Practising in the cool months
December and January mornings in Mysuru can be 15°C. How to keep warm, stay safe and use the season well.
A month in Gokulam: rooms, food and getting around
Where travelling students stay, eat and shop near the shala, with rough costs and tips from people who have done it.
Every year, students from across India and abroad come to Mysuru to practise for a month or more, and many of them end up in Gokulam. The neighbourhood is quiet, leafy and full of shalas, and nearly everything you need is within walking distance. Here is what our travelling students tell each other.
Most people rent a room in a family home or a small apartment. Expect to pay ₹12,000 to ₹25,000 a month for a furnished room with a kitchen, more from December to March, which is the busiest season. Ask whether hot water, Wi-Fi and a gas cylinder are included, and see the room in person before you pay any advance. We keep a list of landlords our students have stayed with and are happy to share it.
For food, the small eateries along the main roads serve idli, dosa and South Indian meals cheaply, and there are cafés for those who want salads and smoothies after practice. Coconut stands appear at most corners by 9 am, and a tender coconut after a morning practice is a Gokulam habit. Vegetables and fruit are best bought at the small markets near VV Mohalla or at Devaraja Market in the city.
To get around, most students rent a scooter for about ₹4,000 to ₹6,000 a month, or use autos, which cost ₹50 to ₹100 for most trips in the area. Our shala is on 2nd Main Road, within a ten-minute walk of most rented rooms. Most students walk to the shala before sunrise; carry a torch; some lanes have little street lighting.
