Hampi

And finally we arrive at Kamplapuram which is close to the the ruins of Hampi - the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Once the capital city of the mighty Vijaynagar empire it was founded by Harihara and Bukka in 1336. However, it reached its glory under the reign of Krishnadevarayya II. According to Abdur Razzak the Persian envoy who visited his court, his empire stretched from Ceylon in the south to gulbarga in the Deccan and from Odissa in the east to the Malabar Coast in the West.

On a hot afternoon on day 1, after being filled with the sublime beauty of the temple artistry at Pattadakal and Aihole, we begin exploring the ruins of what was once the glorious city that was Hampi. All are not ruins however, and there are some fairly well maintained structures especially the temples. In addition you get to see the royal enclosures as well as dwellings for the guards and elephants. Excavations are on by the ASI, and time may reveal many more secrets about this very interesting period in Indian history

 Entering from the Eastern side, you come across this huge daunting statue of Lakshmi-Narsimha statue

ShivLing

Hemkunta Hill

Below are some interesting views of carvings on the Krishna temple

Krishna Temple exterior

Ganesha statue

View of Hampi from the Hemkunta hill

Ruins at Hemkunta Hill

Entry to the Virupaksha temple believed to be even older than the temple was renovated by Krishnadevarayya II

Virupaksha Temple photo taken from the Hemkunta hill- this temple still has religious offerings being made

Wari devotees throng the temple after walking for 10 days from their village

Day 2 entrance is from the Southern side, - this is the Bhima gate

the remains of market place

A electric golf cart run by ladies takes us to one of the most fines examples of temple architecture, the vithala temple. below is the entry to the temple

Entry  to the famous Vithala Temple

the famous Chariot which is the icon of Hampi.

View of the Queen's bath - this square structure u surrounded by arched corridors and protruding filigreed balconies

Below are scenes from the King's audience area including a stepped water tank

a secret underground passage

Views of the Hazara Rama temple depicts scenes from the Ramayana. hazara mean thousand

exterior of the Hazara Rama Temple

On the way to the Lotus temple is an interesting turret probably used as a watchtower

View of the Lotus Mahal - a residence for Royal Ladies

Exterior of the Lotus Mahal

Elephant Stables

And after that feast of devouring the heritage structures, its time to go to a natural paradise. Daroji bear Sanctuary 12 kms from Hampi is worth a visit to see the sloth bear albeit at a great distance. so off we go and wait patently from 3 pm to 5.30 pm. doreen assures us  she has seen a bear for all the 5 visits she has made earlier so luck is on our side. Sure enough around 5.30 pm, a bear appears in a distance and another in another direction to enjoy the food laid for them by the forest Department. so mission accomplished!!!

In the distance a bear comes to eat the food put out by the Forest department

Forest Calotes at Daroji

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