Someone said, and I can’t remember who, that the journey to a destination is as important and interesting as the destination itself. But sadly, most of us do not give much importance to what we see around us during journeys. I, too, have been guilty of this.
But a recent holiday to North Karnataka (where I visited Bijapur, Badami, Pattadakal, Aihole, and Hampi) changed all this. Since I was travelling with a tour group for the first time, common courtesy dictated that I do not bury myself in a book all the time, something I normally do while travelling.
But more than that, I feel that the main reason for the interesting journey was because I did not travel in a sterile aeroplane or air-conditioned train compartment (except on my return journey to Mumbai), or an air-conditioned car/jeep/bus, which usually does not allow you to be a spectator or participant to the world around you. Travelling in a Second Class train compartment or non air-conditioned vehicle forced me to look out of the window and breathe in the fresh, cool air or sometimes air flavoured with dust and diesel/petrol fumes !
This recent trip was a veritable feast for my jaded eyes and soul. Every leg of the journey (and the various destinations, about which I will write in other blog posts) presented something new and refreshing.
Enroute to Bijapur from Mumbai by train …
On the way to the Bhootnath Temple at Badami…
Enroute to Pattadakal…
Enroute to the Vittala Temple in Hampi…
Enroute to the Daroji Bear Sanctuary…
Enroute to Hubli…
Enroute to Mumbai by train…
There were so many things that I was unable to photograph and share it here with you:
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endless fields of bajra, jowar, corn and sugarcane
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lush green banana plantations
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agressive pigs, nervous dogs and emaciated cats in the various towns and villages that we passed through
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monkeys, monkeys and more monkeys
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the ever-changing landscape of North Karnataka
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the hundreds of beautiful trees in the region
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eager-eyed children with their families
The list can go on and on and on…
My Favourite Things 
The sunflower is beautiful…
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The photograph does not do justice at all. You should have seen the field full of sunflowers.
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a feast for the eyes.. i love the journey bit always more than the destination… thats what the most interesting part of the travel is… anticipation!! 🙂 n
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m soooo sure! keep them coming Sudha… waiting to read and see your next journey… 🙂
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It feels like you are speaking, and the connect is instant. It has been a while since i traveled like this and maybe, i have lost out on the true flavor of things…Sunflowers, train-tracks, cattle trees and and more..bring back the flavors of childhood.
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