Udaipur

A day on the road, covering just 150 km, but it’s wonderful to get off the major tourist trail to Badami. After a lot of dreary highway the bus veered off into open countryside: green pastures, fields full of crops dotted with deciduous trees. Unspoilt by the build up of litter that fouls much of the southern countryside. Pass through riveting villages, and along some lovely avenues, as the sun sets over the distant hills.

A trek through the town to find an ATM, through an environment too densely packed with life to easily describe, and then the most delicious thali to finish the day, and a cold beer, to doubly finish it. proper knackered.

People are so much more friendly and curious away from the tourist centres, that makes all the difference.

Happy on the sleeper to Hospet. AC3 class, on a lower side berth, with a family in the six beds of the main area opposite. Other berths on this coach are mostly indians, but there are some foreigners too (I don’t see them often)!

I like journeys.