Ooty to Mysore

The most terrifying trip!  In my innocence I did not realise the way down from Ooty over the other side of the Ghats was notoriously dangerous, solid hairpin bends for over an hour, every corner displaying 'Free Mortuary Van' telephone numbers.

My driver prayed and I shut my eyes. Sod the view!

The silver lining of my injury forcing the necessity of car rather than bus was truly appreciated...I saw the bus trying to negotiate the 'road' and half of it was off the road suspended in mid air over a sheer drop.

The mountain we came down

Finally, with the engine overheating and brakes screaming, we reached the flatter valley floor, where we had to stop in a market town to let the engine (and us) cool down.
To my surprise, as we left Tamil Nadu the road to Mysore then winds through tiger and wildlife reserves with the most amazing scenery-which I could appreciate now I could open my eyes.

Trees lining the route

Monkeys stalked the side of the road, they have apparently got used to food being thrown to them and are keen on a varied diet of processed food as well as the vegetables thrown from the lorries which make the regular Mysore to Kerala trek with the produce Karnataka state is famous for.

Watching for food

Deer, antelopes and bison were visible in the trees but by far the most moving sighting was a family of elephants visible in the foliage, mother, baby and father with massive tusks standing protectively by his family.

Elephants along the way

Arriving exhausted in Mysore the heat of the city was an unpleasant shock, as was the rather basic 'hotel' with its missing bed sheets and bathroom so primitive the tap system is so complicated it needs instructions and I can have a shower and use the loo at the same time...and given the unpredictability of the water, even if I don't want a shower I tend to get one!

Despite my exhaustion I had been told that the Royal Palace illumination, done only on a Sunday night, was a ' not to be missed' attraction so I dragged myself out and into the crowds.

As the daylight faded I was convinced I would be too tired to care but after a gorgeous Pani Puri (potatoes, onions and chickpeas in a crispy fried ball) I had enough energy to appreciate the spectacle. And spectacular it was-100,000 plus light bulbs create a magical wonderland. The lights span the main palace and run along all four sides plus the towering four gates and temples, truly stunning.

The Palace illuminated on Sunday nights

Me exhausted at the end of the day