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

STOP PRESS

The super city of Mysore and its many fantastic attributes are featured in the Guardian.

Yes, and we do get a couple of mentions, too…

Please check their article here….. for much more info on Mysore

12/01/2018 0

Quirky

14/10/2017 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

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

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

Hampi

Many of our guests visit Hampi and I have visited a few times. It’s where Manjula and I had our second holiday together. More details can be found on our blog, journal thing: http://www.meandmycycle.com

Here’s a few suggestions from our trip and we’ll add more as we receive them from guests.

I was nicely surprised, this is the first time I’d visited since they (who are they?) had demolished a fair amount of Hampi. They have shifted many people from the place, adversely affecting their livelihoods and in places it looks like a bomb has hit it but Hampi is still a very special place.

In this brief we don’t mention the ruins themselves as they are so well covered in the various guides.

Travel

We travelled on the Mysore-Hubli Hampi Express (train No 16592), in first class. It leaves Mysore every day at 18.40 and arrives 07.10 in Hospet. Auto Rickshaw from Hospet to Hampi is 150 Rs less or more depending upon your haggling skills.

The ferry across the river to the other side, known as Israel and is, in fact, an island. I’ve stayed in both places. In Hampi you can get to the hills to see the sunrise and sunset, across the river you can get a beer! The hassle is the ferry stops around six and it does involve some waiting around but then again it is laid-back Hampi.

Getting Around

We hired a scooter when we’d crossed on the ferry. So we scooted around and visited a lovely village (more below). It’s also easy to get to a lake, places for climbing and the monkey temple on top of the hill.

It’s not possible to rent a scooter on the Hampi side. So choose between an Auto rickshaw tour and cycles (the same white ones we use on our Srirangapatnam tour can be hired at a shop, half-way between the Mango Tree restaurant and the gate to the car park.) Some of the sites are accessible by walking but others do require transport.

Places to Eat in Hampi

Mango Tree, established over many years, has now had to shift from its river side venue to the centre of Hampi. It’s just down a back street from the Temple.

A lively, happening family placed frequented by both foreign and Indian tourists. Whatever you choose to eat, you can’t go wrong. They also prepared a parcel (take out) for us for the return train journey.

Sagar is really a street food stall with a couple of tables and benches set up by a group of ladies. Check the delicious Paddu or Dosa balls.

Places to eat across the river.

Top Secret, provide the usual mix of travellers fare: Indian, Mexican, Israeli, juices and much more.

Places to Stay

We stayed across the water and whilst we didn’t stay at Top Secret we would recommend it. Frankly most of the places seemed to be pretty much like each other. We did eat at Top Secret, most evenings and the view is superb. Just don’t ask about how they created the view!