Hampi, where history sleeps
Remnants of an illustrious past.
My sojourns in Hampi began on the early morning of the 4th of December. I took the liberty of sleeping in since the journey by bus the previous night had been tiring. By catching the 11.30 bus from Hospet to Hampi, I was inducted into the beautiful pathways that led to the ruins of the ancient Vijayanagara empire. I was awestruck to see a Banjara woman decked in silver jewellery and colourful garments(unfortunately, I was unable to take a good picture, but I have provided a similar image below - apart from that one image, all the others were photographed by myself).
The difference can be spotted in the very streets. All the pretensions of city life are nowhere to be seen.
One could say that Hampi is an ideal destination for history geeks, artists, and photographers. You could spend days and entire months here, sketching the innumerable relics or clicking rich frames on your camera.
I am not well-informed regarding the history of the place or the art of sculpting, therefore I refrain from talking about the same. But I hope my brief description aided by the following images shall help you choose whether or not to visit.
You can't help but feel the history when you are in Hampi. You feel the ease of solitude and the slow pace of life. The simple-minded villagers are a delight to watch.
Here is a place where nature and humans coexist. Life springs up in the most unlikeliest of places - plants growing in the crevices between rocks, cows ambling about among egrets and dragonflies, giant trees standing majestically atop rocks, and small rivulets running between the boulders chiselled more than six centuries ago by human hands.
I was blessed with the sight of beautiful skies and ancient trees. To the observant will also be presented parakeets, hoopoes, bee-eaters, squirrels and bats.
There is the usual pestilence of inefficient waste management and stray dogs.
Bullock carts and tractors carrying harvest are a feast to the eyes.
Here are some tips to keep in mind, from my experience:
As for the rest, I will let the pictures do the talking:
Day 1
My sojourns in Hampi began on the early morning of the 4th of December. I took the liberty of sleeping in since the journey by bus the previous night had been tiring. By catching the 11.30 bus from Hospet to Hampi, I was inducted into the beautiful pathways that led to the ruins of the ancient Vijayanagara empire. I was awestruck to see a Banjara woman decked in silver jewellery and colourful garments(unfortunately, I was unable to take a good picture, but I have provided a similar image below - apart from that one image, all the others were photographed by myself).
The difference can be spotted in the very streets. All the pretensions of city life are nowhere to be seen.
One could say that Hampi is an ideal destination for history geeks, artists, and photographers. You could spend days and entire months here, sketching the innumerable relics or clicking rich frames on your camera.
I am not well-informed regarding the history of the place or the art of sculpting, therefore I refrain from talking about the same. But I hope my brief description aided by the following images shall help you choose whether or not to visit.
You can't help but feel the history when you are in Hampi. You feel the ease of solitude and the slow pace of life. The simple-minded villagers are a delight to watch.
Here is a place where nature and humans coexist. Life springs up in the most unlikeliest of places - plants growing in the crevices between rocks, cows ambling about among egrets and dragonflies, giant trees standing majestically atop rocks, and small rivulets running between the boulders chiselled more than six centuries ago by human hands.
I was blessed with the sight of beautiful skies and ancient trees. To the observant will also be presented parakeets, hoopoes, bee-eaters, squirrels and bats.
There is the usual pestilence of inefficient waste management and stray dogs.
Bullock carts and tractors carrying harvest are a feast to the eyes.
Here are some tips to keep in mind, from my experience:
- There is a lot to explore, and I do mean a lot. So there will be much walking involved, unless of course, you hire a private vehicle. But what is the fun in that?
- Carry as much water as you can. And some lunch, if you plan to take the hard but rewarding route of walking. Tender coconut water is available at certain places.
- Start out early. Thereby you can cover maximum spots in a single day. Ideally, seeing all or most of Hampi might take 5 to 7 days.
For those who dare to climb up to the less-explored, isolated peaks, I promise you that the view from the top will be breathtaking.
On the first day, I covered the Virupaksha Temple, the Underground Shiva Temple, and the Elephant Stable, and then beat a hasty retreat to the Sunset Point by twilight.
Virupaksha temple is a haven for the so-called hanuman monkeys.
As for the rest, I will let the pictures do the talking:
Day 1
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| Google Images |
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| Virupaksha Temple |
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| Underground Shiva Temple |
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| Lotus Mahal |
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| Elephant Stable |
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| Sunset Point (Virupaksha Temple premises) |
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