Mysore palace.

Under the heat of the March summer, Mysore stands out from the rest of the cities in the Karnataka state of India.

Just two-and-a-half hours away from Bangalore megalopolis, Mysore is one of the most visited cities in India.

The ride to the Mysore may be uninteresting, but upon reaching your destination it's obvious that the city presents a different flavor of India.

Two famous tourist spots have made Mysore a must-do for tourists.

First up is the scenic Brindavan Gardens facing the Krishnarajasagara Dam at the Kaveri River.

Built in 1927, the gardens took Sir Mirza Ismail five years to complete. They were built in front of a white palace that has since been turned in a hotel for tourists to stay and enjoy an all-day-long view of the garden.

The Brindavan Gardens have three terraces lined with water fountains that are illuminated by colorful lights and graced by dance performances at night.

If you don't like climbing stairs, I suggest you take your time as it can feel heavy walking up. The first terrace overlooks the river and the dam.

It is my favorite, as one can just stand on the rail and watch the clear shaded water. I like to observe people, and there were hundreds of them visiting just like me, colorfully dressed and seated on the green grass.

Near the entrance, stalls selling drinks and snacks are prepared for hungry visitors. The stall selling paan, a combination of betel leaves and areca nuts, is the most popular. Alongside the paths, there are also vendors selling spiced rice puffs.

As you move forward, green grass with colorful flowers of pink, red and yellow. It looks like a never-ending garden.

On the last flight of stairs, a statue of Lord Krishna is placed in the middle of two stairways. I was breathless when I reached the highest point of the garden, but all was forgotten with the breathtaking view.

As the sun set and it grew dark, the fountains glittered with lights. All kinds of colors erupted from the waters. Reds, yellows and pinks were again seen from fountain to fountain dancing along with the music.

The Brindavan Gardens features thrilling and intoxicating scenery at night. The cooling evening breeze compliments the gardens. Tourists can be seen battling for a chance to take a picture.

I continued my journey by car the next day to Mysore Palace. Photographs were not allowed so I had to leave my camera at the reception. Shoes were not allowed inside the palace, so I had to leave them with a caretaker.

It was a painful trek through the venue, however, as its floor is burning hot. Mysore Palace has an Indo-Saracenic architecture that combines Hindu, Muslim, Rajput and Gothic architectural styles.

The ceilings, pillars and the panels are all emblazoned with gold mosaic designs. The ambience of the halls inside the palace made me feel like a queen for a while.

The Widayar dynasty, which ruled from 1339 until Indian independence in 1947, was based in Mysore Palace.

People enjoy a walk through the Brindavan Gardens.
The Palace is divided into different rooms. Durbar Hall, where the Widayar raja held major ceremonies, is bedecked with French sculpture. Ambavilas Hall was the room used by the king to meet people privately. The room has a rosewood doorway lined with ivory that opens to a shrine of Lord Ganesh.

The Gombe Thotti, or doll's pavilion, is a room with traditional dolls from the 19th and 20th century. The room has also a collection of Indian and European sculpture and ceremonial objects.

The Kalyana Mantapa is a room where all the royal weddings and ceremonial functions were held.

The room is octagonal with a grand chandelier hanging in the middle. There are 26 paintings on the walls depicting the Dasara Procession, the 10-day festival worshipping the goddess Chamundeshwari.

Meanwhile, the portrait gallery showcases the family portraits and of the Wadiyar dynasty, including Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV, Jayacharamajra Wajiyar and his Jaipur princess.

The fort of the Mysore Palace comprises eight temples: Kodi Bharravasvami, Sri Lakshmiramana Swami, Sri Shweta Varahaswamy, Sri Trinayaneshvara Swami, Sri Prasanna Krishanswami, Kille Venkatramana Swamy, Sri Bhuvaneshwari and Sri Gayatri.

On the way out of the palace, I had to line up bumper to bumper with the rest of the tourists to exit. I had to walk on a longer route barefoot to get my shoes.

The pain from the heat of the floor was worth every second as the charisma of the palace empowered my sensations. Mysore Palace exudes beauty, not only from its facade but also from its interior.

Given another chance I wouldn't mind walking barefoot to visit the historical home of the royal family of Widayar.

' Photos by Aruna Harjani