Top Tips

Number One

It always takes longer than you expect!

You’ve decided to visit India, maybe for the first time. Although regular travellers, including myself, make exactly the same mistake, of not accounting for the fact that everything takes longer. Its all part of the challenge.

To have decided to come here you’ve already been on a sort of journey. You’ve had to reject some of the lurid tales, the negative publicity, the lack of decent information coming from the authorities.

We know its going to be challenging in one way or another but we also know its going to be immensely rewarding.

Its going to cost a fair amount just to get to India. If we’re lucky we’ve managed to get plenty of time to be here but its such a big, varied, fascinating place, there is the tendency to try and fit in too much, however much time you have!

The one thing we sometimes forget in our enthusiasm is it always takes longer to do ANYTHING in India! Whether its travelling from A to B, getting a SIM card, ordering a meal (sorry sir we don’t have that), booking things when they don’t accept a foreign debit card, reserving a train journey (online) when you have to register with your passport details and sometimes a local phone number. It can all seem both complex and transient.

You’re now on shifting sand.

Its always useful to remember that these things are part of your experience, but it must be said, that it mostly takes longer than you expect because there is just so much to do, to take in and to absorb as it’s such a wonderfully diverse, idiosyncratic, bonkers place.

So please remember, our number one tip is that when you’re planning your India itinerary:

allow plenty of flexibility as you’ll wish to stay longer in some places,

assume it takes a day to travel between places

you might get tired travelling and it can feel FULL ON, so build in relaxing places where you can get a bit of respite and find the switch off button

its a fascinating place and most people love to get ‘under its skin’ and that means allowing for depth and not just breadth

Because EVERYTHING Takes LONGER than you EXPECT..

Bio note

Stephen is from the UK and has now lived in Mysore for seven years. He continues to visit London to deliver training workshops for business. He knows very very little about lots of things.

Manjula tolerates Stephen

Lucy is sweet.

More details of our life here in Mysore can be found here.

29/11/2016 2

Postcards

We’ve published high quality postcards of scenes from Mysore and Srirangaptnam, many found on our cycle tours. These are available at Mysore Bed and Breakfast and selected local stores including Dhatu near Kalidasa Road.

All our proceeds go to Asha Kirana trust to support their work in their hospital, clinic, through offering ART and outreach work for people who have AIDS or are HIV+

03/10/2016 0

Tours

Tours …..

Our guests at Mysore Bed and Breakfast are staying longer in Mysore as they realise there is so much to see and do.

To help, we’ve put together different types of tours: cycling, walking, auto rickshaw or taxi, Pillion ride on our motorbike, Jeep, even an Ambassador to suit the range of diverse interests amongst our guests. These are provided directly by us or our friends who we know will provide a high quality service.

This is to help you have a wonderful and fun visit to Mysore.

If you’re interested in anything listed here contact us at Mysore Bed and Breakfast by emailing tours@mycycle.co or visiting http://www.manjulasmysore.in or follow the links below.

STOP PRESS

We’ve introduced a new idea in response to requests from guests…. Taster Tours, a mix of the different things on offer in and around Mysore. The first of these is a focus on Health and Wellbeing and includes a yoga class (Hatha or Ashtanga at our local gym or Mysore Mandala), a visit to the Mysore salt cave (yes we do have one from the Himalayas, details here), Ayurvedic massage and subject to availability singing bowl therapy, chiropody, Jag therapy, Henna designs… these can all be combined in one day or spread throughout your stay. You choose what you’d like to do and when.

or check our comprehensive range of established tours below….

MYCycle: guided cycle tours of Mysore or Srirangaptnam or bespoke, introducing the local culture, history, people and places for all skill levels and experience, including children and Elephants.

Fare’s Fare: Rickshaw Rides , they’re not Tuk Tuks! ;-)... half or full day tours of Mysore, Chamundi Hill, Srirangaptnam or Somnathpur with our trusted friendly drivers with between them decades of service to Mysore tourists.

Tanu’s Tours intimate and personal tours, tailored to your specific interests whether it’s bird watching, people meeting, the environment, photography, organic farming, silk (sericulture), cotton weaving and more. Contact Stephen at tours@mycycle.co and we’ll put you in touch with Tanu

Ani’s Tours of her monastery in Bylakuppe, more details here. We can arrange a car to take you to the Tibetan Settlement.

