Mysore Holidays

You learn so much about people when you share a meal, and you learn even more if you’ve cooked it together first. On this fascinating tour you will meet your host and start with a trip to the market to buy the ingredients.You will return to your host’s house to prepare a typical three-course Indian meal. Once the food is ready, it is served on banana-leaf plates in the traditional way and you will sit down as a family to eat and talk together.

You learn so much about people when you share a meal, and you learn even more if you’ve cooked it together first. On this fascinating tour you will meet your host and start with a trip to the market to buy the ingredients, vegetables such as brinjal and beans or whatever is in season. You will visit the city’s most famous market, Devaraja, which is very old and full of stalls selling produce from local farms. People enjoy seeing all the goods and learning how to choose what to buy and bargain for it.

You will return to your host’s house to prepare a typical three-course Indian meal, which will probably include local favourites such as tamarind rice, ven pongal – a lentil dish – and some vegetable curries based on what’s in season and a Mysore dosa. It’s not a demonstration; the client is very much involved in the cooking and over four hours you will also get to learn more about city life. Once the food is ready, it is served on banana-leaf plates in the traditional way and you will sit down as a family to eat and talk together. It’s a relaxed, friendly experience leaving you with a true flavour of Mysore.

On this tour, you get to meet a classical musician at their home and will experience a private music session with them. You will be introduced to the instruments – a violin and mridangam (double-sided drum) used for the Carnatic style of classical Indian music. Your host will explain the history of the music and how it’s comprised from elements such as swaras, the important single musical notes and the main soul of the composition. The songs are associated with Hindu mythology and thanking the gods.

On this tour, you get to meet a classical musician at their home and will experience a private music session with them. You will be introduced to the instruments – a violin and mridangam (double-sided drum) used for the Carnatic style of classical Indian music. Your host will explain the history of the music and how it’s comprised from elements such as swaras, the important single musical notes and the main soul of the composition. The songs are associated with Hindu mythology and thanking the gods.

There’s lot of improvising involved, the words are not written down and each time the musician sings them they’ll be different. Sometimes guests get quite emotional during the performance as music can permeate the barriers of language. There will be time to ask questions, try out the instruments and hum along if you wish.

On this tour, you’ll see how Mysore silk is created. Mysore silk is something special, which makes you feel warm in winter and cool in summer, and it’s instantly recognisable. If you go to any Indian wedding, many of the women will be wearing saris made with Mysore silk. It’s exceptionally soft and high quality, with a beautiful drape and sheen that makes every colour look amazingly rich.

On this tour, you’ll see how Mysore silk is created. Mysore silk is something special, which makes you feel warm in winter and cool in summer, and it’s instantly recognisable. If you go to any Indian wedding, many of the women will be wearing saris made with Mysore silk. It’s exceptionally soft and high quality, with a beautiful drape and sheen that makes every colour look amazingly rich.

The story of how silk came to the city starts with Tipu Sultan in the 18th century, who was so delighted with a gift of silk cloth from China that he set up mulberry farms where silkworms could be raised. This particular factory was established in 1912 by the Maharaja of Mysore, who brought in power looms from Switzerland to revive an industry that was in decline. To show how silk is made from start to finish, you will begin in a village outside the city where the silkworms are raised and the cocoons are collected. It’s a fascinating experience of rural life, where you can see inside the houses, talk to the farmers over coffee, walk through the place where the mulberry trees are grown and learn about something that’s still done in a natural, traditional way.

From here the cocoons are taken to the factory, the next part of the tour. Here they are turned into thread and then cloth, it’s very colourful. The finished fabrics mostly come in plain colours, though patterns are becoming more popular, with a golden border in an intricate design made with zari thread.

There are 230 heritage buildings and structures that were created by the maharajas of Mysore, from vast palaces to the clock tower where the tour begins. During this two-hour walk, you will get to see some of the most prominent and decorated buildings.

There are 230 heritage buildings and structures that were created by the maharajas of Mysore, from vast palaces to the clock tower where the tour begins. During this two-hour walk, you will get to see some of the most prominent and decorated buildings.

You will spend time in Devaraja market which is full of life. You will get to see people haggling with the stall holders as cows walk through and the smell of jasmine wafts from the flower stalls. At the corner of the market, you’ll find the family shop of the royal cook who invented the city’s most famous sweet, Mysore pak, which is still run by his descendants. It’s made with gram flour, ghee, sugar and mouth-watering so it’s worth a taste. Another highlight is the Palace with Chamundi Hill in the background. Your guide will explain how it was created and how the different architectural styles including gothic, Georgian, Hindu and Saracenic have been combined.

The origins of yoga go back almost 5,000 years, and on this tour, you’ll learn about its history and how the different forms came about, particularly the ashtanga vinyasa style that started in Mysore. But there’s no better way to truly understand yoga than by doing it, which is why an important part of the experience is a one-hour private session with an experienced instructor.

The origins of yoga go back almost 5,000 years, and on this tour, you’ll learn about its history and how the different forms came about, particularly the ashtanga vinyasa style that started in Mysore. But there’s no better way to truly understand yoga than by doing it, which is why an important part of the experience is a one-hour private session with an experienced instructor.

During that time, you will be taught various yoga poses – asanas – and exercises with breathing, at a pace that suits you. You’ll twist and bend and balance in different postures and, even if you’ve never done yoga before, you’ll feel the benefit.  Modern life is so full of tension, but if you practice yoga every day for 45 minutes, it will keep you fit mentally as well as physically.