Mysore Trip -- A Wonderful Experience!! :)

Mysore is One of the Most Memorable Trip of My life..Not because it is the Best Place I have ever visited but because It was My First holiday with my entire Family after my Bro’s Marriage. We Were Five in total.

Mysore is known for The Famous Mysore Palace and other magnificent Palaces and it is Mostly visited by tourists for having a look at the Majestic buildings.

Mysore, the city of palaces, is a popular travel destination in South India. The Mysore Dasara is famous far and wide and attracts people from all parts of the world. The name Mysore is said to have been derived from Mahishuru, which in turn has come from Mahisha. According to legends, the area around the Mysore city was once under the demon king Mahishasura, who was defeated and killed by goddess Chamundeshwari.

Mysore is 140kms from Bangalore..The state highway that connects these two cities is very well maintained. Travelling from Bangalore to Mysore by road was a pleasant experience and will take about 2.5 to 3hrs by Car as We started at 8.00 Am and Reached the Main City Mysore by 11.00Am..

As We had Not done any prior Booking at any of the Hotel’s, so the first thing was to look around for a Decent Hotel.

And There We got “Hotel Pia Vista”..It’s located in the heart of the Mysore City.. and Royal Mysore Palace is merely half a km away from the Hotel as well as the Railway Station.

Once we got in and enquired about the Tariff, it was a little on the higher Side then our planned budget but still we went ahead with it and Trust me When I Left the Hotel, I was Fully Satisfied with the service and my experience.

We went for 2 rooms Double, One their Standard Comfort room @ Rs 3,000.00 and the other one being a Luxury Room With one Extra Bedding @ 3,500 + 500 Which Costed us around 7.5K ( including Taxes) in total.

Tariff included a complimentary Indian and Continental breakfast.

Luxury rooms have two televisions and a second bathroom.

Rooms were Pretty Comfortable.. They come with a Complimentary Wi-Fi environment.. A Mini bar (Thou The things Kept inside are not Complimentary) :P Better Get Them from Outside then Eating/Drinkin it from the Mini Bar Provided..

Room View Of the Hotel

The Hotel has 2 Main Theme Based Restaurants…A Must Try If you plan to Stay There.

1. Jungle Restaurant : It’s a Jungle Theme Based Restaurant. On The Top Floor of the Hotel..With Fresh air coming in from the Roof Top Swimming Pool side… You Feel fresh being there..And The Food..is Simply delicious..and doesn’t Burn a hole in your pocket..We had our lunch there..5 ppl and it costed us arnd 700-800 bucks..which is again Decent nough for feeding 5 adults..

Jungle Restaurant

2. Gufha : Multi Cuisine Theme Restaurant. The Ambiance was alluring…Very Well Set Up of a Cave…You Really Get a Feel of dining in a Cave.. !! We had our dinner here and with Drinks,snacks and dinner for 5…It Again costed us arnd 1000 bucks..which is Reasonable I guess..

There is a Opium Pub As well which we didn’t go to due to lack of time.. but Opium is a pub dedicated to rock music and 'head bangers'.

When We Checked in at 11.30am..after taking a 15 mins break..We went and had lunch at Jungle Restaurant..and We walked our way to the Mysore Palace..as It’s a 15mins walk from the Hotel..

Mysore Palace:  

Mysore Palace

Mysore Palace..is the Main Palace of Mysore..This Palace Was Built By Maharaja Chamaraja Wodeyar in 14^th Century.  The Palace is a beautiful three storied stone building.. One can visit the Palace of all days of the week between 10am and 5.30pm. The Palace is illuminated on Sundays, national holidays and state festivals between 7.00pm and 8.00pm and during the Dasara festivities from 7pm to 9pm. You can hire a Mysore Palace Board certified guide for a nominal fee of Rs. 100.00 and he will take you on a guided tour of the whole Palace.

It has a museum and a temple too. The Palace takes Almost Good 2-3 Hours to see the entire Palace..

Illuminated View of The Palace

Cauvery handicrafts store: 

After Seeing this beautiful Palace..We went to see a Near by Silk Store..as Mysore silk is famous all over the world. Mysore is famous for its handicrafts as well. Most of the work is wood based. There is a Government Run Shop for these things but are pretty costly..

St. Philomena's Church :

After one hour of shopping, We went to St. Philomena's Church. It’s one of the oldest Churches of India. It is over 200 years old and worth a visit. If history is to be believed, When the capital of Mysore state was move from Srirangapatnam to Mysore city in 1799, many British officers and soldiers came and settled down in Mysore. The Maharaja Krishnaraja Wodeyar III realized the need for a Christian church for these people. So This Church came into existence..

