Mysore

Theres something about this city which makes you fall in love with it..May be its simplicity or its regal heritage or just its smalltown-ness...Mysore and its surrounding are hot shot weekend spots for Bangaloreans..For those who travel from far can easily spend a week here..

Towards North is the Srirangapatna town which houses of Dariya Daulat, Jumma masjid, Ranganathaswamy temple and moving ahead you find Nimishambha temple and Ranganthittu bird sanctuary..

Towards South is Bandipur wildlife sanctuary..Best time to visit is Sept-Dec..Another 3 hrs drive from here takes us to Wayanad in Kerala..

Go east and you will reach the Somanathapura temple and Talkad which has around 30 temples submerged in sand...Its amazing how Talkad is like a desert area amidst Cauvery river..It dates back to another story about the the old lady's curse to the Mysore Maharajas and hence the latter going childless even today!

Go west and you will find the land of Coffee and spices, Madkeri aka Coorg..Dubare, Nisargadhama, Nagarhole National Park are all in and around this place..Tibetian Monastry in Bylakuppe is not to be missed..

Brand Mysore lends its name to some of the most famous items the state is proud of..like the

Mysore silk fabric

Mysore sandal exquistie range of sandalwood products

Mysore Mallige, a type of fragrant flower and last but not the least

Mysore Paak, the very delicious sweet

I have done an extensive homework on this and trying to convice myself that a year long stay in Mysore's much hyped Infosys Campus is not going to be that bad..A two and a half hour drive in volvo will bring me back to my home on weekends..