After spending 2 days in Manipal, now it was time to leave for mumbai. I had a Blank paper ticket from Udupi to Hatia via LTT. So checked out of hotel at 1 pm and started for Udupi railway station. In about 20-25 mins we reached the station and after seeing coach position we moved to the platform. We were waiting, then ERS-PUNE SF came and departed after 2 min halt. After its departure On another PF came the CSTM-MAJN SF alias the rocket. It also departed after 2 min halt. Then announcement started for matsyagandha express to LTT and we moved to place where our coach was supposed to be positioned. Lots of people were waiting to board the train. Just a minute before the arrival of train, it started raining heavily. We went under the FOB ramp for protection from rain. Then came the view of WDP...
more... 4D approaching udupi with 12620 matsyagandha express at its tow. The train came to halt and we moved towards the gate of S8. After the train departed the rains also stopped and we opened the window shutters. The train was clean. The TTE came and checked the tickets. He demanded id-card from every ticket holder whether it was PRS or e-ticket. I showed my downloaded e-aadhar and he denied saying show original. I was not in a mood to quarrel given excitement for upcoming journey in Konkan stretch. Showed him mother's voter id and continued our journey. The train crossed the stations at good speed and continued its journey. After departing from Murdeshwar, my mother pointed out to something, at first I didn't recognize but on seeing properly remembered it is the statue of lord shiva. Had distant darshan of lord shiva. Then another exciting point was when train approached the Honnavar bridge. After crossing the bridge, rains again started and we had to close the window shutters. In evening, the train approached Madgaon. The Benjoe restaurant caterers were selling diff items like biryani, chhole rice, badaam-milk, etc. After departure came the zuari river which looked magnificient in the evening. Then we had dinner and I went to sleep. In the morning I woke up when the train arrived at PEN. I started to pack my belongings, as I decided to get down at PNVL to catch local to CSTM. Got down from train at PNVL admist heavy rains and got a local train ticket. Boarded the empty slow local to CSTM. As the stations approached, local became more crowded. Despite being saturday and early morning the local was crowded beyond my expectations.