Mysore too has frills, thrills for its denizens

Without shopping malls, multiplexes and pubs, Tier II cities in Karnataka may not offer 'frills and thrills' to the BPO employees . However, Mysore stands apart from tier II and III cities like Hubli-Dharwad, Belgaum and Mangalore. Next to Bangalore, it has a social structure, which offers a soothing and unwinding home stay, a weekend chill out to a nearby tourist place or an adventure spot, or join the connoisseurs of a music or cultural extravaganza by reputed artistes, apart from frills and thrills.

If not as many as in the teeming city of Bangalore, the royal city has a number of shopping malls today, big and small. If 'More' on the Narayana Sastry Road is a big draw for locals and outsiders for shopping in a three-floor space, the 'Food World' is ideal for quick shopping on Devaraj Urs Road. 'Reliance Fresh' offers a variety of vegetables and fruits, apart from pulses and grains on the Chamaraja Double Road.

If one wants to avoid coming to the city centre, one can shop in the extensions where they reside.

The Loyal World has spread out its arm in V V Mohalla, Thonachikoppal, Kuvempurnagar and N R Mohalla, the Discount World in Vijayanagar, the A2Z Super Market in Kuvempunagar, the Nilgiris on Hunsur Road and Chamaraja Mohalla to name a few of them. Gardua Mall with multiplex will be a new addition soon.

Trendy exclusive company showrooms are coming up on the city's prestigious Devaraj Urs Road with branded ready-mades of a wide choice.

Pubs too have made their presence in the city. High Octane, Hookah, Pelican Pub, Bopy's and Rock Pub are a couple of those popular watering holes.

If one wants to enjoy a meal or a drink in a royal ambience, there is the Lalitha Mahal Palace ITDC Hotel, the heritage Hotel Metropole or the Greens. The Southern Star, now sporting the name Regaalis, Dasaprakash Paradise, Sandesh de Prince, Pai Vista, KingsKourt, Royal Inn, Roost and Ramanashree, are the few popular budget hotels with restaurants and bars.

There are number of popular restaurants offering a large variety of multi-cuisine eats, veg or non-veg, icecreams and softdrinks and for coffee lovers, the Coffee Day.

Drive for about 30 minutes towards any highway from the city, you will find an ideal resort set amidst nature like the Chitravana, White Orchid, Golden Landmark, Windflower, Palmrah, Young Island and Amblee.

For thrills and excitement, ideal and popular spots are GRS Fantasy Park with a variety of amusements and water-based games and the Planet X, the premier family-recreation centre with a range of modern games.

The art and culture affectionades can have a choice of music, dance or drama at places like Veene Seshanna Bhavan, Vasudevacharya Bhavana, Jaganmohan Palace Auditorium, Bidaram Krishnappa Rama Mandira or Rangayana.

The city offers a number of tourist attractions and around it are spots of a wide choice from historic, religious, wildlife to natural beauty spots for a sojourn with friends or family.