Royal Kingdom of Mysore
Hey, everyone. Welcome back to the Incredible India podcast series. I'm Tim.
Debbie:And I'm Debbie. Hi, everyone. Great to be digging into another topic.
Tim:Yeah. Today, we're diving deep into the royal Mysore Kingdom. We got some really interesting stuff here, mostly from a description of a private tour.
Debbie:Right. By a company called Five Senses Tours. It's a day trip from Bangalore focusing on my source history and culture.
Tim:Exactly. So our mission really is to pull out the highlights, the most compelling bits about my source past, and, you know, it's present too.
Debbie:And it's quite a story. You've got immense wealth, major historical figures, conflict, lots to unpack.
Tim:Definitely. So let's start with what the tour calls the glory of Mysore. It talks about the woodyard dynasty.
Debbie:Mhmm. They were key in making Mysore, well, incredibly wealthy for its time. Really set the foundation.
Tim:How did they manage that? Was it trade resources?
Debbie:A bit of everything, really. They were quite strategic. They promoted things like silk production, sandalwood carving. Mysore became a hub for that. Oh.
Debbie:And they also focused on agriculture, you know, making sure the economic base was solid. All that wealth then went into, well, art, architecture, the grand stuff we see.
Tim:Right. And speaking of powerful figures, you can't really talk about Mysore without mentioning Tipu Sultan.
Debbie:Absolutely not. The tour goes to Sharangapatna, his capital.
Tim:Yeah. And it highlights his resistance against the East India Company. Yeah. But the bit that really jumped out at me was rockets.
Debbie:Oh, yeah. Pioneer in military rocketry.
Tim:In the eighteenth century? That's pretty amazing, isn't it?
Debbie:It really is. These weren't, you know, like modern missiles, but they were advanced for the time. Iron casings.
Tim:We gave them more power, more rain.
Debbie:Exactly. Apparently, they caused quite a bit of panic among the British forces. It was genuine innovation, not just brute force.
Tim:Fascinating. So from Sarangapatna, the tour moves to the Mysore Palace itself, the highlight, as they say.
Debbie:And for good reason, I imagine. The description sounds incredible.
Tim:Yeah. Indo Saracenic architecture. It says it blends Hindu, Muslim, Rajput, Gothic elements.
Debbie:Which is interesting in itself. Right? That style sort of emerged during the Raj. It was a way to express Indian identity but incorporate some western trends too.
Tim:So a conscious choice, not just a random mix.
Debbie:Very much. The Mysore Palace is a prime example. And the scale three stories, marble domes, that huge 45 foot tower, it was definitely meant to impress, to project power.
Tim:The guided tour inside covers quite a bit. Public hall, private hall, the dolls pavilion.
Debbie:Ah, the Gombe Thari. Yeah. That's really interesting.
Tim:What is it exactly? Just a collection of dolls?
Debbie:Well, yes and no. It's more than just display. It's actually part of a ritual, especially during the Dessara festival.
Tim:Oh, right.
Debbie:The dolls are arranged in piers, deities, myths, everyday life scenes. It's like a visual way of storytelling passing down traditions. Each doll often has a story.
Tim:Okay. Much more than I expected. Then there's Durya Dolat, Tipa's summer palace.
Debbie:Mhmm. Also, Indo Saracenic, famous for its murals.
Tim:Right. Depicting the wars with the British. They even mentioned a specific painting, Storming of Shorengapatna.
Debbie:By Sir Robert Kerr Porter. Yeah. Seeing that depicting the fall of Tipu's capital on 05/04/1799 inside his own palace must be powerful.
Tim:Definitely poignant. And these murals, they're like my source perspective on the conflict.
Debbie:Largely, yes. Which is valuable because it often contrasts with British accounts. You know, it gives a different viewpoint.
Tim:Adds another layer. Okay. Then the tone shifts a bit. Bailey's Dungeon.
Debbie:Yeah. The name says a lot, doesn't it?
Tim:It does. Where Tupu supposedly imprisoned British officers, they mention grim tales.
Debbie:It's that stark reminder of the, well, the human cost of conflict, the conditions, the struggle. Mhmm. It's the darker side of the story, but important for understanding that in intense rivalry.
