V. Venugopal

V. Venugopal: For twenty-two years now. I lost my father thirty years ago and I started driving an autorickshaw when I was twenty years old. I bought my own vehicle with a loan of Rs 70,000 from Canara Bank. It is my only asset, apart from the house in which we live. I live with my mother, wife and son; he is almost thirteen.

OT: What are the most charming places in Srirangapatna?

V. Venugopal: It’s a very historic place and some of the monuments are over 1,200 years old. There are important buildings everywhere. Mainly, all the places are connected to Tipu Sultan. I take tourists around everywhere — there’s a list of about a dozen places, mainly managed by the ASI. Outsiders sometimes have difficulty finding them but, actually, they are all quite close to each other. Walking would take too much time so autos are the best for Srirangapatna. There are even older ruins but they have not been maintained properly. Sometimes, I wonder how it must all have been. 

OT: How is business?

V. Venugopal: What can I say? It is a difficult business. A lot of people come over the weekends and during the summer holidays but the rest of the year is unpredictable. The Dasara vacation is a very good time because a lot of people come to Mysore for the Dasara and everybody likes to visit Sriraganpatna then. Nobody comes in the rainy season, from June to September, even if it is not raining. And I know it’s exam time, when the families stop coming. Also, nowadays, everybody has their own car. They drive down in their cars and go around in them, so local fellows like me don’t get any work except to give them directions.

OT: How do you manage through the year?

V. Venugopal: It’s a struggle. I ferry locals but the earnings are small. Mostly, I manage to cover my expenses like petrol and maintenance but making a living is a problem. If I get two-three tourists to show around, it’s a very good day for me. It is better my son gets a good education and does not come into this business. But till he is older, I have to worry.

OT: What are the best kept secrets in this town?

V. Venugopal: Most people only see the [Ranganatha-swamy] temple and [Tipu’s] tomb. But some of my favourites are Captain Bailey’s dungeon, which can be reached only by a shortcut over a rocky path behind a Ganesha temple, the Daria Daulat Gardens, the Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary, which can be a separate trip, and the Triveni, where two branches of the Cauvery meet the Lokapavani river. The Cauvery can be seen from many places in Srirangapatna. It looks beautiful behind the Nimishamba temple too—that is also a temple really worth visiting. It’s actually in the neighbouring Ganjam district but it’s all a part of Srirangapatna and easy to reach. I can show ten or twelve places that I feel everybody who comes here should see. It takes just two hours or so. I charge Rs 300 only.

OT: What are your impressions about tourists?

V. Venugopal: They are fine, no problem. Some of them are friendly and kind. They just want to have a good time. If they are happy, they pay well. So all of us in the tourism business must make sure they are happy, that’s all.

OT: Have you travelled? What did you like most about the place/s you visited? 

V. Venugopal: No, I have not gone anywhere. The only place I have visited is Dharmasthala. It takes seven hours by bus from here. It is a beautiful town. It is very clean, cheap rooms are available and it is possible to have a good darshan. I would like to go on a pilgrimage to Dharmasthala at least once every year but it all depends on whether I have money.

OT: A place you have always wanted to visit…

V. Venugopal: Varanasi. I have always wanted to go there, at least once in my life.

V. Venugopal, autorickshaw owner and driver, Door No.1/134, Behind Jain Temple, 1st Cross, Srirangapatna, Mandya District, Karnataka; 09535697753