Sleeper class, not so bad!
Due to the very high season falling between Christmas and New Year’s, we didn’t end up splurging on a nice place to stay in Hampi, as there really wasn’t anyplace available that was worth spending an extra ten dollars a night. We did try to book ourselves into the most expensive class on the overnight train from Hampi to Mysore, but alas found ourselves in the sleeper class, at ⅓ the cost, as it was the only class available. Sleeper class proved to be surprisingly pleasant, if cold and loud at times. Fourteen hours later, we were ready for some luxury in Mysore.
With only one night in Mysore, as there wasn’t a whole lot we were interested in seeing, we booked ourselves into a 3500R ($75 CAD!) night hotel and squeezed every Rupee out of it we could, checking in promptly at noon, and checking out not a minute before. I had two long HOT showers, watched some Bollywood on TV, used the minifridge for some cold water, and most importantly, slept on the best beds of the trip. No sore back for Marieke!
Our lovely room
Being a tourist city, apparently Mysore has been engulfed in a battle between the tuk tuk drivers and the tourism advocates. Upon exiting the train station, our tuk tuk driver claimed the fare to the hotel would be 200R ($4CAD). While I knew it was only supposed to be about 100R, I also knew we didn’t have a whole lot of bargaining power. We got in. Two minutes later an official looking man was instructing us to leave the tuk tuk, and grab our bags.Perplexed, we were soon led to a prepaid tuk tuk counter, where we gave our destination, and handed a receipt that read 87R. The official asked us how much we had been quoted, and shook his head. The battle continues!
About two minutes before our destination, our driver points to the receipt of 87R and points to the hospital that bears its name as the closest landmark to our hotel, then proceeds to explain that it will cost extra to get all the way to the hotel. Laughing, I hand him 100R and get front door drop off.
>When we are ready to see the palace, the main tourist attraction in Mysore, the Manager of the hotel calls us a tuk tuk, and confirms with the driver where we are going, and the price, 200R. Excellent. He also hands us his card and tells us to call him if we have any issues. We arrived at the palace ten minutes later, only at the north end, rather than the south end, which is the only entrance. Not realizing this completely, we get off the tuk tuk and proceed to waste thirty minutes walking to the south entrance.
Although there was only an hour left to see the palace, as it closed at 6pm, it turns out there wasn’t a whole lot for us to see other than the heads of what felt like all of India’s (OK, maybe all of Mysore’s) population teeming through the palace in one continuos blur. It was quite the experience, if not what we were expecting. The one bonus was that Marieke was able to steal quite a few shots inside the palace, as security was so overwhelmed by the thousands of smartphones snapping photos to have any real dissuasive power.
Busy palace!
A little concerned about bargaining for a price to get home, the first tuk tuk driver we implored quoted us a mere 150R, dropped us right off at the door, and even understood our request to pick up a couple of beers enroute (sobriety ended at two weeks). Best driver yet!
We finished watching the third Die Hard from the comfort of our magnificent beds, and ended our time in Mysore. We didn’t see everything in our guide book, but did have a good time, and at least one night not sleeping on a slightly padded plank.
seems like quite the adventure!