Hampi
Three days of insane fun, food and frolicking. We began with a bus ride, I saw sunflowers beaming at me through the window. We got off at Hospet and took a bus to Hampi, On the way, several temples studded the horizon. A lotus shaped glorious monument and another one colorful with mythological scenes. The moment you get down in the city, you are blown away by the liveliness. Everywhere you look, you can spot a magnificent ancient stone structure.
We crossed the river to get to Sanapuri. A very hippy place. And in an Omni, we arrived at our destination, Gowda Guesthouse! Porch swings and straw huts on paddy fields, overlooking mountains and a garden to die for. We settled in. Rented Lunas and were on our way exploring Anegundi with the Chintamani temple. Here, a strange man summoned us within the caves. We risked it and followed him inside. We saw the alleged footprints of Lord Ram. The place where he killed King Vali and where he meditated. It was a breezy day and you could see the river from the temple, it was on a hill. There were women washing clothes on the edge of the river, it was an idyllic dusky evening.
The Durga Temple and the Pampa Sarovar did not disappoint. Shabree was fabled to have fed fruit to Lord Ram near this reservoir of water. Next, we climbed 500 steps to the Hanuman Temple and enjoyed a sunset punctuated by monkeys.
The next day began at Rishyamukh Parbat, and a basket-shaped boat took us there. A young one with strong arms rowed the seven of us against the current. I tried, but failed to make the boat budge even an inch! The water made merry music lapping against the boat. We saw cave paintings dated god-alone-knows-when. On the way back, S insisted on riding the bike alone (her first time doing so).
We visited a lake near our hotel. But the night still had some juice. There was a canal near the hotel, and we fished for crustaceans (crabs). A little helper killed a snake with a scythe and saved our lives as we returned from our expedition. The field was full of fireflies and it mesmerized us as we cooked our loot over the open flame. We sang by the fire.
The last day was the actual city of Hampi. Temples galore. A monolithic Shiv ling. Vijayanagara ruins. We took the bus back, but not before we bought a mysterious exotic dish called dilpasand at the bus station (mistake!). The trip came to an end with a bus ride back home, and memories to last all the way back and more.
The Durga Temple and the Pampa Sarovar did not disappoint. Shabree was fabled to have fed fruit to Lord Ram near this reservoir of water. Next, we climbed 500 steps to the Hanuman Temple and enjoyed a sunset punctuated by monkeys.
We visited a lake near our hotel. But the night still had some juice. There was a canal near the hotel, and we fished for crustaceans (crabs). A little helper killed a snake with a scythe and saved our lives as we returned from our expedition. The field was full of fireflies and it mesmerized us as we cooked our loot over the open flame. We sang by the fire.
The last day was the actual city of Hampi. Temples galore. A monolithic Shiv ling. Vijayanagara ruins. We took the bus back, but not before we bought a mysterious exotic dish called dilpasand at the bus station (mistake!). The trip came to an end with a bus ride back home, and memories to last all the way back and more.
