If you are wondering where to go for your first solo trip , look no longer !!! You can wander off to Hampi. That's where I started off too.
So my trip started from Goa ( Margao ). And I took the cheapest and in a way convenient way to travel - Train. I boarded the VSG Howrah Express which is almost a 7 hour trip to Hosapete - that's where I decided to stay. The journey itself was so scenic. I did pass by Dudhsagar and Hubli aka Hubballi stations. Post that the train journey is full of dry land.
On arriving at Hosapete station, I was happy to see rickshaws, as for me it is a very comfortable mode of transport ( P.S: You need to bargain , I hope that you can ).
I took a rick from Hospet railway station to my hotel Pratap residency . I found this hotel convenient as it is at the center , with the bus depot and market at a walking distance. I decided to explore Hospet today, just to go around places to eat , visit the market , depot and the church.
DAY 2
After having some good rest, I was all ready to explore the land of ruins. I hired a local autodriver to take me to Hampi and get me back in just INR 700 . It takes around 30 minutes to reach Hampi.
Later, I headed to Hemakuta Hill Temple, I spend almost 2 hours here as the area to explore around this hill is hugh.
Followed by, Elephant's Stables...
As the name suggest, it was a elephant stable during the golden days.
But my most awaited experience was the CORACLE RIDE. I was certain that I was fine not visiting places but I wanted to experience this ride. I did go to one place and they said that it was banned and I was heart-broken and asked around and found a place on the lonely side of the banks of the Tungabhadra river. I was lucky as I was the only one on the coracle and he spinned the coracle around in the middle of the river ???? ( for all the blogs that I have read you really need to ask them to spin you hence I believe that I was lucky )
There were alot of other places that I visited like Zanana Enclosure,Underground Shiva Temple (Prasanna Virupaksha Temple) ,Badavilinga Temple, Royal enclosure and so on.
Later in the evening I took a bus journey of 14 hours from Hospete to Mumbai.
SOME TIPS:
* I visited Hampi in February and it was hot , I was literally roasted. I would strongly suggest you to keep your self covered and hydrated at all time.
* Travel light and safe.
*Since this is a tourist hot spot, try not to get cheated . They do overcharge for everything.
COST
It was a very cost efficient trip where I spend INR 3000 for my travel (train-auto-bus) and stay( It just cost me INR 800 / night). And the balance INR 2000 in food+alcohol and some souvenir.
I managed my trip in less than INR 5000, I do feel that you can reduce your cost more if you stay in a hostel and don't spend much on food/drinks like me.
Yes, there are still alot more places in Hampi that I gotta to visit and that will give me a reason to come back.
I hope this post has been helpful. Feel free to like , comment and follow me.
' fill='%23359391'%3e %3cpath d='M46.1538462%2c43.5714286 L41.5%2c50 L36.8461538%2c43.5714286 L36.8670256%2c43.5714286 C36.3173077%2c42.7142857 36%2c41.6851429 36%2c40.5714286 C36%2c37.4854286 38.4535641%2c35 41.5%2c35 C44.5464359%2c35 47%2c37.4854286 47%2c40.5714286 C47%2c41.6851429 46.6826923%2c42.7142857 46.1329744%2c43.5714286 L46.1538462%2c43.5714286 Z M41.4294872%2c39 C40.6150641%2c39 39.9487179%2c39.675 39.9487179%2c40.5 C39.9487179%2c41.325 40.6150641%2c42 41.4294872%2c42 C42.2439103%2c42 42.9102564%2c41.325 42.9102564%2c40.5 C42.9102564%2c39.675 42.2439103%2c39 41.4294872%2c39 L41.4294872%2c39 Z' id='Location-white'%3e%3c/path%3e %3c/g%3e %3c/svg%3e)
