Travelling gives a person a high that no other thing can match. Getting away from the mundane existence of the city life and venturing into the history, architecture and bliss offered by the medieval capital of the Vijayanagara empire, Hampi. This was the plan for the last weekend of September 2011. Friends, rickety bus rides, good food, mad cycling, meticulously built monuments, jaw dropping panoramic views, breathtaking sunrise from hill top and lazing around in the sleepy by-lanes of Hampi pretty much summarize this one hell of a ride.
As you step down in Hampi, you are surrounded by tourist guides, auto drivers and guest house owners (pretty much half the population of the place!). They tirelessly explain to you how their guest house has the perfect mix of comfort and affordability. This monologue from everyone around is in near perfect English and goes on till you by heart their lines " We have guest houses with 24 hours water supply and attached bathrooms..".
No, they are certainly not trying to fool you by getting you into a bad deal. It is the sheer volume of information which you get the unnerves you. Luckily, we got a good place soon enough to move away from his commotion.
After a quick shower and a heavy breakfast, we were all set for the adventure ahead. Cycles are the best way to travel in Hampi and are available for rent at Rs 40/Rs 50.
Riding a cycle was a pain for me at first as I had not ridden one for a long time. The up hill and rocky terrain are hardly meant for novices but with time I got a hang of it.
Precariously placed rocks form the horizon of Hampi. One wonders how the rocks got there and more importantly how they stayed there defying all logic and a little something called gravity!
Hemakuta Hill, Kadlekalu Ganesha, Krishna Temple, Vittala Temple and many more covered quickly. The cycles gave us a lot of independence in travelling and directions were not a problem as the locals were more than happy to guide us.
The restaurants at Hampi were a delightful experience. Each offered a cozy, simple, colorful, near-to-nature, relaxed environment along with splendid food at affordable prices.
The next day plan was to wake up early and climb the Mathanga Hill to watch the sun rise from the horizon. We reached the top just in time to watch the first rays of the sun brighten the Hampi skyline. The panoramic view from the top was breathtaking to say the least.
Another sumptuous breakfast followed. The rest of the day was spent in covering the remaining monuments in Hampi. Before we could notice it was almost time to catch the bus to head back to our humdrum lives. Though short, the trip was a great getaway for all of us.
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