‘People of Karnataka received me with love’

Mysuru: Meet Lucas Venner who is travelling around the world by hitchhiking. In June, he entered India and visited Mysuru recently. Six days back he entered Karnataka and passed through Bengaluru and Mandya, before reaching Mysuru. He has now reached the neighbouring state of Kerala.
Hailing the people and places in the towns of Mysuru and Mandya, he said people are friendly here and the historical sites in Mysuru city are very beautiful.
A French citizen, Venner has graduated in mechanical engineering in France. My aim is hitchhiking between France and New Zealand, said Venner, who started his expedition in February this year.
The Frenchman said that he reached Bengaluru last week in a truck. After spending three days in Bengaluru, he travelled by taking lifts from people in three vehicles to reach Mandya where he spent a day visiting a sugar factory. From Mandya to Mysuru, he took seven vehicles, including bikes, trucks and autos, and stayed in the city for two days.
“In South India, I did not facing any communication issue due to a difference in language as the people here are familiar with English and generously offer lifts,” he stated.
“On many occasions, I travel for a short distance of 500 meters and also take lifts. I didn’t come across any scary incidents in any of the places in Karnataka. Instead people received me with love and affection offering free lifts beside tea, juice and eatables,” he recalled about his trip to Karnataka.
I visited the sugar factory in Mandya, whereas in Mysuru I visited the temples, the Mysuru Palace, Devaraja Market, St Philomena’s church and other different parts of the city, Venner said. The historical city of Mysuru has plenty of beautiful places, he added.
I planned my visit to Karnataka after people in North India advised me to visit the state, especially Bengaluru and Mysuru, as they are popular and well known across the nation, he said.