Exploring outside the "Gokulam bubble:" Kukkarahalli Lake

Last week, I finally got to spend some time exploring outside what one of my roommates and I like to call the “Gokulam bubble” (Gokulam is the neighborhood of Mysore that I live in and where the shala is located).  Gokulam is a great little neighborhood with many stores, vendors and restaurants familiar with Western students coming to the area to study yoga, so many things that people need are not more than a 15 minute walk away.  But, that can all start to feel claustrophobic after a while and I had been feeling eager to get outside of the city and away from all of the Western influences.

My first opportunity came when my roommate took me to a lake more towards the center of the city.  Not too far from Gokulam by scooter (about a 10-15 minute ride, depending on traffic), but far enough away to feel like I was actually getting to see another part of the city.  By the way, I have now gotten to ride on a scooter three times and I am starting to believe that India is best seen on the back of a scooter (or at least the streets, lol).  It reminded me of the first time that I went kayaking, you are just so much closer to everything—other cars, scooters, rickshaws and the elements (wind, sun, etc…well, no, actually just wind and sun right now, lol).  I thought it would be scary because Indian driving is insane, but it was exhilarating and so much fun!  And my roommate is a very good driver, having 3 months of experience here before he took me over to the lake.  I was also concerned about being closer to the exhaust from the cars, but it was not as bad as it is in a rickshaw, I think because you are partially enclosed in a rickshaw, so the exhaust gets trapped a little bit back there with you.  On the back of a scooter, you might get a little blast of exhaust as you scoot by someone, but then it dissipates easy, no problem.

Anyways, back to the lake.  The name of the lake is Kukkarahalli Lake.  It’s your typical city lake with a 4 kilometer path around it (about 2.5 miles), where you are able to experience some more nature but can still hear all the sounds of the city around you.  You have your people out for their daily exercise walk—housewives, students, businessmen still in their work shirts, pants and dress shoes (lol)—a handful of couples out for an evening stroll, there were even have some joggers out there attempting to run in the heat and humidity, many even had their headphones on!  But, of course, there are some differences: many of the women walking around either wore kurtas (long tunic-style tops) and some were even doing the walk around the path in their saris and dress sandals!  Most of the people I saw jogging did not wear fancy athletic shoes, just your “run of the mill” sneakers.  And, of course, the plants and wildlife were different, with the ubiquitous cow never far from view :-)

My roommate and expert scooter-driver, Gian Renato (who is now back home in Italy)

large banyan tree

Sunset at the lake