Exploring the heritage of Mysore on cycle is gaining in popularity as indicated by the warm response to heritage cycling organised by the Department of Archaeology Museums and Heritage on Sunday.
Unlike the Heritage Walk that entails covering a small group of monuments or buildings, the cycling lends itself to covering a vast area. It also enabled the participants to get an insight into the architectural significance and history of nearly 25 heritage buildings that adorn the city’s skyline.
The rally was conducted for trainees of the Postal Training Centre (PTC) and flagged off by its Director Veena Kumari. The Director of Archaeology, Museums and Herigage C.G. Bethsurmath led the rally, which begin from the Town Hall.
The participants covered the Clock Tower, the Chamaraja Circle, Palace, K.R. Circle, Lansdowne Building, Banumaiah’s College building, Mysore City Corporation office, Jaganmohan Palace, Parakala Math, Commercial Tax Office, Lokayukta office building, Oriental Research Institute, Crawford Hall, Maharaja’s College, Yuvaraja’s College, Maharani’s College, Metropole Hotel, Railway Station and the Divisional Railway Office, K.R. Hospital, Ayurvedic College, Central Library, Devaraja Market and the Dufferin Clock Tower. The rally commenced at 7 a.m and concluded at 9 a.m. and was followed by breakfast, which was organised by the heritage department.
Dr. Bethsurmath told The Hindu that this was the second heritage cycle rally — the first was conducted for the staff of the Indian Overseas Bank — and there was demand from other institutions and offices as well. The trainees of Administrative Training Institute will participate in next Sunday’s rally, he added.
Resource persons included N.S. Rangaraju, retired professor of Department of Ancient History, University of Mysore; Gavi Siddaiah, Deputy Director, heritage-in-charge; Eichnur Kumar, heritage and history enthusiast and a journalist; and L.L. Gowda, curator in the Archaeology Department.
The Department will encourage other Central and State government offices, private and public sector institutions to participate in heritage cycling in due course before opening it for the public on weekends.
