A 2007 family travel story by Sobha Kalyani
Some journeys are not remembered because of luxury, expensive stays, or perfect photographs. They remain close to the heart because of the emotions attached to them, the laughter shared during long drives, and the innocence of travelling during a simpler time.
Our family trip to Mysuru and Bengaluru in September 2007 was one such unforgettable journey — a beautiful chapter from an era before smartphones, Insta stories or reels and social media updates that took over travel itself. Back then, vacations were truly about living in the moment in togetherness and closeness. Memories were stored in the heart more than in mobile galleries.
After spending two wonderful days amidst the misty hills and cool weather of Ooty, we continued our journey towards the royal city of Mysuru.
Also Read: Our Memorable Trip to Ooty in Sept 2007
Mysuru is known as the cultural capital of Karnataka and is famous for its magnificent palaces, rich heritage, sandalwood, silk sarees, and grand Dasara celebrations. The city beautifully preserves its royal heritage and it continues to attract travellers from across the country.
We checked into a modest budget hotel and rested for the night, excited about the places we would explore the next morning.
We took the local State Road Transport bus. And the drive up the hill itself felt refreshing. Sitting at the window seat, enjoying the cool breeze, looking at the greenery and enjoying panoramic views of Mysuru city and the famous Mysuru Maharaja Palace created a serene atmosphere even before reaching the temple.
The temple is dedicated to Chamundeshwari Devi, an incarnation of Durga Devi. The temple has immense spiritual significance and it said that Durga Devi has defeated / killed Mahishasura at this place only, from whom Mysuru derives its name.
The towering Dravidian-style gopuram of the temple looked magnificent against the morning sky. The intricate carvings, vibrant sculptures and the divine ambience instantly filled our hearts with devotion.
We slowly moved in the free Q line for darshan. The temple was crowded with devotees, yet there was a unique sense of peace all around. As we walked to the sanctum, we felt blessed having a darshan of the beautifully decorated idol of Chamundeshwari Devi which looked smiling and radiating power, grace and a motherly warmth. Moments like these become timeless memories during family trips.
We stood for a while looking at the beautiful and smiling face of Chamundeswari Devi. After receiving the divine blessings and blissful darshan of Chamundeswari Amma, we spent some quiet moments atop Chamundi Hills, enjoying the cool air and admiring the sweeping views of the royal city below.
Even today, when I think about that morning, it feels less like a tourist visit and more like a spiritually enriching family memory preserved forever in time.
Well, Bridavan Gardens is situated beside the Krishna Raja Sagar (KRS) Dam. The gardens are renowned for their symmetrical landscaping, beautifully landscaped terraces, one of the first musical fountains in India and illuminated evening beauty.
Our visit during the daytime, so we missed the illumination and muscial fountains and also may be due to non-flowering season the gardens did not appear as vibrant or well-maintained as we had expected. There were very few flowers, and perhaps the true beauty of Brindavan Gardens reveals itself only during the evening hours.
Despite the disappointment, I felt a strange joy for visiting this famous gardens and walking through a place that had once lived only in cinema scenes.
That was the beauty of travel during those days. We travelled not for perfect social media pictures, but for experiences, emotions, and stories that would stay with us forever.
The palace stood proudly with its magnificent domes, elegant arches and stunning Indo-Saracenic architecture which reflects a combination of indigenous Rajput and the Mughal styles. Every corner reflected the glorious legacy of the Wodeyar dynasty and the rich cultural history of Karnataka.
The palace is admired for its massive domes, beautiful arches, intricate carvings, and stunning interiors. Although we did not go inside the palace — and honestly, we still don’t know why — we spent a wonderful evening outside the palace premises waiting for the iconic illumination show.
Somehow we did not go inside the palace and honestly even today, none of us really remembers why. But sometimes the most unforgettable memories are created outside the planned itinerary.
We spent the evening simply roaming around the palace grounds, waiting eagerly for the much awaited illumination of the palace.
The palace is one of the grandest royal residences in India and stands as a symbol of Karnataka’s rich royal history.
The illuminated palace looked nothing less than a royal dream glowing in the night.
We stood speechless for a while and silently admired the spectacular sight. No phone screens. No selfies. No rush to upload pictures online. Just pure admiration, family conversations and a moment of collective joy and wonder.
Those are the memories that remain deeply cherished even after decades.
