Hampi "Rocks"

With most of my trips in the past, I would be dead tired during the return journey. The last trip to Hampi has been an exemption - Felt rejuvenated after the trip. Yes, it's yet another enjoyable trip with lots of fun with friends, but the interaction with nature & historic ruins is different! The weather was just perfect - It started drizzling the moment we boarded the train and the nature continued its cool shower throughout the trip. The experience of lying on the rocks by the river side with mild drizzles, pleasant breeze, sun playing hide & seek with moving gray clouds and absolute silence except the occasional chirping of birds and the rhythmic flow of water in the near by river is something beyond comparison!

I can't do justice to the greatness of Hampi through this post, but still my 2 Paise. :) I was simply amazed by the countless number of temples built of gigantic stones with beautiful carvings & etchings. Most of the temples were missing the vigraha (the statue of the main god in the temple) & many other statues were beheaded - Yes, seems like the temples of Hampi, the capital of once prosperous Vijayanagar Kingdom were destroyed after the kingdom was captured by Muslim Sultans. These days, people don't give due spiritual significance to most of these ruined temples, since the main vigrahas are absent - Good in a sense that these are not crowded, the beauty is not destroyed in the name of rituals! We saw some temples being excavated and recreated. In fact it's not just temples, but the entire city from queens' bath to the elephant's stable to the bazaar to the tank to the palace seemed to have been built in stones with highly artistic sense.

Seems like Hampi is not yet exploited in the name of tourism - The ruined town still looks desolated without much crowd - but that's what makes it more exciting! You can be at peace with the nature and ruins - We didn't bother to visit all the places of historic significance, but wherever we went, we enjoyed spending hours in peace! Few places we enjoyed the max and you should never miss if you visit Hampi:

• Virupaksha Temple - The main temple near the bus stop & the Hampi Bazaar - [One of the very few monuments still regarded as temple by people. Tit bit: Don't be deceived by what's called the "inverted image" of gopura - it's just a painting in a dark enclave!]
  
• Hemakuta Hill - Series of structures built on a hill - Simply awesome to have a walk over the hill. You start from the sides of Virupaksha temple and end it near the monolithic Gorgeous & Gigantic Ganesha statue!
• Vittala Temple - Need to travel 12 KM from Hampi centre. It turned out to be my favorite monument in Hampi - esp. the stone chariot and the astonishing stone pillars used to make musical tones.
  
• Palace & the Mint - Don't expect a leela palace here, there are just remains of the place. Also, I believe they are just rebuilt from the excavations. It takes 10 mins to just travel the entire area by bicycle.
• Dibba - Center of attraction of the royal enclosure, a tall pyramidal structure (Top portion seems to be missing & one climb to the top!) - Gives an amazing view of the surrounding enclosure
• Tungabatra River - One can reach the river either from Rama temple or Purandaradas Mundapa (near Vittala Temple) - The river was just pleasant when we visited, neither gushing nor dry. Coracle ride and river side walk are never to be missed!
  
• Mango Tree Restaurant - The only restaurant that we liked in Hampi. It gives a panoramic view of the river and you get to eat under a mango tree with nature's intimacy!
  

Hampi may not sound exotic for people who don't have a flair for history or monuments. But it's not case - Apart from the river side walk, coracle ride & bouldering opportunities, one can't escape falling in love with Hampi's rocks & ruined creations from stones! Yes, Hampi rocks!!

One should definitely experience Hampi at least once in life!