Goa to Hyderabad: Arabian Sea, Dudhsagar Falls, Western Ghats and Deccan Plateau

 

Highlights from journey from Goa to Hyderabad. We start off with the Vasco Howrah Amaravati Express early in the morning Vasco Da Gama, powered by twin Gooty WDM3As. We have a glimpse of the Arabian Sea and subsequently, head eastwards from Madgaon. Our sharp ascent into the western ghats - this stretch is known as the Braganza ghats - begins from Kulem and we cross the magnificent Dudhsagar Falls and enter Karnataka. There is a sharp shower at Castle Rock, where the bankers are detached and subsequently, we curve left and right through lush green paddy fields and rolling valleys towards the twin cities of Hubli and Dharwad. Post Hubli, we enter the Deccan but the black soil soon gives way to the red laterite soil near Koppal. The hills also appear as we head towards Hospet and cross the Tungabhadra, very close to the city of Hampi where the Vijayanagar empire was situated. We then cut across through Karnataka and enter the state of Andhra Pradesh after Bellary and arrive at Guntakal. At Guntakal a blazing sunset is followed by a full moon night as I switch trains and board the Mysore Jaipur Express, powered by Maula Ali twin Alcos. We have a fiery start from Guntakal, chugging away and head northwards towards Hyderabad which we reach on the early morning of the next day.