waters cooling currents, and to picnic. Foreign tourists would be advised to refrain from intrusive photography of female bathers, and enter with discretion. Small temples dot the river bank where elders congregate and young kids splash playfully splash. Downstream one can find colorful yards of sari fabric laid out to dry under natural forces. Bring a lunch, sit a spell, and enjoy an average day in the life of a resident of Srirangapatna.
 

Gumbaz

Situated in the middle of pristine gardens is one of the most unique buildings to be seen in all India. A two story tower capped by a flowering dome and four minars stands in the middle of an ornate, squat wrap-around breezeway supported on jet black rock pillars. The stark contrast between the black rock and yellow plaster is hauntingly eerie, while visually stunning. It’s size is modest, especially considering it is the mausoleum housing the remains of Tipu Sultan, his father Hyder Ali and his mother. A working mosque sits adjacent the gumbaz. Stroll through the gardens to find more unmarked tombs.

Dariya Daulat Bagh

Tipu Sultan’s summer palace. Restricted photography is unfortunate given this is the pinnacle of tourist’s visit to Srirangapatna. Suffice to say, beautifully painted interiors will leave visitors awe struck. The paintings depict victorious battles scenes of Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan against the British. The palace was built in the Indo-Sarcenic style in 1784. Today is houses a museum displaying war weapons, paintings and coins of Tipu’s period.

Timings: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

Entry Fee: Rs 5 Indian, Rs 100 Foreigner

Where to Eat / Stay

Amblee Holiday Resort

Just minutes away from Srirangapatna attractions is this quaint resort nestled among the tropical foliage. An in-house restaurant is popular with tourists who enjoy seating along the Cavery River. Close distances to Mysore and Bangalore, plus affordable room tariffs make staying here a worthwhile weekend or two day getaway from the cities.
 
 
 

How to Reach

By Air

Mysore Domestic Airport: 14 km to Srirangapatnam. Taxi facilities are available in the airport and taxi fare is about Rs 300 from Mysore to Srinrangapatna.

Bangalore International Airport: 140 km to Srirangapatnam. Taxi services are available from Bangalore to Srirangapatna which costs about Rs 3000.

By Train

Mysore railway station (MYS) is the nearest railhead to Srirangapatna. Taxi services are available and taxi fare is about Rs 300 from Mysore to Srirangapatna.

By Bus

KSRTC buses offer Premium, Luxury, Deluxe and Express services from Mysore and surrounding cities.

St Patrick’s Church which stands today is actually the second incarnation of construction. The original building begun in 1841, and completed in 1844, underwent a 5 year rebuilding  (1894 to 1899) to become the towering structure it is today. It’s famous twin bell towers can be seen for blocks away.

Additional changes in 2000 expanded accommodation for up to 550 people. St Partrick’s also houses an orphanage, a nursery school, a computer center and the well known St. Patrick’s Middle and High school within the church grounds.

Tourists of all faiths will enjoy a visit here to view the English influenced architecture located near the popular MG and Brigade Roads. Tuesday is an especially interesting day at St Patrick’s as devotees visit the adjacent St Anthony’s Shrine between 6 am and 10 pm. At times, large crowds can be seen paying their respects.

Entry is free.

Mass Timings

Monday through Saturday – Morning: 5:15 AM Tamil; 5:45 AM English; 7:00 AM English
Monday, Thursday, Friday – Evening: 5:30 PM English;
Tuesday – 5:45 PM Tamil
Saturday – 6:00 PM English
Sunday Morning – 6:00 Kannada; 7:15 AM Tamil; 8:30 AM; 9:45 AM English
Sunday Morning – 8:30 AM (English) Children’s Mass; 9:45 AM (English) Teens’ Mass
Sunday Evening – 6:00 PM English

Holy Hour every Friday after the evening Mass

Note: 1st Saturday at 4:00 p.m. – Praise and Worship at St. Anthony’s Oratory, followed by  counseling and prayer

Confessions will be heard from 4:00 p. m. on Saturdays

Hoysala’s were master craftsmen invoking spectacular architectural details into their buildings. Centuries old temples still exist around various areas in the state of Karnataka. Two key areas where travelers can view well preserved examples of Hoysala work are in the small towns of Belur and Halebid, west of Bangalore.

Itinerary

Hassan Hoysala Temple Circuit is perfect for weekend warriors looking to get out of the city or tourists on a limited time frame. Although set for 2 days, it is possible to scrunch all activities into one very full, very long day.

Day 1

Depart Bengaluru for Shravanabelagola. Climb more than 600 steps to the top of Vindhygiri Hill to view the largest monolithic statue of India. Read More…

Continue on to Hassan for an overnight stay. Hotels of all budgets can be found within the city. For a special experience try Hoysala Village Resort located a few miles from Hassan.

Day 2

Hassan is a very walkable city. Tourists will find it to be a very hospitable city as well, perfect for early morning walks.

After breakfast, depart for Chennekesava Temple of Belur. Start here rather than Halebid as guide services originate from Belur. Visit the temple. Afterward take a stroll along main road where numerous vendors line up to sell everything from puzzles to hand carved stone figures. Break for lunch or continue on to Halebid.

At Halebid, visit Hoysaleswara Temple. If you haven’t already taken lunch in Belur there are terrific shade trees inside the temple complex where locals enjoy sack lunches.

Continue to Halebid’s hidden gem Kedareswara Temple. Few guide books will direct travelers here leaving the place free of touts and pesky tourists. A series of 3 Hoysala Jain temples lies adjacent to the Hindu temple.

Return to Hassan or direct to Bangalore.

Day 3

After breakfast return to Bangalore.