Royal Mysore Walks the original! offering insightful walks and Jeep Tours, in and around, Mysore introducing our heritage, artisans, local food and much much more.

There’s so much to do in and around Mysore and one of the highlights are the wide range of traditional crafts and lifstyles to be seen whether its on a cycle, walking, in a Jeep, Boat or Rickshaw.

Stephen has just started helping our good friend Vinay launch an Academy and website for those who wish to create experiences for, in the first instance, tourists visiting Mysore but in time it will grow to cover other locations. Check current progress at Gulliver

Tell us about your interests and we’ll find something to suit or create it specially for you.

30/09/2016 0

How to get from Bangalore to Mysore

And the other way round!

please remember it always takes longer than you expect and things are differently organised in India.

It can take up to four hours travel time from the airport to Mysore Bed and Breakfast, so be prepared.

Our preference if we just want to get there is a taxi, if it’s for enjoyment, then we catch the train.

Travel from Bangalore.

There are the following options

Taxi pick up and drop. We can arrange a taxi to pick you up, at a competitive price, (starting at 2800 Rs depending on vehicle). Just email Stephen with flight details or where you’d like to be picked up if you’d like to do this.

Flybus direct from the airport to Mysore. Limited times. Check the web for details or to book

Bus (a total of 3), catch the regular bus from the airport to Bangalore centre then bus (shuttle) or auto rickshaw/taxi to satellite bus stand followed by bus to Mysore. Regular times.

Bus to Bangalore centre from the Airport then train.

Train tickets can be bought in advance or within an hour of the journey from the kiosk on the relevant platform (was No. 9) . Journey can take as short as two hours (shatabdi express) or over three hours depending upon the train. Check time on net with make my trip, clear trip or the rail service.

The flights between Bangalore and Mysore airports are, I believe, currently suspended. They are likely to be reintroduced in September 2017 but who knows how long they will last.

All methods are manageable within half a day, the journey takes 3-4 hours plus.

Please note there are pre pay auto rickshaw stands in Mysore at the railway station and bus stand.

Ask Stephen to email details of how to find Mysore Bed and Breakfast.

Travel to Bangalore or Bangalore Airport from Mysore Bed and Breakfast

There are the following options:

Taxi. Vasanth can arrange a taxi, at a competitive price.

The train is probably my favourite (although I mostly use a taxi to and from the airport). The shatabdi has AC chair and is among the quickest. I like standing in the open doorway!

Bus (x2) from Mysore to Bangalore satellite bus stand centre then bus (shuttle) or auto rickshaw/taxi to main bus stand. Regular times. To get to Bangalore Airport requires catching a third shuttle bus from Bangalore centre.

If you really want to bus it, the only really efficient way is on the Fly bus direct from Mysore to the airport. Limited times. Check the web for details of timings or to book

There are currently no flights between Mysore and Bangalore airports. They are threatening to reintroduce them in September 2017 but who knows how long that will last.

All methods are manageable within half a day, the journey takes 3-4 hours plus.

30/08/2016 0

Mysore Weather

I’m British and we like to talk about the weather (we’re usually complaining). Here, in Mysore, I’m denied that dubious honour as the weather is pretty good throughout the year.

Even in the main Monsoon period of June, July and August, we mostly receive just limited rain, maybe one shower per day.

After Monsoon and throughout winter is the best weather. It’s in the 20’s and sometimes might reach the 30’s with a cooler evening and night.

It can get quite hot, into the 30’s and sometimes at the top end of the 30’s, that’s in Summer which is April, May and June.

Whatever, the heat is quite dry so we escape the humidity that’s often found elsewhere in South India and especially on the coast in the summer months.

Having said all that, India is anything but predictable so it can change. Over the last few years we have experienced earlier summers, even less rain and cooler nights, but it’s still really good.

So, Mysore actually is a great all-year-round destination.

Our roof top sit-out is available to enjoy it!

26/08/2016 0

So, what is there to do in Mysore?

How long to stay?
We are asked so often that we thought we’d show what visitors have experienced and thought after staying here.
Our current guests are an English family living in France with mum and dad and two pre teen children. It goes without saying they are a lovely group, gang, team….. They ARE staying here 😉 ALL our guests are great.

