We decided to visit the temple, with the standard “having come thus far, let us at least make an attempt”. As we neared the temple, I realized that my memory of visiting this place 12 years ago (as part of my Study Tour in my 3rd year while at college) was blank. I didn’t remember the route to the temple, didn’t remember the temple and didn’t remember the general neighborhood.
Since there was a very heavy rush, we decided to take the special darshan route; a route which was charged at Rs.100 per adult head. Surprisingly, the counter issuing the special darshan tickets was itself very crowded and we got ours after a good 10-15 minute wait in line. Thanks to the special ticket and of course the relatively small interiors of the temple, we were able to have a quick darshan and come out very quickly.
We came out of the temple and took the mandatory pictures with the gopuram as the background. We headed back to the car and then it was off to visit the Mysore Palace. We didn’t stop over at the Nandi temple and had a quick 5 second glance from the road.
Once again, when we entered the Mysore palace, I didn’t remember too much of this place either. I only had very vague memories of the outer of the building but that could very well be due to the pictures one comes across in various media. But during our visit inside, I was able to relate to couple of places. Yet there was one memory where I was in this room filled with various swords and other weapons used by the Maharaja, but I was not able to see that room this time around. Perhaps it was closed for maintenance! The palace, for those who have not visited it, is simply magnificent.
By the time we came out of the palace, my parents were quite exhausted since it was well beyond 1.30 PM. We then returned to our cab and headed out to Hotel Dasaprakash Paradise for lunch, yet another place very strongly recommended by Raji. As has been frequently observed in our group, what she likes most of us don’t and what we like she doesn’t. The restaurant we went to was no different.
A bunch of us ordered their special thali meals. Mahendran and I were trying to figure out one of the side-dishes that was served for the Roti, when my father discovered that it was actually bisi bhella baath!!!
After we wound up our lunch and gathered around the lobby, I chanced to meet upon the brother-in-law of a close friend of mine. This person is actually staying in Adyar and I rarely if ever, meet him. It was ironical in a way that both of us met each other at a city where neither of us resides!
After the lunch was done with, we started from the Hotel leaving behind Raji, since she was planning to join some friends of hers who had come there. She would then accompany them to Brindavan Gardens which was supposed to be where we were headed for the evening.
But my parents were naturally a bit tired with the car journey and the late lunch. I decided to let them take rest in our hotel room, whilst Mahendran and I would go to the Mysore campus of my company. We were going to drop off Uthra and Co. and pick them up on our way back.
I had a brief stop-over at Uthra’s place, to take a look at her house. Dunno if it is considered auspicious or not, but before I set foot in their house I spotted this “pooraan” and her MIL killed it; I helped in removing the carcass.
We then headed to our office in Mysore and what I saw there is going to remain etched even in my RAM like memory for a long time to come.
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