Around Bangalore and Mysore

 

Our home in Bangalore - the Le Meridien Hotel. India was the only location where we were unable to book an apartment and we regretted it. Despite the outstanding service at this fine hotel we felt cut-off from Indian society. It was, however, a relief to have a break for a week or so.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Karnataka State Legislature building in Bangalore, the Vidhana Soudha. It was built by convict labor in 1954.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An example of Bangalore's present and future: the International Technology Center (ITC), an enclosed and secure office park outside Bangalore. It has its own power plant and apartments.

 

 

 

 

 

An ocean of motorcycles for the commuting employees at the ITC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A hospital near the ITC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also near the ITC, we came upon this shanty town (toward the rear) and a group of women in saris hauling rocks for road work. Though both men and women work as laborers, we have often seen work groups in colorful saris breaking rocks with pickaxes!

 

 

 

 

 

The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) has an 8 acre temple compound in Bangalore. This group founded by Sri Pabhupada is better known by Americans as the Hare Krishnas for the mantra they sing to attain higher consciousness (also for the affect the society had on the Beatles).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An immense shrine and statue of Shiva. The sculpture is quite immpressive at night. It is also very surreal since you have to walk through and out the back door of a department store to get to it.

 

 

 

 

 

Hindu temples can be quite colorful and include representations of various myths and Gods from the Hindu tradition. These include not only Vishnu and Shiva but other gods like Ganesh the elephant-headed god of prosperity and and Haruman the Monkey god of devotion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The summer palace of the Tipu Sultan outside Mysore. The Tipu Sultan controlled a large part of what is now Karnataka and was killed in battle in his losing cause against the British. Cornwallis and the future Duke of Wellington (Wellesley) made their bones in battle against the Tipu Sultan.

 

 

 

 

 

Catherine, James and Alex at the Tipu Sultan's summer palace.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This dim picture of the outside of the Mysore Palace belies the fact that inside it looks like a fairy tale castle with soaring galleries painted in gilt and bright colors.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chamundeswari, the patron "saint" of Mysore, shown defeating the demon Mahishasura from whom Mysore gets its name.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bangalore traffic - motorcylces, tuk-tuks, pedestrians, cows, and anything else that moves.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bangalore youths engaged in the national passion of cricket. India won its series of one day matches with Pakistan 3-2 while we were in Bangalore and we got to witness (and hear) the celebration.