It is rare for the modern lot of politicians to be impressed by the arts and culture. Last week though state Minister for Tourism Anand Singh seemed genuinely impressed by a book and gave fulsome praise to the authors and publishers. ‘Marvels of Mysore & more’ was released by the minister at his chambers in Vidhana Soudha last Friday evening, tying into the ongoing Dasara celebrations.
Speaking after releasing the book, Singh said: “This is a beautiful and interesting book. Mysore is one of the most attractive tourist destinations in India. The city has preserved its rich cultural heritage over the years and continues to enrich the lives of Kannadigas.”
A contemporary book like this serves an important purpose of giving accurate information with good photographs for the benefit of readers here and from all over the world.
“This book is an international edition and we are sure it will be much appreciated. I would like Sandhya to immediately begin work on a book like this on North Karnataka as that area needs recognition too,” the minister added. Introducing the book, Sandhya Mendonca, author and editor-in-chief of Raintree Media, the publishing company, said: “The launch of a every book is special for a publisher. As a Kannadiga, who’s grown up on tales of royal Mysore and has childhood memories of the wonderful Dasara pageant, I am all the more delighted at the release of this book. We are grateful that the state Tourism Department partnered with us in bring out this publication.”
Giving a peek into the book, Sandhya said: “Marvels of Mysore & more is a contemporary book on Mysore. There are several books on this historic city that talk only about its heritage or are just guides. As the title suggests, the publication has more to offer: this book is an all-in-one: a photo book, a travel guide and a memoir of the historic city and the region around it. Mysore and the region around it offer endless delights for locals and visitors alike and this book has descriptive information about the cultural history and the wonders of nature in the area.”
Along with the festival of Dasara, the heritage buildings, the modern developments, the book has interesting features on the legend of the holy bull, Nandi, the colourful folk dances, the wonderful Tibetan settlement in Bylakuppe, a ride on the Golden Chariot.
Marvels of Mysore & more shows the reader what to see, what to do, where to stay, what to buy in this city, and in the interesting tourist trail starting from Bangalore through Melkote, Ranganathittu and other places all the way to Kodagu.
According to Usha Subramanian, Director, Sales, Raintree Media, the book priced at `750, is available at all leading bookstores or one could order the same from https://www.facebook.com/raintreemedia.
The book has already received considerable praise from noted novelist Shashi Deshpande, who described it as a ‘combination of a coffee table book with marvelous pictures and an efficient guide for tourists to Mysore and its environs.’