They have been here three nights and have covered the following:

Walk up Chamundi Hill followed by dinner in one of our favourite roof-top restaurants Hotel Roopa.

Next day after breakfast at our place, Vasanth in his auto rickshaw took them to the Silk Mill, followed by the Maharaja’s Palace and then the idiosyncratic art gallery at Jaganmohan Palace. Royal Mysore Walks provided a walking tour to introduce the city, market and street food. Dinner was veg Indian feast prepared by Manjula.

On the third day, it was equally packed. Pancakes for breakfast. A MYcycle tour of Srirangapatmam that lasted most of the day followed by late lunch at the riverside restaurant. Vasanth then helped them sort out their bus tickets to travel on to north Kerala on the fourth day.

Their verdict? We’ll let them speak for themselves.

To us, it has reinforced one key fact. They’ve had a wonderful time and managed to fit a lot in during their stay. As with most of our guests they wish to stay longer. Once people spend time here and realise it’s a lovely easy-going accessible city with year-round great weather and much more to do than they first thought, they all feel that. If it was possible to stay (it isn’t) our family might fit in another trip to the island, see some of the local artisans, art museum, sand sculptures, more of the countryside and even do a bit of shopping.

Please note: you can find more details of the highlights listed above in our page of ‘things to do in and around Mysore.’

25/08/2016 0

one night stands are not all they’re cracked up to be.

yes, one night stands are just not enough!

most guests, once they’re here, wish they had the time to stay longer.

When we first started sharing our home and leading cycle tours, most guests would stay just one or two nights. We now find that most guests choose to stay longer, as they realise how much there is to see and do. Some even base themselves here of most of their holiday.

Here in Mysore, we’re a bit laid back and not so good at ‘blowing our own trumpet’. If you look at the promotional material, you’d be forgiven for thinking there is little to do here.

But its not true!

Our web site is designed to introduce you to who we are and what we do but above all to help you to have a satisfying experience. To enjoy Mysore and to want to return. So this web site offers information to help you plan and make the most of your trip. Introducing:

Things to see and do
Places to visit
Maps to help you get around
Aspects of ordinary life to get an insiders view

If it would help we can put together 3-4-5 or more day itineraries or offer advice to create your own, in advance or once you’re here.

We look forward to welcoming you to this wonderful city.

Manjula and Stephen

19/08/2016 1

Welcome….

Welcome…. to our site, where you will find general information and details of how we can help you have a great visit to Mysore. This includes:

Mysore Bed and Breakfast, come share our home.
Mycycle Tours, guided cycle tours in and around Mysore and Srirangapatnam
Fare’s Fair, hassle free auto rickshaw rides
information and advice about the things to do in and around Mysore (check the menu at the top of the page)

If you want to know more about who we are, our life here in Mysore, please visit our story at meandmycycle

We’re proud to be a Trip Advisor Traveller’s Choice Winner for over five years and are now No. 1 in Mysore. Please check Trip Advisor

Do join us and our other friends, guests and family at our Facebook sites at Manjula and Stephen

We’re at tours@mycycle.co and 0091 9886705179

To ask any questions about Mysore or what we do, or to make a reservation just send an email or complete the simple form on our contact page.

We hope to see you in Mysore

Our very best wishes,

Manjula and Stephen

26/03/2016 0

fond farewells

We absolutely love having our wonderful and diverse range of guests. There’s no continent which hasn’t visited us many times over, except perhaps the Eskimos and Penguins, and their neighbours.

I’m often heard declaring how it’s one of my best jobs ever (except it’s not really a job) because it’s providing great opportunities to engage and communicate with people and one’s input has perceivable impact which we can feel, real results. so it’s Fab.

As a consequence, we make good friends, our family extends and the BnB community grows, and when we say goodbye, so much, it’s sometimes sad.

Yet, you know, we wouldn’t change it.
So thank you to all our wonderful friends.

here’s a few of the over 1700 of them here

more of our guest photos can be found at our photo albums

27/02/2016 0

Art inside the book!

Our guest book is a lovely read. It helps remind us of the startling range of lovely people who have crossed our threshold and brought Wonderful connections into our Mysore life. Well it’s also a hidden source of even more art! Thank you.