π Hidden gems remaining: 5
Without doubt we can not name a better last destination for our travel as Hampi. Let's face it, we should have stayed even more than two full days here to fully comprehend all its beauty. Not seen anywhere else in India, Hampi boasts Martian landscape, sprinkled with red sandstone boulders with numerous religious temples seeded in between. It is belived to be a holy city with spirits circulating everywhere. Aside from spiritual, we can confirm its extraordinary beauty, family-like local ambient and the most tasteful cousine we have experienced in India. Once visited, it will forever be bound to your heart.
A complex believed to be used as a bathplace for the queen during the Vijayanagara era. It is surrounded by a water moat to prevent unwanted visitors (such as stray dogs). The channels also act as an overflow prevention mechanism.
Romeo, but no Juliet!
Enclosed within Royal walls, this used to be a centre of Vijayanagara kindom once upon a time, but now it is just a bunch of ruins reminding us of a past greatness. The whole kingdom is belived to be the world's second largest at the time, giving home to half a million people. Inside the enclosure the most prominent buildings include the infamous step well, common people bath (comparable with public swimming pool nowadays π), public audience hall and the treasury (not so secure nowadays). Within the walls, numerous gardens are groomed, seeded with many more temples. The wall is furthermore fortified by a watchtower outside.
Step-well. Don't step inside or a policeman will catch you.
Treasury.
He slurped what came out.
Elephant Stables.
While most of the temples are free to visit, a few of them require a ticket due to Unesco protection. Elephant stables and Lotus Mahal are included inside a composite ticket that will enable you to see few other attractions as well.
Two rather small but majestic buildings are protected inside a fortified wall with few watchtowers of different shapes and sizes. The main watchtower had been built in octagonal shape, while the others took a much simpler rectagular floor plan. Despite being called stables, Elephant Stables' true purpose remains a mystery, with speculations of them being used as Secretariat instead. After a close inspection, our humble opinion is they were used to house royal elephants due to complete lack of sunlight in the complex. Who works in the dark anyways?
Being positioned conveniently (although a bit hidden) along the way, this viewpoint offers a spectacular areal aerial view of the surroundings, looking a lot like Machu Picchu! Rumour has it the Inkas planted these boulders as well and later harvested by locals.
But in all seriousness, you can see not only ruins, but also beautiful coconut trees and banana plantations all around. Boulders will give you a Martian feeling.
Adoring the beautiful surroundings or risking our lives?
Steps to the Underground.
More imposing by the name than in person, this temple was built in a huge hole, so that it is below the surface of surrounding soil. Some parts are even submerged. Rumour has it there's a Little Marmaid swimming πΆ Under the Sea πΆ.
We rushed to visit this temple on our first day, because we somehow believed it was part of a combined ticket. Upon seeing its insides and embracing our disappointment, we finally figured we were in the wrong β it was just a normal temple β Google has scammed us again by falsely claiming an entrance fee of 550 rupees. Or was it? We entered without paying a dime so we would not know.
Jokes aside, despite boring architecture, all activities that followed more than made up for it. Firstly we were finally able to see an Indian elehpant up close. Secondly, we were robbed by a monkey. Remember how we had mentioned in the past that sometimes the amount of monkeys in close vicinity could be really scary. Well, Marko had been followed by a (at start) innocently looking π until he felt something grabbing his Coca-Cola bottle. He thought it must have been Ε½an, but it was not. The monkey skillfully removed the bottle from the side pocket, then proceeded to remove the cap and drank it whole. It should have been factory sealed and shaken, and the fun of watching that would be double at least ππΎ.
Temple and another stepped well.
More than just a sunset point, although we visited it mostly for sunrise and sunset on different occasions. The viewpoint is a part of park-like hilltop with numerous small temples. You are able to wander around just like in New York central park. It is very spiritual and you can see monks meditating.
Sunset covered by clouds, as usual for this monsoonal subcontinent.
Monolitical rocks.
Marko strong armko πͺ.
Climb every mountain, ford every stream, follow every rainbow, till you find your dream. It really acts like a slogan for this place β although we really would not recommend crossing this river as it was quite torrential, but most importantly it inhabited crocodiles.
There is a temple standing on top of the hill which can be reached via two paths β one winds through a forest, but the other one is much steeper and a dream for an adventurous fearless climber. But it is safe β as long as there is no rain to make boulders slippery. Upon reaching the top, you will be rewarded with breathtaking views and a bunch of monkeys. All the signs kindly ask you to remove your shoes in the temple, but it is mostly dirt and you would not want to leave your precious shoes to the monkeys, so think twice.
Torrential river through the gorgeous gorge.
This used to be a market, just like many larger complexes in the past. To provide work during daytime for 500 000 people, market was the easiest and most effective choice. Various market pillars connect different temples; it is a great passing point to reach the next stop.
Reliefs were carved with tremendous attention to detail. Funnily enough, both deep and high techniques are combined in the same sculpture.
Marko likes holes. In cheese, what did you think π?!
This complex is probably the most famous part of Hampi. Why? Because the rock chariot appears on the widely used turquoise 50 rupees banknote! However, the temple contains more: one of the rooms is made of hollow musical pillars acting like Orpheus' air tubes. Gather and play your favourite anthem!
It is worth mentioning that this temple is also part of a combined ticket, so it is wise to plan visiting all these attractions on the same day. The complex is not only accessible from one side, but also boasts an option of a golf cart transfer from the other side.
I am afraid the police will chase us for posting the original of the 50 rupee banknote!
Restaurants here are very rooftop. This not only provides a great overview of the village, but also gives a friendly, home-like atmosphere. We ate food so good we couldn't even, and it was very wallet-friendly. It was only on our last day that we tried the famous Tikka Masala. Had we known earlier how tasty it was, it would have appeared on our menu as often as Mutton Rogan Josh (that is, 3 times π).
