Hampi

Rain at Hampi brings on a melancholic mood. As the lens sweeps the stretches of boulder- strewn hills on a particularly rainy and cold day, Hampi reminds one of the famous Greek philosopher’s favorite quote- `nothing endures but change…’.

This rock has stood testimony to the rise and fall of a dynasty.

A woman selling banana's to the visitors...

These boulders made me feel small...looking at them through my lens, gave me confidence- yes, it will fit the frame.

I was captivated by the off beat visual potential the place had to offer. My decision to avoid the often photographed and written about Hampi was right. There is another Hampi to be seen...

If you are headed to Hampi with the been-there-seen-that-done-this attitude, you will miss the real sights. Some sights are apparent only to the relaxed mind...
Auto's are everywhere...

Here too..

A pilgrim in Hampi Bazar...

Crouched in her tea shop, a woman bears the cold, waiting for a customer.

The Tungabadra river supports many activities of the localite. Washing clothes being one of them.

A hidden path to Vittala temple from Virupasha temple

Time has weathered the rocks.

A ruined temple

A man makes his way to the ruins. He has a bucket of water with him, to wash his behind after he is done with defecating in the bushes near the ruins. Truly a kings retreat.

5.45 am at the shores of Tungabadra- Hampi is waking up.


I headed back to the city...
Getting There (Text from http://india.journeymart.com/hampi/default.asp) : The nearest railway station is at Hospet. There are trains to Hospet from Bangalore and Hyderabad. You can get to Hampi from Hospet by auto-rickshaw, bus or rented cycle. It is possible to rent a chauffeur driven car in Hospet. It is convenient to get directly to Hampi by road. Goa is 10 hrs away and there are bus services from all over Karnataka to Hampi. Since this is a major tourist destination, any number of car-rentals will be happy to provide you with a car and driver for the trip. You can hire the car and take it around the entire northern circuit of Hampi-Hospet-Badami-Gulbarga-Bidar-Bijapur. It is also possible to hire a car at Hampi.

There are frequent bus services to Hospet (30 minutes) and from there on to Badami, Bijapur, Aihole, Gulbarga, and to the south too. You can also rent a car for the trip. There are trains from Hospet to Bangalore, Secunderabad (Andhra Pradesh), and Belur-Halebid. There is also a train to Badami.

Getting Around: The best time to visit is October. The weather is cool and a gentle breeze sweeps the countryside. The ruins of Hampi are fairly spread out so it is wise to rent a cycle for getting around locally. However, be prepared to do some bits on foot because in places the dirt track is not negotiable even on cycle. Auto-rickshaws and taxis are also available but not really conducive to a detailed exploration. Take along sturdy footwear if you are planning to do the ruins on foot.