Hampi: Part 2

The ruins of Vijayanagara dynasty-Hampi has been described by innumerable people in many a poetic ways...
but this is what I feel being amidst the ruins.

* I imagine many hands carving the hard granite rocks to create these exquiste masterpieces.
* The seven notes of music arising from the magical, musical pillars.
* The grandeur that would have been the name of kingdom of Vijayanagara.
* I marvel at the rocks that have stood the test of time.
* I feel a sense of calm when I see the sun rise over the Mathanga Hill.
* The Tungabadhra flowing peacefully through the ruins.
* I try to read the faces of many sadhus and holy men who throng the temples of Hampi.
* I am lost in a world where rocks speak to me about the bygone era and ask us preserve them for the future generations... A picture perfect Lotus Mahal- An Islamic influence in an otherwise Vijayanagara Style architecture.
Details on the Lotus Mahal...Beautiful Vijayanagara Architecture in the Vittala Temple...
Close-up of the wheel of the Stone Chariot in the Vittala temple premises...
Honestly now I truly understand how she feels looking at these structures & rocks...

Magical Mango Tree....

* I have been to Hampi twice and my husband 6 times.

* As we were riding through Hampi bazaar on our gear-less scooters, we bumped into my husband's 'first tourist guide' who took him around Hampi in 1995.

* It was late evening and we were hungry, after exchanging pleasantries the 'first question' to the 'first tourist guide' was, 'Which is the best place to eat?'

* He simply said 'Mango Tree' and asked us to follow the Tungabadhra river.

* So here we were on 3 scooters riding along the river into dusk.

* We reached a quaint little gate with a small board that read Mango Tree with no mango tree in sight.

* Clueless we followed a path through a banana plantation and jumping up when we heard a rustling sound nearby.

* Reached a place that looked like a village home.

* We were asked to remove our footwear near a shelf which was filled with freshly fallen white flowers from the tree above.

* As we moved in I caught a glimpse of the river flowing peacfully ahead and my heart started beating in anticipation.

* I saw the huge mango tree form a canopy above us and somebody swing right ahead of us in a long rope swing.

* Then the magic happened when we walked down the steps....the river was the giant 70 mm screen and rocks forming the backrest of the seats.

* Low benches with glowing hurricane lamps were placed right in front of us as we stretched our legs and gave in to the beauty of the place and the service of the friendly waiters....

Want some killer pizzas?

Head straight to Hampi...
No kidding.
This place caters to the gastronomic needs of people from all over the world.

I am sure a little spelling mistake won't deter you from trying out some fantastic food or the hair cutting salon for that matter...;-)

Hampi: Part 1

My head is filled with images of Hampi & my heart hasn't returned from there yet...

Till I assimilate all that we experienced in Hampi during our fantastic holiday with family, here are some colours, patterns, graphics, shapes & textures from the trip.

Pink & Red Kumkum hills...
Lemon & Goli Soda...
Multi-coloured tourist-y T-shirts...
Interesting slippers...Colourful mirror & embroidery embellishments by LambanisRent a gear-less scooter...

Enjoy! Will be back soon...