The temple’s modern architecture combined beautifully with its deeply spiritual atmosphere. The soothing chants of “Hare Krishna,” the disciplined surroundings, the beautifully decorated idols and the devotion of hundreds of visitors created an incredibly peaceful environment.
After the divine experience at Chamundeshwari Temple in Mysuru, visiting ISKCON Temple added another spiritual dimension to our family trip. We spent some time in the divine vibes, took prasadam and then took local transport to Majestic Circle for some shopping.
Majestic Circle has always been one of the busiest and most energetic parts of Bengaluru. The buzzing activity, crowded buses, busy roads, shops, restaurants, travellers and the constant movement of people gave the area a lively urban charm. It serves as a major transportation and commercial hub connecting different parts of the city.
At Cauvery Emporium, we explored beautiful sandalwood items, traditional handicrafts, Mysore silk sarees, and artistic wooden carvings that reflected Karnataka’s rich craftsmanship.
Shopping during those pre-smartphone days felt different too — thoughtful, slow and meaningful — unlike today’s quick online purchases.
We made some purchases here and we were back to the hotel room.
As I look back today, this journey feels even more special to me because it belonged to a simpler era — a time when travel was experienced deeply with uninterrupted conversations and happiness was measured not in likes or views of our uploads on social media, but in those moments that were shared together as a family.
Some trips end when we return home. But some journeys continue to live within us forever. Every destination got its own charm — the joy lies in the way we perceive.
Some journeys are not remembered because of luxury, expensive stays, or perfect photographs. They remain close to the heart because of the emotions attached to them, the laughter shared during long drives, and the innocence of travelling during a simpler time.
Our family trip to Mysuru and Bengaluru in September 2007 was one such unforgettable journey — a beautiful chapter from an era before smartphones, Insta stories or reels and social media updates that took over travel itself. Back then, vacations were truly about living in the moment in togetherness and closeness. Memories were stored in the heart more than in mobile galleries.
After spending two wonderful days amidst the misty hills and cool weather of Ooty, we continued our journey towards the royal city of Mysuru.
Also Read: Our Memorable Trip to Ooty in Sept 2007
Mysuru – The Royal Soul of Karnataka
As we entered Mysuru, the city instantly welcomed us with its calm roads rich in greenery on either sides, royal charm, and old-world elegance. Unlike the fast-paced cities of today, Mysuru had a peaceful rhythm that made travelling feel relaxed and soulful.Mysuru is known as the cultural capital of Karnataka and is famous for its magnificent palaces, rich heritage, sandalwood, silk sarees, and grand Dasara celebrations. The city beautifully preserves its royal heritage and it continues to attract travellers from across the country.
We checked into a modest budget hotel and rested for the night, excited about the places we would explore the next morning.
Seeking Divine Blessings at Chamundeshwari Temple
Next day morning, our first destination was the sacred Chamundeshwari Temple located atop the famous Chamundi Hills.We took the local State Road Transport bus. And the drive up the hill itself felt refreshing. Sitting at the window seat, enjoying the cool breeze, looking at the greenery and enjoying panoramic views of Mysuru city and the famous Mysuru Maharaja Palace created a serene atmosphere even before reaching the temple.
The temple is dedicated to Chamundeshwari Devi, an incarnation of Durga Devi. The temple has immense spiritual significance and it said that Durga Devi has defeated / killed Mahishasura at this place only, from whom Mysuru derives its name.
The towering Dravidian-style gopuram of the temple looked magnificent against the morning sky. The intricate carvings, vibrant sculptures and the divine ambience instantly filled our hearts with devotion.
We slowly moved in the free Q line for darshan. The temple was crowded with devotees, yet there was a unique sense of peace all around. As we walked to the sanctum, we felt blessed having a darshan of the beautifully decorated idol of Chamundeshwari Devi which looked smiling and radiating power, grace and a motherly warmth. Moments like these become timeless memories during family trips.
We stood for a while looking at the beautiful and smiling face of Chamundeswari Devi. After receiving the divine blessings and blissful darshan of Chamundeswari Amma, we spent some quiet moments atop Chamundi Hills, enjoying the cool air and admiring the sweeping views of the royal city below.
Even today, when I think about that morning, it feels less like a tourist visit and more like a spiritually enriching family memory preserved forever in time.
Brindavan Gardens – Nostalgia from the Silver Screen
From Chamundi Hills, we travelled to the iconic Brindavan Gardens in a hired cab. I had watched this famous gardens appear in many old Telugu movie songs. In particular, in the Telugu song sequence "eenadu kattukunna bommarillu" pictured on superstar Krishna (Prince Maheshbabu's father) and Vijayanirmala. I am sorry I don't know the movie name but it's a sentimental family story on the attachment of four brothers.
