The Real Masala

PREM SUBRAMANIAM WEAVES A TALE AROUND THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE THE CITY OF MYSORE SPECIAL.

- Prem Subramaniam

While driving back to Bengaluru via Mysore and Srirangapatna after a family holiday in Coorg in 2004, the landscape around the region inspired me to consider relocating there from Gurugram, our home for 14 years then.

Our experience of moving to Gurugram in 1990 had been very positive despite the poor infrastructure, but what followed was a rapid deterioration of our quality of life from the mid-1990s. Our low-rise environment turned into a high-rise urban jungle with problems of traffic, water, power, crime and pollution.

Considering a relocation to rural Karnataka meant that the proximity to water, connectivity, diversity of landscape and health facilities were key criteria. There were more than a dozen enthusiastic friends who wanted to be included in this endeavour. It took over 15 visits and looking at 43 sites before we were able to get our ideal place. However, when it came to pulling out the cheque book, only three of the aforementioned friends remained interested.

It wasn’t till the end of 2008 that we were able to start building a small cottage, and by the time we moved it was October 2010, following my retirement in May that year.

During my periodic visits to Mysore I had stayed in different locations, eating at many small places and meeting a cross section of people from diverse backgrounds. Each visit reinforced the attractiveness of the area. Over the years that we have been here, we have explored the area around and had many memorable experiences, more enriching than just the built heritage tag associated with Mysore.