Visited Mysore Palace and Brindavan, two weeks back. A few years back, I had gone to Srirangapatna to see the Temple, Daria Daulat Bagh etc. So, this time, when we planned a visit, I wanted to have as minimum intersections as possible.
It turned out that we had a great time and were able to see a lot of new places through the entire day.
6:15 Start from Bangalore
7:45 Stopped for Breakfast, at Kamat Lokaruchi. As expected, the food was great. They have introduced an unlimited breakfast buffet at Rs 120. Did not try, as it could become heavy for a long trip. The main specialty there being the idlis baked with wrapped banana leaves! Tastes awesome! This restaurant is on the right side of the highway, approx 55 km from MG Road, Bangalore - just after Ramanagara.
8:15 Resumed the journey after breakfast
8:45 Stopped at Doddamallur Navaneedha Krishna temple - on the way - on the left side of the highway after Channapatna (Town of Toys) The temple seemed to be a very old temple.
There are arches welcoming before each of the towns - Ramanagara - Silk Town, Channapatna - Town of Toys, Srirangapatna - Town of Temples - also there were similar welcome arches for Maddur and Mandya which I forgot.
9:15 Resumed after a very short visit to the temple
10:30 Reached Srirangapatna, decided to visit the temple first. Some of the access roads were getting repaired, so had to take quite some detours inside the town.
11:00 Started towards Ranganthittu, for which we need to return to the highway, proceed a little and take a right. This right turn is almost like a V junction. This is similar to taking a right from hosur road towards the dairy circle road (not allowed in current traffic regulations) after the Forum junction in Bangalore. The distance would be almost about 6 or 7 km from the temple. This is the road that goes to Brindavan too. A point that comes within 2 or 3 kms of taking a right on the high-way, where one has to take a further right, into the arch for getting into Ranganthittu.
11:30 Ranganthittu bird sanctuary is neatly maintained with beautiful parks, river : 30 ways. Had a boat-ride to have a closer look at the birds flocking in the nearby trees. Clicked some snaps of birds (I am not a bird watcher - so do not know the names of most birds which I had taken snaps of) and crocodiles.
Entry Ticket: Rs 50 for adults, Rs 30 for camera and Rs 50 for boating
13:00 Reached Balmuri falls. To get to Balmuri falls from Ranganthittu: return, come out of the arch and take a right, the road which one would have proceeded, if not taken the right into the arch. This is the same road that goes to KRS dam (or Brindavan Gardens - both are same). Somewhere after travelling for about 5 to 6 km, one has to take a right into a muddy road to reach Balmuri falls. This looks similar to Kodiveri falls, though I had not been to Kodiveri falls - seen only in photos.
No Entry Fee at Balmuri Falls
A guy got almost drowned but saved by the boatman. Shocking, I could see his entire face completely immersed in water when the boatman pulled him out catching his vests. He was unconscious for sometime, later opened eyes and was being rushed to the hospital
14:15 Reached Mysore, started to wait in a huge queue to get a place to eat, in Hotel Siddartha - close to Mysore bus stand
16:15 Went to the Mysore Palace - Have never seen such a crowd - Jam-packed. And the palace has a single route to take through from entry to exit - completely crowded all the time. Palace looked magnificent, indeed! Only after visiting, learned through Wikipedia that this is the 2nd most visited tourist-spot in India, next only to TajMahal. Missed the opportunity to see with lights on. Before even entering the palace, had to maneuver a lot to get the car parking done, in a place covered with dry soil-dust. At least they could have spent some and made some good parking lot. Totally haphazard and totally unplanned!
Entry Ticket: Rs 40 for adults, Cameras and mobile phones not allowed inside
Timings: 9 to 5 pm
17:30 Reached Brindavan, what I thought should have been done at the Palace in terms of organized parking, is done here. A huge area with markers on concrete flooring dedicated for parking. It just reminded me of the parking lot in Akshardham, New Delhi. This is my first visit to both Mysore Palace and Brindavan. We went in such a time where we could see the gardens and fountain day-light, twilight and night fountain lights. Again, since it was Pongal (Makara Sankranti) time, also being a Sunday, there was heavy crowd! We had to miss the musical fountain, as it got late and an almost half-km long queue was already there, inching head-to-head.
Entry Ticket: Rs 15 for adults and Rs 30 for camera
No entry beyond 6 pm
21:30 Left Brindavans at around 7:15 pm in the night and reached back to the same Kamat Lokaruchi for night dinner.
23:45 Back to Bangalore.
