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Around the world in 2000,
via Asia and Madagascar.
Mysore (India)
Bec2004-09-18 18:03:27
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observe the excessive opulence of the interior. I would have liked to show pictures of it to let you draw your own conclusions.
Below on the left the Sri Shveta Vaharaswami Temple near the southern gate of the fort (tourist's entrance). On the right, one of the Wadiyar Rajas on Statue Square next to the northern gate of the fort.
Nilgiri Hills
I had considered going to Belur and Halebid northwest of Mysore but changed my mind at the last minute to go directly to Ooty in the Nilgiri Hills south of Mysore. That's one of the advantages of travelling alone. Here is a tea plantation as seen from the bus window on the way.
Ooty
Ootacamund, called Ooty for short, was one of the cool places the British would flock to when it got too hot at lower altitudes. Ooty Lake, with a variety of boats for hire, is still a pleasant place to go for a picnic but now the crowd is mostly Indian with a sprinkling of tourists.
Blue Mountain Train
The British used to come here for the cooler climate but I did to ride the Blue Mountain Train from Ooty to Mettupalayam on my way to Coimbatore and Madurai further south.
The last coach of the train (first class) was chock full with a noisy group of German and French tourists who had taken too much beer and wine with their lunch so I was quite content to ride in this second class coach with the well behaved locals.
Blue Mountain Train
The train is pulled by an old diesel engine from Ooty to Coonoor where it was replaced by this older still steam powered cog wheel locomotive capable of handling the steep inclines down to the plains below.
Below, you can see the ratchet like central track and the great cog wheel that engages it to pull the train up or down the mountain.
Copyright Bernard Cloutier
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See photographs from:
India Gallery
