1989/90 - India Overland (Part 4 - Goa to Mandu)

Via Mumbai (or Bombay as it was then) and huge rock cut temples and palaces.

Sunday 17 December 1989 - Monday 25 December 1989
View 1989 India on nzhamsta's travel map.

Sunday 17 December - A long and difficult drive through the outskirts of Mumbai and we eventually had to follow a taxi driver to get to the northern beach area of Versova. The place we stayed was a private house that the owner opened up for EO trucks. There was another EO truck in as they had just finished the Kathmandu to Mumbai trip. About half of the people on the trip were finishing in Mumbai so we went out for a final dinner at nice restaurant next door.

Slums on the way into Mumbai.

Light Mumbai traffic.

Farewell dinner for half of the group. Visible faces are from left: Glynn, Eddie, Marissa, Sally, Fabienne, Barbara, Sandy (with beard), Jacq and Cathy.

Monday 18 December - A day in the city centre, Taj Mahal Hotel, markets on Shahid Bhagat Singh Road, the Churchgate railway station to buy tickets for Jacq, more shopping and a shoe shop (for me, not Jacq), dinner at the Taj.

The dancer at the Taj Hotel.

Tuesday 19 December - Up early to see people off, including Jacq. Otherwise a day of doing very little. The trip was in two halves so new people arrived at various stages during the day. Dinner in the Willingdon Club, very exclusive (had to dress up!).

Wednesday 20 December - Another day in Mumbai city centre, travelling both ways by train. A crowded train. A very crowded train. To Gateway of India and probably the most impressive railway station ever built. We went out to dinner with the new people in the strangest little Chinese restaurant. All the orders were taken. I was on the table that was served first. Great. Plates and cutlery collected. A few minutes later the next table was served. Okay. This was repeated a couple more times and we finally concluded that they only had one set of crockery and cutlery, with the final table being served about an hour or so after the first table.

A group of school kids at the Gateway of India.

Thursday 21 December - Finally on road again with six remaining original passengers, eight continuing from the Africa trip, and six starting from new. We drove inland all day via the towns of Nashik and Yeola towards the caves at Ellora.

A policeman in the town of Nashik.

Nomadic herdsmen.

Friday 22 December - An early start, arriving at Ellora Caves about lunch time. They are very impressive, especially number 16, the Kailasa Temple. We carried on later towards Ajanta.

The sacred tank at Ellora.

The Kailasa Temple.

Inside the Kailasa Temple.

Caves 17 and 18.

Cave 29.

Saturday 23 December - Morning at Ajanta Caves with a very knowledgeable but sometimes hard to understand guide. Again very impressive as they are cut into a rock face above the Waghur River. We carried afterwards towards Dhule with a shopping stop in Jalgaon.

Rural Maharashtra.

The northern end of the caves (numbers 13 to 27).

The southern end of the caves (numbers 1 to 17).

The Ajanta Caves (l-r numbers 27 to 20).

Sunday 24 December - More shopping in Dhule, especially trying to find beer. We bought a goat from road side butcher - one moment on the hoof, a few moments later in small pieces in the truck. We arrived late at Mandu and camped in Rupmati Palace.

Traders and shoppers in Dhule.

The butcher with our Christmas dinner.

Monday 25 December - Merry Christmas to one and all. Small presents given out. The morning and early afternoon were spent wandering the ruins of the temples and palaces of Mandu. Drove towards Ratlam. The goat was curried for dinner, but the guys on dinner duty liked hot curries. It was too hot for some.

Breakfast on Christmas Day.