I’m sure you’ve all been there—begging besties, forcing friends and fighting with family (whoa, I went overboard on the alliteration) for that trip you’ve been yearning for. But, plans always head the other direction. My first trip—apart from the times I’ve visited my families in Mangaluru and Chikmagaluru—was Mysuru (formerly called Mysore). I have been to trips earlier but this is the first travel story as I paid out of my pocket, so the emotional attachment is immense.
Coaxing my best friend to come with me following a huge fight with her was the only way to go. I know it was coercion but I stood my ground and told her that the only way to make it up to me was to tag along on a trip to Mysuru.
Day #1 on our trip to Mysore
After waking up early the next day, (yep, the very next day, else she change her mind) we rode my Activa Honda from Bangalore to Mysore in 4 hours. Dramatic much? I don’t think that would entirely explain the circumstances but when I think back, yes, it had to be done.
We went straight to the Windflower resort situated at the foothill of the Chamundi betta. The area was well away from the chaos of the city and offered enough peace and calm. Our first rookie mistake? Not booking ahead! Not that we didn’t get a room, we did—as it was on a Monday. But at a higher price than what Make My Trip and Booking.com offered. We buried our horror reactions deep down and checked in. The room was stunning with lots of storage, a king-size bed, a study corner and a beautiful view of the artificial pond and palm trees sprawled in the centre of the resort.
We were dead tired and hit the bed as soon as we downed a sumptuous biryani in the room. After waking up later in the evening, we decided to roam and found out that the only place we could see was the Mysuru Palace but we had to race against the closing time. Another rookie mistake? Not planning an itinerary. The day ended with a quiet walk around the resort.
Day #2 on our trip to Mysore
This was also our check out day. (We couldn’t afford to stay 2 days at this place.) We hurried up, enjoyed some delicious breakfast spread at the buffet and tried to visit the hills but sadly 12 PM checkout is way too early for anything. So, we explored the resort. The outdoor games, the swans, a very loud cockatoo and lots of greenery, we spent a few hours having fun and taking lots of pictures.
We drove back with a promise to do much more the next time we visited.
Lessons learnt?
- Book your hotel way before.
- Settle on a more comfortable transport. (Inclusive of local)
- List the sights to see and its timings.
- Take ample time to research.
- Plan an itinerary.
- Space out your plans to take breaks.
First-time travel, whether solo or with friends, is always about trial and error. There is no perfection in planning a trip. You just need to go with the flow or improvise when things don’t go the way you plan.