Day 105 (Fri 20 Oct) - Mysore

Skipped breakfast as we thought we would head back to the hotel for a big lunch instead.

Walked to the tourist office that was unhelpfully closed. The train station was nearby so we headed off there and booked our tickets to Goa and also tickets to take us from Mumbai to Kolkata. The queuing system employed at the station office was quite odd. Basically rows of chairs were layed out on which people sat until a space became available at the ticket counter. When this happened all the people sitting got up and moved one seat up to take the place just vacated. This line snaked up and down the rows. Seemed to work quite well.

Headed off in the baking heat to Mysore Palace ( [1], [2], [3] ). It is absolutely enormous! Walked round the beautifully kept grounds complete with colourful flower beds. Decided that we would actually go into the Palace another day as it was getting rather late.

Just as we were leaving we were lucky to see the Palace elephants going for a walk.

As this was the first day of Diwali there were firecrackers and fireworks going off all over the place. Quite disconcerting walking round the streets.

Sarb phoned his folks to wish them a Happy Diwali.

Sadly it really chucked it down during the night so didn't get to see any great fireworks!