Region: Karnataka, India
Time to Visit: All year round
Hampi is a place like none you have ever visited! It’s a 4th century city which is lost in time. It is also popularly known as the medieval capital of the Hindu Empire Vijayanagara (city of Victory). Adding to the feathers in its cap, it’s also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The landscape consists of intricately designed and meticulously carved temples cut out of boulders. It fills you with a similar wonder (as when you gaze at the temples of Mt. Abu or the Pyramids) as to how such a feat could have been possible eons ago. It’s surrounded by small hillocks all around and when you look carefully, you will be able to spot so many more temples that you thought were the boulders and these temples number are more than 500 in number. It’s exciting and a little dangerous to trek up to these tiny temples but what fun is life without a little bit of thrill and excitement?
Although restoration work has been going on for over a decade now, these weathered structures have seen so many centuries that it’ll take a lot more work before its true glory can be restored. Although quite close to Goa (approx 8 hours by bus) it’s a very long trip from Mumbai without any direct routes and thus only the brave manage to venture to Hampi. The easiest way to reach is to take a flight to Hubli and then a 3 hours bus/taxi ride to Hospet or the next option is to take a train from Kalyan to Hospet (approx 15 hours).
Not one of the easiest places to reach, but “a must be visited” place. The south Indian thalis, the imposing yet musical temples, the rock sculpting along the roads, the massive Shivling and the blessing’s from an elephant are some of the things that have to be experienced!
Contributed by my good friend - Kautilya Cyclewala
Pics - tripadvisor.com, Karnataka Tourism, flashnews.com
