"I climbed to the top of the mountain and looked all around the valley. This had to be one of the most beautiful places in the world! Palm trees were swaying in the breeze in the distance as thousands of boulders seemed to balance on top of each other defying gravity. Why hadn’t I visited this place until now, I wondered? The sun was shining on the stones all around making them sparkle. I couldn’t help but remember a line from a guide book that said “If dreams were made of stone, it would be Hampi!"
I had drawn much criticism when I decided to spend a fortnight researching holiday destinations in Karnataka. 15 days in Karnataka!! Are you crazy? In Hampi now, almost at the end of my tour I was thankful for sticking to my decision. It had been a wonderful journey discovering the sights and sounds of India and Karnataka. Hampi itself is one of the most magical, mystical, spiritual and yet adventurous places on earth. A must-do on most of the foreign tourists travel map to India, it is relatively unknown amongst most Indians. |
At a recent meeting with the Swiss consular general, we happened to discuss the offbeat tourist spots in India , when I realised that in a group of 25 Indian travel agents present there I was the only person other than the consular general to have visited Hampi. A few of us remarked that we tend to ignore our own country at the expense of others. Maybe there is some truth in that.
The 2 nights I spent in Hampi were truly unforgettable as we walked from one monument to the other admiring the distinctive geography of the land. We couldn’t help but turn into complete shutterbugs as we clicked one temple after another, amidst the boulders all around. The boulders themselves were nature’s work of art and a good long walk along the river was the best way to appreciate the beauty of the land. A simple restaurant called the Mango Tree offered some respite from the heat as we sat down Indian style under the Mango tree for our lunch. |
 We were seated next to some seasoned Foreign tourists in India and were amused to watch them devour their Mango lassis and thalis with their hands. In front of us the Tungabhadra river was flowing gently and I couldn’t help but reach for my blackberry to update my facebook status. Whats the fun in traveling to the most beautiful places if we cant share it with friends on the spot?
Even with its UNESCO World Heritage Tag , Hampi can mean different things to different people. For many of my friends it simply means a city in ruins complete with a historical background and mythological stories. But recently I was speaking to a German friend and her eyes lit up at the mention of Hampi which for her was a hippie land which offered the best trekking routes amidst beautiful stone carved temples. Whichever way you look at it, Hampi is charismatic and definitely leaves a lasting impression. |
