The toy train to Ooty
After a relaxing couple of weeks in Varkala we felt we should be getting back on the rickety buses to see the last few remaining places we wanted to see before flying to New Zealand.
Our first stop was Ooty, a town high up in the hills of Tamil Nadu. It originally served as a hill station for the British as a means of escaping from the balmy Indian heat; now it is a top destination for Indians and foreigners alike. The journey there from Varkala was perhaps the most uncomfortable we've had to endure since arriving in India, five people including their luggage were wedged in what can only be described as a 'compact' car for about 12 hours. We stopped off at a nearby city to recover and get a few hours sleep before taking an early morning four hour train journey through the scenic Blue Mountain terrain...unfortunately it broke down after two hours so frustratingly we had to go back down and then take a taxi.
When we finally arrived we were exhausted and decided to check into a Taj hotel for a bit of luxury....(who said back-packers had to slum it?)
Despite all the trouble to get there Ooty didn't disappoint and was well worth the effort to get there.
The train driver...looking slightly crossed eyed
Mysore - Karnataka
The Palace at Mysore
Our next stop was a city called Mysore, well known for it's palace and reputedly difficult yoga practices. We didn't stay there long, but we had enough time to visit the palace and meet up with our friend Phil who we met in Nepal. Phil, who after spending a month learning yoga and drinking ghee and salt water to detox, had decided to continue his journey of self discovery by going into a monastery for a month!
Hampi - Karnataka
We left Mysore the next day to head to Hampi, a very small town famous for it's strange and enthralling landscape and ruins which are a UNESCO world heritage site. Historically Hampi (also known as Vijayanagara) was once home to about a million people but the city was defeated and the people massacred by the Deccan Sultanates around 1565 AD. All that remains now are the intricately carved buildings and palaces amid a sea of boulders and strange rock formations. It is a really fascinating place.
Hanuman
Tollywood (yes that right not Bollywood) film crew at Hampi
Palolem - Goa
OK, so I know that initially we weren't impressed with Goa....despite this we headed back there with a couple of friends to enjoy our last week in India, topping up our tans and doing some Ashtanga yoga. It was well worth it and is perhaps my favourite place in Goa.
As the days went by we were left feeling sad at the prospect of leaving India. It has been an amazing journey, disturbing and frustrating at times but there wasn't a day that went by when we didn't feel incredibly lucky to be there experiencing it. It is no wonder India tourism describes it as 'incredible'...wow what a place!
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