Hampi

Thursday 17/01/2012 - HAMPI.

World Heritage site. 
Founded by Hindus as a capital in 1336.  It grew to a metropolis with half a milion of inhabitants two hundred years later. 
In 1565 however Muslim forces rased it to the ground.  It never recovered since.

My bus, with many other "routards".

Immediately a fleet of tutuks arrive

Vittala temple, the highlight of the Hampi ruins.  It was never finished or consecrated.

Vittala temple.

 

Vittala temple.  The stone chariot, the showcase piece of the temple.

Seems the weels were once capable of turning.

Vittala temple.

 

Vittala temple.

 

Vittala temple, and the stone chariot.

Tungabhadra river.

Ferry boats, available for a river crossing.

'Kwality' icecream

Parrots.

 The queen"s bath.

 

 The queen's bath.

Drive thru bar.

The public bath.

Lotus Mahal, the queen's recreational mansion.

Girls, pictured on their request.

Zenana enclosure, the walled ladies' quarters

Elephant stables.

 The underground Shiva temple.

Underground Shiva temple.

Matanga hill.

Monolithic bull statue (Nandi).

Virupaksha Hindu Temple (still in use), one of the city's oldest structures.

The main gopuram (pyramidal tower) is almost 50m high.

Lakshmi the temple elephant.
She gets a morning bath every day by the river ghats.

Also these school girl asked me to be for a picture.

 

Return from Hampi to Goa by day train.

 

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