Tim:Right. To lighten things up though, the tour also includes the Mysore Bazaar.
Debbie:Oh, good. Bit of local life.
Tim:Yeah. Calls it a charming old bazaar, a sensorial delight. Flowers, spices, jaggery. Sounds vibrant.
Debbie:And that's crucial, isn't it? To connect the history to the present day. See the living culture, the local economy in action, smell the spices, see the colors.
Tim:Grounds the whole experience. An interesting point they make is about appreciating Mysore's history as a welfare state during its peak.
Debbie:That's a key part of the Woodier legacy, actually, beyond the grandeur.
Tim:So not just focused on military or riches?
Debbie:No. They implemented reforms for agriculture, irrigation, public works, supported education, arts too. Maybe welfare state isn't quite the modern term, but they were focused on their subjects' well-being. It helps stability.
Tim:Makes sense. Now shifting to the tour itself they mentioned it's a private tour.
Debbie:Which has its perks right? More personalized attention, flexible pace.
Tim:Yeah and it's all inclusive transport guide, lunch, entrance fees. Takes the hassle out.
Debbie:Definitely. Allows you to just sort of soak it all in without worrying about the logistics.
Tim:I also like that they mentioned supporting the local community.
Debbie:How so?
Tim:By using local guides and getting things like flowers or coconuts from small local businesses.
Debbie:Oh, that's great. Responsible tourism. It means the benefits actually stay within the community more directly. Vital for places like this.
Tim:Yeah. Definitely a plus. They also included snippets from TripAdvisor reviews.
Debbie:Ah, the social proof. What did people say?
Tim:Overwhelmingly positive actually. Lots of praise for the guides mentioned Manjunath, Nohad, Shiva Kumar, Shiva Harish, Jamal by name.
Debbie:Wow. That's specific. Shows the guys make a real impact.
Tim:Totally. People love the historical insights, the cultural context, just the whole day trip experience.
Debbie:Any downsides mentioned?
Tim:Just one minor comment about feeling a bit rushed at some spots, which, you know, can happen on a packed day trip.
Debbie:Sure. It's always a balance covering everything versus lingering, but overall positive, you said?
Tim:Yeah. Very much so. They also lay out the pricing clearly for different group sizes.
Debbie:Good. Transparency is helpful.
Tim:And list the inclusions again, pick up, drop off, AC vehicle, the guide, fees, even a South Indian vegetarian lunch.
Debbie:Sounds pretty comprehensive.
Tim:And the itinerary confirms it's a busy day. Doria Dolat, the dungeon, the palace, the bazaar, then back to the hotel.
Debbie:Covers all the key spots we've talked about. A logical flow.
Tim:And for anyone wanting more, the company, Five Senses Tours, apparently does other tours too. Bangalore, Hampi, Somnathpurra.
Debbie:So options to explore more Karnataka if you're interested. Good to know.
Tim:Okay. So wrapping up our deep dive. We've touched on the Wudiyar's wealth, the Mysore Palace's amazing architecture, Tipu Sultan's story, the resistance, the rockets.
Debbie:The summer palace, the darker side with the dungeon, and then the vibrancy of the bazaar today.
Tim:Yeah. It really feels like a place where history is, well, still very present and intertwined with daily life.
Debbie:Absolutely. From the grandeur to the grit, the royal Mysore Kingdom offers such a rich slice of Indian history.
Tim:So if listening to this has got you intrigued about Mysore, and maybe this tour specifically, you can find out more or book.
Debbie:How do people do that?
Tim:The description says you can send an email to contact@5sensestours.com. That's 5, the numeral.
Debbie:Contact@5sensestours.com. Got it. Sounds like a worthwhile trip for anyone visiting the region.
Tim:It really does. And maybe just a final thought to leave everyone with. How does digging into the stories of these old kingdoms like Mysore actually shape how we see India today and maybe even its future.
Debbie:That's a deep one. Something to chew on.
Tim:Definitely. Well, everyone for joining us on this deep dive for the incredible India podcast series.
Debbie:See you next time.
