It happened with an accident. I happened to meet a girl from Europe on one bus journey a couple of years back. She was on a tour to India and enthusiastically was talking about the place she witnessed recently, Hampi. Believe me I had never ever thought till that time that people really do visit these places we read in our history books.
I planned, planned again planned but it never worked out until this time.
I had newly started my solo adventures and thought of going to experience this magic from the history this time.
Hampi is 566 kms away from Pune and its an overnight journey by bus.
Taking sleeper coach bus is the easiest and convenient way to reach to Hospet, which is nearest town to Hampi. Bus reaches there early in the morning around 7am.
From Hospet I took an auto (state transport bus is also one economical way for backpackers).
This auto driver who was also a guide and offered me to a whole day sight seeing and guiding in Rs. 500. I agreed. (His name is Tiger, reachable at +91 9483070441.)
He knew Hampi very well and a very good guide.
It took hardly 20 minutes to reach to Hampi. I was mesmerized to see the big rocks on the both side of the road when we entered the Vijayanagar capital.
Pictures will tell you more than my words could :)
I tried to complete important temples and ruins before it was too hot and went to the Mango Tree House restaurant for lunch. I charged my mobile there and took a nice nap :)
I met Jenifer who was also a solo traveler and again surprised to know that a Indian girl could go solo. We talked about traveling. Change in Indian society towards women empowerment. We shared our experiences on solo travelling. And she said, this is the best part of solo travelling that we meet the WORLD while traveling solo :) I liked it.
This place has its own Sepia flavor. Hampi, in the state of Karnataka, India.
The ruins were never this beautiful.
Its hard to believe that these ruins spread out over 26km sqaure are struggling from 14th century.
They are strong and fighter I must say.
So many invasions, so may wars, so may natural calamities and still they are there. Strong and fighting.
Just walk through it and feel the aura of majestic Vijayanagar Empire.
There were so many options for staying in Hampi and around. But I was thinking of experimenting something new. In my last trip to Meghalaya, Eliska had told me about this web community called Couchsurfing, where travelers around the world host each other. Soon after I came back to Pune I joined that community. And searched for members who live in Hampi and ready to host me. Luckily I was hosted by a biker who had completed his Europe road trip on his Bullet a few months back. It was nice staying at his place with family.
Every trip is brand new experience for me.
Every trip is brand new experience for me.