The Church is more then 175 Feel Tall. The 2 pillars at the either end are so high that they can literally give you a Neck-ache!

The church is located at a distance of 3kms from the city bus stand and 2km from the Palace. The church is open from 8am to 6pm.

 

After Taking loads of snaps..finally we left the place..

 

Brindavan Gardens :

We Came back to our Hotel by 5.30 pm and after taking half an hours Rest..We were all up to see Brindavan Gardens..which is located 19kms from our Hotel..It’s the most visited place by tourist..specially at night..and are famous for the illuminated dancing fountains that come to life after sunset. Spread over an area of 150 acres, the Brindavan Gardens is considered to be one of the best gardens in India. The Garden has beautiful lawns and shrubs. 

At night the Garden is turned into a beautiful Fairyland. The Brindavan gardens remain illuminated from 7.00pm to 7.55pm from Monday to Wednesday and from 7.00pm to 8.55pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

As It was a Saturday, We Got to sit and Relax there till 9 :D

We Came back by 10pm and Had our Dinner at Hotel’s Gufha Restaurant…It Was a Fascinating experience and simply relaxed us..!!

Entry Door of the Gufha Restaurant

Next Morning at 8 AM, We went to Jungle Restaurant for our Complimentary Breakfast.. and Man I Tell you It was The Best Breakfast..one could ever ask for..

Name anything in this world, you would like to see on your breakfast table and it was there…

From Fruit Salad..to cornflakes..normal as well as chocolate cornflakes..for kids..with Milk..3 types of juices…Hot Coffee/Tea…

Cakes..Dosa/sambhar/vada/idli :D with 3 types of chutney’s..

Chilla’s..Bread/butter/omelet…and namkeen vermicelli and Mysore pak …Halwa..

We were absolutely full..but wanted to binge more and more..and wished if we could have the similar breakfast the next day also so that we can eat the other stuff we left for the day :D

Chamundi Hills :  

Finally We checked out of the Hotel feeling a little sad that we couldn’t eat more :P…and drove off to see The Chamundi Hills which is on the outskirts of Mysore city and is another famous landmark of the city. A visitor can see these hills from a distance of about 8 to 10kms while driving to this city of Palaces from any direction. The Chamundi Hills is about 10km from the city. It is at a height of 1065 meters above sea level and about 800 feet above the Mysore city. On the top of the hill is the Chamundeshwari temple that dates back to the 11th century. Goddess Chamundeshwari is an incarnation of Goddess Parvathi who took this form to destroy the demon king Mahishasura.

 

View From The Chamundai Hills

Auspicious days to visit the temple are Tuesdays, Fridays and the 10 days of Dussehra. Temples is open from 7.30am to 2pm and from 3.30pm to 6pm. The tower of the temple is illuminated on festivals and on public holidays.

After visiting the Temple and offering our prayers, We finally started our journey back to Bangalore..

Though there were still loads of places left to visit..but we didn’t mind as We are sure..we will again go there once again.. and see rest of the places.. ;)

It was a Weekend Getaway for us and I truly enjoyed this short Holiday..and the entire Trip was really good!!

A Good Hotel Always add up to your good experience. ..so I would suggest..Always Look for a Decent yet comfortable hotel..

Happy Travelling !!!

Recipe Time -- Khajoor Cake

I know Most of the people who would go through this Post must have had a Date..Sometime in their Life…

So Today Why Not Try something Different with the Dates!! :)

Let Bake a Khajoor Cake :D

Before We Start, Let me tell you that this Cake is Baked in a Microwave Oven and Hence I can not say how it would turn out if Baked in a Normal OTG Oven..

Also This is a Egg-Less Cake.

So Lets Get Started.

Ingredients :

2 Cups Maida/White Flour

1 Cup Dahi/Curd

1 Cup Castor Sugar/Powdered Sugar

1 Cup Refined Oil

A 250 gms Of Khajoor/Dates

2 Tsp of Coco Powder

2 Tsp Baking Powder

1. Boil Khajoor With half cup of water and Boil till the same forms a Thick Paste.

2. Let it Cool down for sometime and take out the seeds..and Blend with a Blender to make a smooth paste..Do not Add Water to it.

