Mysuru: About 50 couples took part in the tonga ride for traditionally dressed couples, organised by the Department of Archaeology, Museums and Heritage, as part of the ongoing Dasara festivities, in the city this morning.

The tonga ride, that included chariots, decorated in flowers, was flagged off from the premises of Rangacharlu Memorial Town Hall at about 7.15 am.

The participants, with men dressed in silk dhoti and Mysore Peta and women in saree, were taken through heritage structures like Silver Jubilee Clock Tower (Doddagadiyara), Free Masons building, Chamarajendra Circle, Mysore Palace, K.R. Circle, Lansdowne building, Jaganmohan Palace, Parkal Mutt, Seshadri House (Commercial Tax Office), Padmalaya (Lokayukta Police Office), old Deputy Commissioner’s office, Oriental Research Institute (ORI) and Crawford Hall.

Historians Prof. N.S.Rangaraju and M.N. Swamy were the resource persons, who shared the key information, while passing through the heritage buildings.

Archaeology, Museums and Heritage Department Commissioner A. Devaraju, Deputy Director Manjula, engineers and staff were also present.