Mysore Palace

It is all that it is cracked up to be. Now I must research about it because the information given is so sparse and eccentric - it was built in the late 19th century by the British and the maharajah, after former versions burned to the ground, but nothing victorianesque about its style. No photography allowed inside and no books for sale with any real photos (just as well - luggage is a problem).  Signs say things like "elephant" under a stuffed elephant head.  A library, which required permission to enter but I just walked in and the fellow guarding the place was fast asleep, had the oddest collection.  Some few truly unique volumes of records of the place itself, but mostly books in English (almost all the books, actually), ranging from Indian symbology to Eskimo art.  Really, quite a number of random anthropolgy books having nothing to do with India, incuding one that was a text book assigned in my introductory anthropolgy class in college "Selected Readings in Anthropology and Archaeology".  The library was totally quiet - a welcome respite from the noise of the crowds everywhere else.  This is the noisiest place I've ever been - the whole of India, not just Mysore.  Beep beep, honk honk, RING RING, and music at a volume that would make your average boombox blaster seem relaxing.