3. Sieve Maida, Baking Powder and Cocoa Powder together. Keep Aside.

4. In Another Bowl, Mix Curd with Refined Sugar.

5. Add Refined Oil to the mixture and Blend well.

6. Add Khajoor Paste to this Mixture and Blend.

7. Now to this Mixture, Add Maida Mixture in small small portions and Blend Well.

8. Now Take a Microwave Dish and Greece it with Oil.

9. Pour the Batter into it.

10. Pre Heat the microwave for 2 mins. Do not Forget to Keep a Glass of plain water in it.. Do not Start the Microwave empty.

11. Keep the Microwave dish in the Mircowave and Set the Microwave at 720Degree and Bake the Cake for 15mins.

12. Check if the Cake is baked by inserting a toothpick or a Knife in the middle of the Cake. If the toothpick comes out clean, the cake is done. If the toothpick comes out with crumbs, or clearly shows wet cake batter, the cake is not Fully Baked. Bake for another 2-3mins.

13. Let The Cake Cool Down for sometime and Cut into Pieces as desired.

So Here It Is…. Dekho..Banao aur Khao… :)

Welcome to My FOODIE world! :)

This is My First ever Attempt to Write Something on How Much I love Food..Trying out new recipes and obviously to Binge On!!

My Love for Food Started somewhere back in 1999..(I was Not a Foodie Since Birth :) ) When I Actually started attending those Lavish Army Parties that one gets to attend If you are from a Army Background where your Dad serves in the Indian Army!!

Though I have attended these parties before as well..but entirely for a different purpose..as I was too Young to notice these Flavors of Life..!! I was Busy thinking of How to break the Table tennis Table..Running around here and There..And Telling All the Uncle’s and Aunties. - -“Who is Better..Mummy or Papa!!” :D

I tell you What I think is One should live Life in Two Phases..If your Dad is Not in the Army..Then Get Married to an Army Personnel Or If your Dad is in the Indian Army..Marry a Person who doesn’t Belong to Defense Services..This Ways You Get a Taste and Feel of Both the Kingdom..Which are any day different From each other..

Lavish Army Parties are All about People dressed appropriately for the Occasion what so ever it is.. with a alluring Ambiance, Well dressed Waiters and attendants..And Obviously Scrumptious Food :D..

Well it's a 4 Course Meal...usually served in parties here..

But before the Meal is prepared, It is always decided by the senior most officer's wife What cuisine needs to be prepared, Whether Indian, Chinese, English, south Indian ETC ETC!

Starting with the Appetizer's which include most kind of snacks which you would love to eat.. :) Ranging from Paneer Tikka..to Chicken Tikkas..Cheese Balls..Fried Potato chips..small samosas..all sorts of pakoras..With Obviously the kind of Drink you would like to prefer it with..Hard drinks..Cold Drinks..Juices..Cocktails..Mocktails..and the List is Endless..!!

Paneer Tikka

Chicken Tikka

Samosa

Finger Chips

Mock Tail

Then Comes The Soup Session..which is made keeping in Mind the seasonal availability of vegetables. Best Part is It always has a variety..from Cream of tomato to Spinach, sweet and sour, Mix vegetable, Mushroom, noodles Soup Etc...

Cream Of Tomato Soup

Though I Don’t Prefer Having soups in these parties and usually escape this meal because one already gets full with all the heavy snacks that you have with 2-3 rounds of your favorite drink..and of course I like to always keep some space for the Delicious Main course meal and the mouth watering Dessert waiting to be Binge on!!

Then Comes the tantalizing Good smelling Main Course Meal which is made according to the cuisine selected for the Day...If Indian..it has to have one dal..paneer dish is mandatory..some kind of vegetables..of 2-3 types..Rice, Salad, and Of course 2-3 Types of Bread Like roti..Naan..Missi Roti..Laccha Parantha!

Green Salad

Butter Naan

Next Comes my Favorite Meal, Yummy Yummy The Dessert of the Day for which I Usually Attend these parties For :D and sometimes even go to the extent of asking the waiter..Ki "Dessert me kya hai Aaj?" :)

Dessert Again Depends on How important the Party is..and the purpose of it..

Usually Ice-Creams Served with all kind of Sauce Rule this Session..But Variety is always there..Some times Gajar ka halwa..Moong Dal k Halwa..to Gulab Jamun..Cake Puddings...And If a Really High End Party..Then Obvious..Souffle (Pineapple is The Best :) ) is there.. + Ice creams..So you Get to have 2 Desserts on a Single Day...and I impatiently Wait for These kinds of Parties... ;)

Gajar Ka Halwa

Chocolate Ice-Cream

Pine Apple Souffle

So here we are...By Now You guys must have got it..."How much I love Food" :) ..Keep Tuned in For More Masala..My Recipes and My Foodie Stories...!