To know your city, walk

Vinay Parameswarappa, a techie-turned-adventure freak, offers theme walks in Mysore

Being inspired by something and sitting quiet is often the norm. But, being inspired and then getting up and doing it is something Vinay Parameswarappa did.

Vinay, a software engineer participated in the Singapore Walk, which was a turning point in his life. He bid adieu to his job and began one of his own and called it the Royal Mysore Walks.



Have idea, will walk

"The idea came after taking part in the Singapore Walks while I was working over there in a tech company," says Vinay. This impressed him and he decided that he would start a similar one in his city, Mysore. "When I told the guide lady that I would start a similar one in my city, she just smiled." He was sure they did not believe him on this count.

Guided walks are popular in the West especially in Europe. He says, "All the major cities in the continent have these walks." It took Vinay six months to thoroughly research before its humble beginnings in April this year. But, it was only during Dasara in October that his walks caught the people's fancy. Each of his walks, which are of two hours duration, follow a particular theme.



Myriad flavours

The Royalty Colour and Flavours Walk, is one where people get to know about Mysore's royalty and a slice of local life. Here he shows the history of the city like heritage buildings with glimpses behind the heritage city sites stories to the walkers.

An avid traveller, Vinay has taken part in many such walks in the country. "But", he proclaims proudly, "Mysore is the most pedestrian city in the country."



What you get

He chooses a route and stops at places filled with history. He gives them bits of gyaan on why it is important and the kind of impact it has had on the history of the city. He says these walks are all about experiencing the city with a different angle. In the Golden-era themed walk, the focus is on old heritage buildings and their heritage value.

To make his walks different and interesting, Vinay had to localize them as the dynamics are different everywhere. He tries to give the walkers tid-bits of information and this he says, "makes it special." In his Golden-era themed walk; he takes people around the many firsts the city is known for. In this way, "the people see and understand it clearly as they experience it firsthand".
u00a0
The sheer volume of having walked a mixed bag of 400 eager foreigners and Indian walkers goes to show how fast the idea is catching on.u00a0
Apart from getting to know the city, walking also has its benefits. The health factor stands prominent as "the green angle to walking is also fast catching up in India," he says. His clients include to a large extent corporates and groups from Bangalore. Even foreigners who arrive in Bangalore to attend meetings spend their free day visiting Mysore. He says, "This is the first place they choose to chill out," and walking gives them a good glimpse of the city. Recently a group of officers deputed in the Administrative Training Institute (ATI) in Mysore for a resident programme took part in his walk and now it has become a regular feature with them. "A powerful message," he says is transferred to these officers as they get to learn the value of the city.
There's more
Vinay quips, "Once you take part in a walk in one city, you get addicted to them and want to do more in other cities as well." Watch out for the Malgudi walks and tonga tours in store, coming soon.
u00a0
At: Mysore
Call: 96320 44188
Cost: Rs 495 per head
Log on to https://www.royalmysorewalks.com/