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India is famous for Silk with Bangalore & Mysore region being the biggest producer in India. Rearing Silkworms & growing mulberry require ideal conditions which is present in this belt. With constantly growing demand in silk, this is a major industry of this region since 18th CE. On this tour, you will not only see various stages of Silk production but also other important sites of primary interest - Mysore palace, Somanathpura & Devaraja market, etc, on this two-day trip from Bangalore, with an overnight stay at Mysore.
(1) During tourist season & long weekends, Mysore is fully booked. So we suggest that you book your accommodation yourself based on availability, reviews & budgets. Else we book what is available.
(2) The driver will be with you for 2 days while local guides will meet you at various sites.
(3) Visits to Silk reeling place, cocoon market, cocoon production place, weaving centre, etc. are all dependent on working days & holidays of the respective place.
What's Included
Lunch
Meeting and pickup
The driver will look for you at the lobby of the hotel at the pre-decided time of departure. He will be dressed in white. He may either call you on Whatsapp or show your name on his phone to verify if its you.
Itinerary
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1
Ramanagara is the Silk reeling center of Karnataka. Here we will try and visit a place where silk cocoons are put into hot water and fine silk is reeled out under the watchful eyes of the lady workers.
20 minutes • Admission ticket included -
2
The Government of Karnataka has provided infrastructure for the trading of the silk cocoons between the Silk rearers to the Silk reelers in Ramanagaram, and is the biggest of the region. We see tons of silk cocoons changing hands daily and this provides a wonderful opportunity to interact with the farmers and buyers while taking pics. You will also learn about the life cycle of the silkworm here and its history in Karnataka. If not Ramanagar silk cocoon market, we visit Channapatna market which is equally lively.
20 minutes • Admission ticket included -
3
Here, we visit a Silkworm breeding center where the male and female silkworms are brought together. When they mate and produce eggs, they are collected and sold to the farmers who feed the silkworms with mulberry leaves up to the stage where they form cocoons. In this place, we can see local women distinguishing between male and female silkworms and preparing them for the eggs to be produced.
30 minutes • Admission ticket free -
4
The Keshava temple at Somanthapur has been recently classified as a World Heritage monument by UNESCO. It is an extraordinary temple built in the 13th CE during the reign of the Hoysala dynasty. It is one of the top 3 temples among the 92 built by Hoysalas during their reign. The temple is built on a star-shaped platform with high-quality sculptures all around. The most prominent features of this temple are the highly symmetric & geometric lathe-turned pillars; 16 ceilings inside the temple with each one different but with a motif of banana flower; exquisite statues of Venugopala & Janardhana in 2 of the 3 sanctum sanctora; the highly intricate vimanas; 480 elephants carved on the bottom level with each one different from the other; a galaxy of gods & goddesses; etc. It took 500 artists about 40 years to build this temple which was later vandalized by the marauding Mughals in the 14th CE. It stands abandoned from a ritualistic perspective but stands tall as an artistic achievement.
1 hour • Admission ticket included -
5
The KSIC (Karnataka Silk Industries Corporation) factory in Mysore is a government-owned silk weaving factory that manufactures the world-famous Mysore silk sarees. The factory was founded in 1912 by Maharaja Sri Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV. Initially, the fabrics were produced exclusively for the royal family of Mysore & their armed forces. The factory is now run by the KSIC, who is the sole proprietor of the "Mysore Silk" brand, and has a Geographical Indication registration. Each authentic KSIC saree has a unique code number and hologram. The factory complex includes a showroom where you can purchase authentic Mysore silk products & a factory area that visitors can tour to see the weaving process. Visitors can observe the intricate process of transforming silk cocoons into the final, luxurious silk products. Photography inside the factory is restricted. Public visiting hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. & 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m on all days except Sundays & general holidays.
45 minutes • Admission ticket included -
6
The Mysore palace is the most extravagant and luxurious palace in South India. It is called the "Palace of Versailles" of India. It was built in 1912 in Indo-Saracenic style with the Chief Architect being Henry Irwin, an Englishman. The grandeur of Mysore Palace is such that it is embellished with - tiles from England, marble from Italy, Chandeliers from Czeckoslovakia, cast iron pillars & stained glasses from Scotland, teak wood from Burma, jaguar bronze statues from England, etc. The Mysore palace stands in the middle of a sprawling 45 acres of land which houses many temples as well. It is divided into two halves - one (better) half managed by the State Govt while the other belongs to the royal Wodeyar family. The fame of Mysore palace is such that it attracts more visitors annually than any other palace in India!
1 hour 30 minutes • Admission ticket included -
7
Nestling at the foothills of the Chamundi hill, this place offers a wholesome experience to shopping! We find here a series of shops showcasing silk in all its variety & splendor; Wooden handicrafts made of rose wood, teak wood and the one & only sandalwood; A studio where one can order clothes to be stitched to order & delivered to your hotel even at Bangalore; A Jems & Jewelry shop which showcases precious and semi-precious stones in their natural crystal form & jewelry form; A vegetarian restaurant specializing in both South Indian and North Indian to cater to hungry customers; etc.
30 minutes • Admission ticket not included
Silk reeling + Cocoon Market + Silkworm egg hatching + Somanathapura Temple
KSIC Mysore Silk Factory visit + Silk shopping + Mysore Palace + Devaraja Market
Additional info
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Not advisable for children below 5 Years
- We can accommodate dietary needs such as vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, etc. If you have any dietary requirements, please indicate it to the special requirements at the time of booking
Tags
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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