You could easily spend all your time in India visiting temples and palaces - there are plenty to choose from. When we were planning our trip, my niece asked me how many we wanted to see, and I opted for one or two of each. So in Bangalore we visited Tipu Sultan's Summer Palace and the Big Bull Temple, and on our Mysore trip we visited Mysore Palace and SomanathapuraTemple.
The day we visited the Big Bull Temple and Tipu Sultan's Summer Palace was notable because it was the first day we went out without S - our niece and guide on this tour - and we got told off three times! The first time was in the Bull Temple itself, where we got told off for taking photos. I was confused by this, as the place was full of Indian visitors taking pictures on their i-phones, but it may have been something to do with it being seen as disrespectful to take a picture of the image of the god.
Next to the Bull Temple is a park which is well-known for its fruit bats, who roost there during the day and can be seen flying out over the city in search of fruit in the evening, and returning early in the morning. We were keen to see the roosting bats, but couldn't get into the park from the entrance next to the temple as it was locked. We walked down the path beside the park and found another entrance. But as we went in, a man came running down from a building nearby, shouting to us and doing an excellent example of the disapproving Indian head wobble. Clearly there was a reason why we weren't supposed to be there, so we apologised - thinking perhaps it was some private part of the gardens attached to the temple - and this was accepted with a more conciliatory head wobble. Eventually we found another gate with a notice, and discovered the park was shut until the evening.
Later on that day we visited Tipu Sultan's Summer Palace, and received our third telling off - this time totally unjustified.
As is quite often the case, there were different entrance fees for Indian and foreign visitors listed at the entrance, and the sign also indicated a fee of 25 rupees for using a video camera. When we paid our entrance J asked for a video ticket as well, and was told this was included in the foreigners' ticket price. But as she approached the palace, video camera in hand, another guard challenged her and asked to see her video ticket. After some debate we sent him to check with the man on the gate, who confirmed that we didn't have to pay more. This resulted in a VERY sulky face from him!
I liked this palace very much - it was small, and cool, and had a very beautiful garden.
Mysore palace, in contrast, is the biggest palace in India, and is very grand, rich and ornate.
You're not allowed to take photos inside (with or without a ticket). It was amazing - paintings, gold, glass, solid silver doors... oddly much of it made in the UK! It was a real spectacle, and well worth a visit.
The other temple we visited was also amazing. Somanathapura temple is built from soapstone. The whole of it is covered in tiny and intricate carvings of people, gods and animals.
The day we visited the Big Bull Temple and Tipu Sultan's Summer Palace was notable because it was the first day we went out without S - our niece and guide on this tour - and we got told off three times! The first time was in the Bull Temple itself, where we got told off for taking photos. I was confused by this, as the place was full of Indian visitors taking pictures on their i-phones, but it may have been something to do with it being seen as disrespectful to take a picture of the image of the god.
Next to the Bull Temple is a park which is well-known for its fruit bats, who roost there during the day and can be seen flying out over the city in search of fruit in the evening, and returning early in the morning. We were keen to see the roosting bats, but couldn't get into the park from the entrance next to the temple as it was locked. We walked down the path beside the park and found another entrance. But as we went in, a man came running down from a building nearby, shouting to us and doing an excellent example of the disapproving Indian head wobble. Clearly there was a reason why we weren't supposed to be there, so we apologised - thinking perhaps it was some private part of the gardens attached to the temple - and this was accepted with a more conciliatory head wobble. Eventually we found another gate with a notice, and discovered the park was shut until the evening.
Later on that day we visited Tipu Sultan's Summer Palace, and received our third telling off - this time totally unjustified.
As is quite often the case, there were different entrance fees for Indian and foreign visitors listed at the entrance, and the sign also indicated a fee of 25 rupees for using a video camera. When we paid our entrance J asked for a video ticket as well, and was told this was included in the foreigners' ticket price. But as she approached the palace, video camera in hand, another guard challenged her and asked to see her video ticket. After some debate we sent him to check with the man on the gate, who confirmed that we didn't have to pay more. This resulted in a VERY sulky face from him!
I liked this palace very much - it was small, and cool, and had a very beautiful garden.
Mysore palace, in contrast, is the biggest palace in India, and is very grand, rich and ornate.
You're not allowed to take photos inside (with or without a ticket). It was amazing - paintings, gold, glass, solid silver doors... oddly much of it made in the UK! It was a real spectacle, and well worth a visit.
The other temple we visited was also amazing. Somanathapura temple is built from soapstone. The whole of it is covered in tiny and intricate carvings of people, gods and animals.
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