Cost & Moving About

Car and Driver- Individual costs vary based on type of vehicle (compact, SUV, A/C, non A/C) and amount of passengers.

Cost: Starting at Rs 1000 and up from Bangalore. Tip: Cut costs by starting service from Hassan.

Train- Yesvantpur Kawr Express (#16515) is the best option. Depart Bangalore at 7:30 am, arrive Hassan at 11:40 am. Service runs Monday, Wednesday, and Friday only. Hire a car and driver from here or use KSRTC local buses to move about.

Cost: AC Chair Car Rs 293 or Second Seating Rs 93.

Bus- KSTDC offers a daily bus tour of Belur, Halebid and Sravanabelagola. Depart Bangalore at 6:30 am, return to Bangalore at 10 pm.

Cost: Rs 935 AC Volvo; Rs 825 Non AC

Read More: My Daily Costs for the Hassan Hoysala Circuit

US bound travlers can take advantage of the special Air France India Winter Sale ticket prices from 8 domestic airports: Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington D.C. These round trip air fares are valid for departures January 8 through March 26, 2012.

Sample India Winter Sale Fares

• New York – Bangalore $1,235
• Boston – Delhi from $1,212
• Chicago – Mumbai from $1,102
• Los Angeles – Delhi from $1,241
• Washington – Delhi from $1,238
• Houston – Mumbai from $1,234

This year’s festival is being organised by Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy for Government of Karnataka. Karnataka Chalanachitra Academy was set up two years ago to promote cinema culture and education in the state.

The original Suchitra Bangalore International Film Festival was held from December 22 – December 28, 2006, and didn’t return until January 2008. A third edition was held in 2009.

2011 Film Festival Venues

Fame Lido Complex:4 screens

Central Inox: 1 screen

JP Nagar: 1 screen

Rejoyz at Malleswaram: 1 screen

Badami House at NR Square: 1 screen

Suchitra in BSK II Stage: 1 screen

Bengaluru International Film Festival

Badami House, N R Square, Bengaluru 560 002.
+91 080 2222 2355
+91 080 4219 8411

Bangalore’s midnight marathon race was the first of it’s kind in the world when it started. The concept was born from a need to work around traffic congestion, pollution, and heat; three obstacles plaguing the growing South India metropolis. Six races will take place: The IT City Run or 5K run, Community Run, 10K Run (new for 2011), The Corporate Relay, The Half Marathon, and The Full Marathon.

The Community Relay Race kicks off at 7pm, followed by the IT City Fun Run at 8pm, after which all the other events will follow. All races will start from KTPO Trade Center, Whitefield. Marathon registration (online and in-person) is open through 10pm on December 9th. Last minute in-person registration at the race venue is possible up to 2 hours before the race. Minimum ages and registration fees vary based on race categories. This year’s top prize for the full marathon will be Rs 50000.

Full details of the Bangalore Marathon, including registration fees and route maps, can be found at midnightmarathon.in. Good Luck!

“The undisputed Elvis of South Asian megacities, Bengaluru is in a class of its own when it comes to redefining flamboyance. Perpetually drunk on the good life, this South Indian metropolis packs in the best brews, the scrummiest cuisines, and the liveliest arts and music scene, not to mention the hippest population you could hang out with. This year, evenings in the ‘capital of cool’ are poised to get even more intoxicating. And if the maddening traffic has always been your concern, take heart: Bengaluru’s new high-speed Metro network now ensures that your favourite watering hole is easier to reach than ever. There’s only one thing you could say to that: ‘Chill maadi!’” -Lonely Planet

What do you think? Will Bangalore be in your travel plans in 2012? Have you already visited? Tell me your thoughts.

Bangalore Metro will be a mix of elevated and underground railways

Bangalore’s long awaited mass transit rail system, simply dubbed Metro, will commence operations on October 20th, 2011. An estimated 50,000 people are expected to ride on the first phase of Bangalore’s newest transportation service. Reach 1, serving Byappanahalli to MG Road, will have a total of five trains running at 10-15 minute intervals.

Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation (BMRC) has already begun selling tickets at stations along Reach 1. Rail passes, or smart cards, are available for daily users. Nearly 10,000 smart cards have already been presold in anticipation of the Metro launch.

Phase 1 of Bangalore Metro, consisting of two corridors of double line electrified, will cover a total of 42.30 km and is expected to be completed by January 2012. The East-West corridor will be 18.10 km. long, starting from Baiyappanahalli and terminating at Mysore Road terminal, going via S.V.Road, Indiranagar, C.M.H. Road, Halasuru, Trinity Circle, M.G. Road, Cricket Stadium, Vidhana Soudha, Central College, Majestic, City Railway Station, Magadi Road, Hosahalli, Vijayanagar and Deepanjali Nagar.

The 24.20 km. North-South corridor will begin at Nagasandra and terminate at Puttenahalli going via  Mahalakshmi, Rajajinagar, Kuvempu Road, Malleswaram, Swastik, Majestic, Chikpete, City Market, K.R. Road, Lalbagh, South End Circle,Jayanagar and Puttenahalli.

Indian cities took the top 2 spots on the list of 20 cities. In addition to Delhi, Bangalore scored just slightly lower placing it in the second position.

The survey found 27% of commuters reported being involved in an argument with a fellow driver over parking space in the past year. Comparatively, as many as 58% of Delhi drivers admitted to scuffling over parking. An estimated 900 vehicles are added to Delhi roads every day.

8,042 commuters participated in the survey which found parking problems were similar across the 20 cities spread over six continents.

Their easy to use site is packed with information to help educate those interested in getting involved not just during this exciting time, but afterward when the real effort to bring awareness to India is undertaken. Be a part of the change in India. Please support Bangalore Pride 2010.