A long weekend. A rickety sleeper bus ride. Two friends, two strangers and one husband. Ingredients for my Hampi trip had been perfectly laid.
Walking up the 575 steps to Matang Hill top
I would lie if I said I loved everything about Hampi. In fact to be honest, the first day itself proved to be a daunting task to complete. What with scorching heat, touristy crowd and an ill-chosen short dress completely drawing attention of the public around, I agree that I may have disappointed myself and mentally scrapped the trip’s next few days in head and heart.
But it wasn’t meant to be. New dhotis were bought off the local market (as only shorts and dresses had been packed from home!) and a loose over sized T-shirt from husband stolen borrowed. Of course all this with a dash of hope and renewed sense of humour.
Untouched by modern advancements, Hampi is definitely a travelers delight. Be it its ghetto style colonies filled with people seeking the hippie backpackers’ life or its quaint neighbourhood of Aengudi attracting thousands to the lush green sides.
Finding meaning in ruins called life
It was said that long long ago after the invasion of the Deccan Muslim Confederacy, the city of Hampi lay in ruins. Only after many years when Robert Sewell wrote his famous book A Forgotten Emplire Vijayanagar that many facts about the civilization came to light.
And reading though passages of history, a guide named Santosh re-created the magic of Hampi for us.
The Stone Chariot, Hampi
Sometimes love isn’t fireworks, sometimes love just comes softly- Janette Oke
And woven through those stories of past, among passages of Ramayana and tales of Bali-Sugreev, we found love. Love that Hampi created permeating through layers of crowds and watchful eyes on my bare legs, an-all baring sun and rising temperatures.
It may not be an ideal life, but definitely one that a few shall remember
If it takes longer to fall in love, than it is meant to be for the long run. Nice post Richa
Thanks Avinash 🙂
Wonderful 🙂 “It may not be an ideal life, but definitely one that a few shall remember” that is exactly whats some people needed in this life…
I know I did 🙂
Love that is not at first sight, lasts longer…
truly it does..
Good experience to remember..nah..?
Yup it was 🙂
Sometimes a place borrows its beauty from those that live there and some times its the other way around, but one thing is assured, good company makes all places delightful. Had a great time with you and Vikas!
We too had a lovely time 😀 We should do this often!
Beautiful post…! I can totally relate to your story as I, myself, recently rode to Hampi from Hyderabad and was mind blown by the simplicity and long history of the place. I shared a post on it you can read:
https://wanderingjatin.wordpress.com/2014/06/06/10-reasons-why-you-have-to-visit-and-revisit-hampi/
Safe travels
Jatin
A road trip must have been more fun!
Ohh, you bet! 🙂
Looks like a beautiful place! And I love Jeanette Oke – great quote!
Wonderful Story 🙂
I feel that, as you write so beautifully about Hampi, a post about Ireland would rock!
Incidentally, I noticed a lovely comment elsewhere in relation to feedback being “not only needed, but necessary”. I’m going to borrow the phrase, and hope you’ll accept that as a compliment, Richa
wonderful!
well Written !
Never heard of the place before. Bad me! But love to visit some day. Thanks for sharing the post, Richa 🙂
From your pics in FB and this post, the place had made me wanna visit that. And loved the place’s name too…
Yes, that kind of love gradually seeps inside you and fills you with all the warmth and happiness! Wonderful post, Richa!
Oh wow! Such beautiful pictures. A travelers delight indeed 🙂 Makes me want to take a trip there something, exploring and enjoying 😉
Beautiful pictures of such a fascinating place. Your narrative really brought it to life! ♥
That looks like a weekend well spent…I’m looking forward to some time off, don’t know why but then maybe Hampi who knows! Waiting to read more