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Hampi

21st Jun 2017

By Dheeraj Balla

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Photo of Hampi 1/32 by Dheeraj Balla — Just as we parked the car in the Hampi Parking Lot and got ourselves freshened up, this sight welcomed us to the much awaited trip to Hampi.

Starting our trip late in the previous evening from Hyderabad it took us over 10 hours to reach the destination.

Photo of Hampi 2/32 by Dheeraj Balla — before entering into Kadalekalu Ganesha Temple

Photo of Hampi 3/32 by Dheeraj Balla — Entry way

Photo of Hampi 5/32 by Dheeraj Balla — The Statue of Ganesha is pretty big and is carved out of a single stone. Amazing!

Photo of Hampi 6/32 by Dheeraj Balla — This here is the Krishna Bazaar opposite to Sri Krishna Temple

Photo of Hampi 7/32 by Dheeraj Balla — Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy Shrine

Photo of Hampi 8/32 by Dheeraj Balla — Adjacent to Laksmi Narasimha Swamy Temple is this monolithic Shiva Ling and is called Badavilinga Temple

Photo of Hampi 9/32 by Dheeraj Balla — Called the Lotus Mahal, The Queens residence, which had an air-conditioning system that used water to flow into the roof and walls using some suction technology back in those times. I still wonder how!

Photo of Hampi 10/32 by Dheeraj Balla — Not that far away from the Lotus Mahal is the stable for Elephants

Photo of Hampi 11/32 by Dheeraj Balla — Elephant Stables

Photo of Hampi 12/32 by Dheeraj Balla — This bunch is one funny lot to travel with

The architects were indeed genius, without any computers or advanced machinery, to have used technology where ever applicable with such nonchalance that even today we are made to keep wondering about it. In fact, in India, there are many other such establishments even before this period.

Photo of Hampi 13/32 by Dheeraj Balla — This is one such establishment of water flow system in to the wells and baths

Photo of Hampi 14/32 by Dheeraj Balla — Public Bath in perfect geometry

Photo of Hampi 15/32 by Dheeraj Balla — These carvings are on the base of a palace and this is called as the Mahanavami Dibba

Photo of Hampi 16/32 by Dheeraj Balla — This is Mahanavami Dibba. The palace, as it is known was destroyed by the Delhi Sultanate, but if it was still standing, the scale of beauty, architecture and appearance is only left to our imagination people.

Photo of Hampi 17/32 by Dheeraj Balla — Even the Doors were carved out of single stones. No compromise.

Photo of Hampi 18/32 by Dheeraj Balla — A local school probably organised a tour. Obedient little ones there in the lawn outside the Queens Bath.

Photo of Hampi 19/32 by Dheeraj Balla — Inside the Queens Bath

Photo of Hampi 20/32 by Dheeraj Balla — TalariGatta Gate

Photo of Hampi 21/32 by Dheeraj Balla — Need to hire an electric van to go to Vijaya Vitthala Temple where the well known Stone Chariot resides

Photo of Hampi 22/32 by Dheeraj Balla — en route to Vijaya Vitthala Temple and as you can see here is the market street heading towards the temple entrance gate, seen distantly.

Photo of Hampi 23/32 by Dheeraj Balla — Stalls for the market where all the trading was done. Trading horses was one of them.

Photo of Hampi 24/32 by Dheeraj Balla — This is the entrance gate of Vijaya Vitthala Temple where my friend, Prem, is standing exactly at its base, and admiring its beauty.

Photo of Hampi 25/32 by Dheeraj Balla — Voila! The Stone Chariot! One cannot pass by without admiring its grandeur.

Photo of Hampi 26/32 by Dheeraj Balla — I was dumb enough to try and move it. HAHA!

Photo of Hampi 27/32 by Dheeraj Balla — This structure was on the left of the temple. Probably used during occasions and festivals

Photo of Hampi 28/32 by Dheeraj Balla — Vijaya Vitthala Temple

Photo of Hampi 29/32 by Dheeraj Balla — Landscape of the temple premises

Photo of Hampi 30/32 by Dheeraj Balla — You could get, if interested, some souvenirs or collectables

There are a lot more places around the area to visit that are significant like the Virupaksha Temple and few other places that are spread out where people can visit if they have enough time to explore. But otherwise, 2 days is what is required, in my opinion, to cover most of the major points of interest.