Dussehra festivities and the smell of Mysore pak do not seem to be appealing enough for foreign tourists. They are more interested in yoga, meditation and nature’s cure. According to police statistics, 4,500 foreigners visit the city during September-October. They rarely venture out of their yoga camps to visit tourist attractions.
This year, perhaps a few tourists may take the jataka ride or even have a Dussehra Thali. But that’s it. “Foreign tourists visiting Mysore in the recent years want to explore Indian culture, its medicinal secrets and yoga. They also learn Indian history, particularly the Wodeyar–Tipu legacy and visit ruins. They do visit Amba Vilas Palace, but they rather spend hours poring over the murals and golden painting of the Darbar hall and the dance hall,” say palace board officials.
Foreign tourists spend Rs50,000–Rs60,000 for a three-month yoga camp in Gokulam, Yadavagiri and Jayalakshmipuram. “They are world class and I like the classical way of learning yoga and meditation as taught by Patanjali. My yogacharya, Guru Pattabhi, has taught me 20 yogasanas, meditation and pranayama. I was able to get over depression and lack of concentration caused by the modern life I led in New York,” said Regina, a corporate executive.
“Living in Mysore has also shown me the benefits of going vegan. I have been visiting Mysore for the past two years and I have become a vegan and a teetotaller. The only thing I like in Dussehra is the Carnatic music concerts that take place in the palace,” said Indian-born British citizen Rohit Coelho.
He is now practising Hatha Yoga and intends to visit Mangalore to practise it on the beach.
