Class 7 – Srirangapatna - Mysore Trip, February 3 rd & 4 th , 2023.

Class 7 of Sophia high school, organised a 2-day excursion to Mysore on the 3 rd and 4 th of February, 2023.

A total of 178 students from all the 4 sections accompanied by 11 teachers and the tour operators left the school premises early morning at 6.40 a.m. in four AC buses.

The group halted for a sumptuous breakfast on the way at Kamat Lokaruchi, Chennapatna. The next halt was at Srirangapatna, (an island) which is an hour away. The Ranganathaswamy temple, built in the 9 th century by the Gangas, Hoysala and Vijayanagara Kings for the Lord Ranganatha, is a testimony to their culturally rich architectural prowess. The children were given snacks of chips, biscuits and juice in their buses.

A fleeting look of the Gumbaz, which is the tomb of the ‘Tiger of Mysore’ Tipu Sultan and his parents, was made by a drive through the sprawling gardens. The next stop was at Tipu Sultan’s, Summer Palace, Daria DaulathBagh, built in the Indo- Islamic style. Built on the banks of the River Cauvery, this palace houses treasured paintings, arms and clothing of Tipu.

The group arrived at Mysore, the second biggest city in Karnataka State, just in time for lunch. The comfortable and clean accommodation at Hotel Fortune JP Palace, also provided sumptuous and tasty meals to the children at lunch, dinner, breakfast and lunch the next day.

After settling into the rooms, the group set out to the Rail Museum, with life-size exhibits depicting the journey and development of Indian Railways. Here the students could walk into the model engines and also enjoy the toy train ride. A short visit to St. Philomena’s Church was made.

That evening back at the hotel, the girls dressed up for the exciting DJ night of dance and music followed by a buffet dinner.

The next morning after breakfast and prayer, they set out to Shuka Vana, a rehabilitation center for birds in the premises of an Ashram. Here was a huge variety of parrots to be spotted. An exquisite bonsai garden with a wide collection of bonsais was also visited by the students.

The next halt was at the magnificent 3 storeyed Mysore Palace built in the Indo- Islamic and Gothic style of architecture. Also known as Amba Vilas, the children could feast their eyes on rare paintings, precioussilver and ivory gifts and caskets and the golden Howdah of the Jumbo Savari of the annual Dussehra procession.

After lunch at the hotel, the children bid goodbye to Mysore and reached Bangalore in the evening on the 4 th of February with a quick Pizza break on the way.The children have made precious memories and have gained life lessons in friendships and relationships as they could not carry their mobile phones for these 2 days. Pictures were clicked by the teachers and uploaded on the class whatsapp groups.