Our visit during the daytime, so we missed the illumination and muscial fountains and also may be due to non-flowering season the gardens did not appear as vibrant or well-maintained as we had expected. There were very few flowers, and perhaps the true beauty of Brindavan Gardens reveals itself only during the evening hours.
Despite the disappointment, I felt a strange joy for visiting this famous gardens and walking through a place that had once lived only in cinema scenes.
That was the beauty of travel during those days. We travelled not for perfect social media pictures, but for experiences, emotions, and stories that would stay with us forever.
An Enchanting Evening at Mysuru Maharaja Palace
By evening, we reached the world-famous Mysuru Maharaja Palace, also known as the Amba Vilas Palace.The palace stood proudly with its magnificent domes, elegant arches and stunning Indo-Saracenic architecture which reflects a combination of indigenous Rajput and the Mughal styles. Every corner reflected the glorious legacy of the Wodeyar dynasty and the rich cultural history of Karnataka.
Somehow we did not go inside the palace and honestly even today, none of us really remembers why. But sometimes the most unforgettable memories are created outside the planned itinerary.
We spent the evening simply roaming around the palace grounds, waiting eagerly for the much awaited illumination of the palace.
The palace is one of the grandest royal residences in India and stands as a symbol of Karnataka’s rich royal history.
The Much-Awaited Magical Moment
The darkness slowly started spreading across the sky and visitors started gathering in front of the palace eagerly waiting for the spectacular moment. We too stood at a comfortable place. Everyone's eyes were focused on the palace and all of a sudden thousands of golden bulbs lit up the entire palace in a breathtaking display. For a moment the visitors stood speechless at the spectacular sight and then the atmosphere was filled with shouts and whistles of joy.
We stood speechless for a while and silently admired the spectacular sight. No phone screens. No selfies. No rush to upload pictures online. Just pure admiration, family conversations and a moment of collective joy and wonder.
Those are the memories that remain deeply cherished even after decades.
Journey to Bengaluru
The following morning, we said bye to Mysuru and travelled to Bengaluru, the vibrant bustling capital city of Karnataka. The roads, conversations, roadside tea breaks and shared laughter during such family journeys often become more memorable than the destinations themselves. We took a budget hotel for a day's stay.A Peaceful Spiritual Visit to ISKCON Temple, Bengaluru
Our first stop in Bengaluru was the famous ISKCON Temple which is one of the largest ISKCON temples in the world and is dedicated to Sri Krishna.
After the divine experience at Chamundeshwari Temple in Mysuru, visiting ISKCON Temple added another spiritual dimension to our family trip. We spent some time in the divine vibes, took prasadam and then took local transport to Majestic Circle for some shopping.
Exploring Majestic Circle and Cauvery Emporium
From the temple, we headed towards Majestic Circle and visited the famous Cauvery Handicrafts Emporium.Majestic Circle has always been one of the busiest and most energetic parts of Bengaluru. The buzzing activity, crowded buses, busy roads, shops, restaurants, travellers and the constant movement of people gave the area a lively urban charm. It serves as a major transportation and commercial hub connecting different parts of the city.
At Cauvery Emporium, we explored beautiful sandalwood items, traditional handicrafts, Mysore silk sarees, and artistic wooden carvings that reflected Karnataka’s rich craftsmanship.
Shopping during those pre-smartphone days felt different too — thoughtful, slow and meaningful — unlike today’s quick online purchases.
We made some purchases here and we were back to the hotel room.
Back Home with Beautiful Memories
Soon it was time to conclude our unforgettable family trip. We quickly packed up our luggage and checked out the hotel. After reaching the airport, we finished security check and boarded our night flight to Hyderabad carrying not just luggage, but countless beautiful memories gathered over the course of the trip — the misty hills of Ooty, the divine blessings of Chamundeshwari Temple, memorable moments at Brindavan Gardens, the glowing grandeur of Mysore Palace, and the spiritual peace of Bengaluru.As I look back today, this journey feels even more special to me because it belonged to a simpler era — a time when travel was experienced deeply with uninterrupted conversations and happiness was measured not in likes or views of our uploads on social media, but in those moments that were shared together as a family.
Some trips end when we return home. But some journeys continue to live within us forever. Every destination got its own charm — the joy lies in the way we perceive.
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