Celebrating Mysore Art

Mysore storyteller’s Network were in the sensitive hands of R G Singh who guided us through the history of his wonderful private collection of Mysore Art.

One of the hidden gems of Mysore. He’s from a family who arrived over two hundred years ago who celebrate and perpetuate the mysore style art. The museum has special exhibitions and occasionally provides guided tours to the exhibits that cover exactly those 200 hundred years of Mysore Art.

I discovered that one of my paintings is similar to one of R G Singh’s in his collection. It’s the cosmic egg.

04/02/2021 1

Sharing Stories

Our stories true, about our life here and fictional can be found on our other site

A popular ‘factly fiction’ story written by Stephen is is about Mysore and cycling, provides another view

Our cycle tours are another opportunity to share stories

01/07/2020 0

our friends

You know what they say?

It’s the people that makes a place, as reflected in many of the guest comments in our books and online reviews.

I don’t think it’s possible to over emphasise. In my view, people connecting well, becoming friends, enjoying life, is what it’s all about.

Yes we’ve set it up and it is our home and you’ll feel us, throughout the place and while she’s not with us anymore and by now has hopefully found another place or is waiting for me, Manjula’s presence, her essence is most definitely here and with me and always will be.

It’s a happy, open, welcoming home.

It’s the many varied, rich mix of guests (see photos below) that add the icing on the cake. That make it all worthwhile. Even over her last few months when she became more ill she wouldn’t close the place, meeting and interacting with guests until the very last, was what she wanted. Manjula recognised that you had become our family and the incredible support both she and I have received when she was ill and for me over the more recent difficult times have been incredible.

I want to introduce you to a few of the members of this constantly evolving extended family.

The lovely couple, Amy and Tom…

…first came to visit us maybe five or more years ago. After that first holiday trip they got married, resigned from their jobs and became nomads, travelling and working around the world. We sort of adopted them (and they us) and see them regularly here or elsewhere. Amy was our celebrant at our wedding, Check here and here and here Tom took the photographs! They knew of Manjula’s illness and so were with us on two occasions early this year and once they’d learned that she’d moved on to another life (our previous postings and Manjula’s story can be found here) they came again, especially flew in to support me for two weeks. I hadn’t realised how much I needed it but I really did.

Ina, moved to Australia from Scotland as a young child, so I wonder how does she still have such a strong Scottish accent after a few years!? Ina visits every year and became a great friend to Manjula. Her first visit was to meet up with a Tibetan monk, living a couple of hours away in Bylakuppe. It was the first time she’d met after over ten years of providing financial support.

Meet more of our team and guests, our family here and recent guests Jean-Yves and Nathalie and their great blog entries of their visit.

Manjula and I have visited previous guests in the UK, I’ve visited guests in Canada and the US, two guests have sent paintings of Manjula and Lucie, we’ve celebrated birthdays and Christmas, I’ve met guests at the music festival featured in a fictional story on our site here, a guest has planted trees in New Zealand in memory of Manjula, I can go on and on (as you will realise)….

We are so lucky.

As a guest of Mysore Bed and Breakfast you’re not expected to do all these things,(although you’re welcome to) just come stay and have a great visit.

We look forward to welcoming you,

Peas and love

Stephen

check the photos, there are many more in our flickr albums here

01/07/2020 0

Why come to Mysore Bed and Breakfast

What makes the difference?

At lunch yesterday, after the cycle tour with a mix of cyclists some from our BnB and some from a different Airbnb in Mysore the difference between ours and this other BnB became apparent from their conversation. It was super to get that feedback and how different peoples experience can be….

Both were comfortable clean places. But the difference?

You’re sharing our home.

We start welcoming you with an introductory email about us, the house and how we can help you have a great stay in Mysore. These are packed full of information about things to do to help plan the stay including our own useful web site at http://www.manjulasmysore.in and getting to know us through our blog http://www.meandmycycle.com

Our guests really appreciated our help but equally important was beginning to feel welcomed and making a connection right from the outset.

We provide detailed information about how to find us and if it’s required, a pick up from the airport or helpful details for dealing with autorickshaws.

Once you arrive, and Lucie has said hello, we welcome you with a guided tour, (most guests get confused between the different floors), a welcoming drink, visiting the roof terrace, understanding the necessity of filter water and the availability to top up your own bottles a refreshing tea or coffee and especially important a simple map showing where we are with highlights of places to eat and visit tailored to your interests.

We’re here to help with information and advice, arrange easy going transport from drivers we know and trust.

So, we want you to have a great experience and want to return for more!

Above all it’s “the people that make it” sharing our home with a rich mix of wonderful people from around the world.

30/11/2017 0

Top Tips

The first of our tips focus on how to deal with some of the challenges you might face, particularly if you’re a first time visitor to India.

So if you’re aware, take your time, and follow the simplest traveller rules you’ll find India the richest of experiences where you’ll wish to return for more.

Number One: Everything, always takes longer than you expect.

Check here

Number Two: India will change you, so be prepared.

Check here

Number Three: one night stands aren’t all they’re cracked up to be

Check here

Number four: is about tipping.

check here

More top tips will follow.

17/09/2017 0

lovely people, fab reviews

I’m just catching up and responding to reviews on Trip Advisor. Its such a nice job, its actually one of those we should all aim for, a job that’s not a job, because we love it so much. We’ve got exactly that here, whether its welcoming guests, helping them get the best out of Mysore, helping them solve problems (lack of Rupee notes, comes to mind), chatting over dinner, making breakfast and dinner, preparing for new guests, keeping it ship shape, sharing jokes, building bridges across oceans and cultures. super!

Thank you so much to all of you who have left feedback and reviews wherever you’ve done it. Fact is we wouldn’t have been able to create what we have without it, our guests over the years have depended on fair, open and frank reviews. Thank you.

15/12/2016 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

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.