Exploring Hampi Part - 2

Day Two 15/08/2014

Wake Up  at early morning and ready to Fly tri colour flag in my 'Blackbird, because whole nation celebrating  68th Independence day, At sharp 0530hrs left Chellakere, There are two routes going to Hospet, first one is Via Kudligi, and second one is via Bellary which is around 30 km longer than first one. As per plan have to take Kudligi route, for second opinion just asked the locals about the road condition they suggested it's better to take Bellary. 

Groundnut fields

Happy Independance day

Plain straight road

After passing few kilometers on main road got a small junction showing Kudligi sign board we again asked auto drivers about the road condition they told it's quite good you can go via Kudligi. 

Scenery on Bellary Highway

Large boulders on road side

So decided to take the Kudligi route, and just approached 100 meters on that road suddenly tar road disappeared and small crushed stone spread all over the road, God it's again OFF ROADING ?. Sorry am not in the mood to off roading on early morning yesterdays off road joy  was enough for the whole trip, So turned back and hit the Bellary Highway. 

Took breakfast on small Daba at Bhyrapur

Stopped for breakfast at Bharapur, Dhaba was  just opened, they service Hot Idlies along with Tasty sambar and chutney. 

racked bridge

Scenery on the way

Mode of Travelling

Here most of the people used to travel by Tractors, Auto Rickshaw and bullock carts. You can check above the above image how they are crowded. People are used to travel on top of the auto.

Maximum utilisation 

Landscape is entirely different from Malenadu and Coastal line. Hence it comes in the belt of  Bayalu Seeme, the dry plain land of remembers me the Northern India.

Couples 

Near Obulapuram

Acacia trees are more common on dry land

A man dressed like Hanuman was found near level crossing at Obulapuram

Due to election Direction boards are partially covered

Industries

Independence day celebration in a School

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As soon as reached near Bellary town a Hospet direction board welcomed us and took diversion on it,  small  internal roads are little bit confusing, so stopped the 'Bull to ask direction, while enquiring the route with a high school boy he directed us the right way and very keen to know about my 'Bird  weather it 350 or 500?

Large Industries and heavy vehicle on Bellary Hospet Road

Water canal at Bellary it used to everything...

Bellary Hospet Road was not good as Challakere Bellary Road and traffic also comparatively high, especially heavy trucks were running on this route, Bellary is industrial and mining oriented town thats why heavy truck playing around on this route. Due to heavy wind blowing from front side it's very difficult to keep constant speed, frequent gear changes required.

Railway junction

Another Independance day celebration 

Sheeps and Horses

There is no much change in landscape on this route, same dry land and ground nut and jowr crops on both side, on the way found two ladies taking some horses on the road, I still wonder what purpose these horse are used.

Shepherd dog

Around 1130 hrs reached Hospet Town, first preference was to look for a decent lodge and dump our luggage, on the main circles asked some locals regarding the decent lodge  and able to find out the Shine Lodge, a good one on main road, parking facility also available, So we decided to stay over there.

Way to Hampi

Rich Agricultural fields on the bank of Tunga River at Hampi

Around 11:30 Hrs freshened up and headed towards Hampi which located just 11km from Hospet, there is no confusion about the road because clear sign board are in every corner. On the way stopped for lunch near Hampi, It was one of the worst lunch in hole trip.. they put a sign board of Udupi Hotel and inside of the Hotel two Tulu speaking couples were busy in preparing food we ordered for lunch along with Gobi Manchurian, the lunch they served was neither Udupi nor Bayalu seeme style, taste was really horrible. 

Welcome to Hampi.. UNESCO World Heritage Centre

Hence it was Independence day there was heavy rush in Hampi, most of them are local people who would like to their holiday. I had noted one thing from the morning to evening in every corner our tri colour flag was flying and every vehicle whether it was private or public transport almost all are carrying flags, it's very rare to see in Kerala.

Virupaksha Temple

Inside the Virupaksha Temple

Nandi Inside the Virupaksha temple

Gopuram

Before my Hampi plan, I had searched so many website to know more about Hampi, but frankly none of the website does not give complete picture of the Hampi, so I was fully confused, I dont had clear picture about Hampi, my main confusion is from where to start to explore the Hampi ?

Dwajasthambam

At last I had decided to start from the end point i.e Virupaksha temple, parked my ''Bird at big parking lot available near the temple and start explore on foot. 

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After taking entry tickets and camera ticket stepped inside the great Virupaksha temple which is built in the time of Vijayanagara emperors. It was considered most sacred sanctuary over the centries. It is fully intact among the surrounding ruins but still in used worship. This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. 

Inside the temple  a small sign board written on the wall attracted us "Way to Inverted Image of Gopuram", Due to heavy rush it's hard to manage to take photographs inside, you can check the below image Inverted image of Main Gopuram appears inside the Inner wall of the temple due to pinhole camera effect. It's really great.

Inverted Image of main Gopuram

Large Drum

After visiting temple walked around it surroundings, next was Hemakuta group of temples, Kadalekaalu Ganesh & Sasivekaalu Ganesh temples which is built in the slope of Hemakuta hill slope between excellent landscape.

Sign boards are displayed in every corner

Climbing hill from Virupaksha temple

Small Mandapam built on slope

Check the Virupaksha temple on back drop

Virupaksha temple from top of the hill

Madapam built on top of the boulders

Who arranged this ?

Check the water flowing in front of this temple

View from the Hill top

Ganesha Idol

After visiting Ganesh temple and Hemakuta temple groupe returned to parking area to take my 'Bird it's around 1530hrs, highly blowing wind dilutes the scorching sun effects, so no sweating, on the way just clicked the Hampi Bazaar photo.

Hampi Bazar View

Parking lot near the Virupaksha temple

Next visited Badavilinga temple, Lakshmi Narashimha temple and Royal Enclosure. Lakshmi Narasimha Idol is one of the largest Idol of Hampi and it's also called as Ugra Narasimha. Narasimha is sitting on top of the  giant snake called Shesha and god sits in cross legged position and a belt supporting to his knees. 

Lakshmi Narasimha Temple

Just near this temple Badavilinga temple built. It is one of the largest monolithic linga in Hampi, it's surrounded by water. The name Badavilinga is derived from the word Badava means poor man in Kannada, Legend says this temple has commissioned by peasant women hence the name.

Badavilinga Temple

After that headed towards Lotus Mahal and on the way visited Chandikeshwara temple and Uddana Veerabhadra temple.

This beautiful idol found outside Chandikeshwara temple

Lotus Mahal surroundings 

Basement of Queens palace

Lotus Mahal

Lotus Mahal belongs to non religious category, and it's constructed by using lime mortar and brick the exact function of this building was not known, but most probably used by women folks in the Royal Families. 

Just near the Lotus mahal Elephant's stable also built. It was built in Indo-Islamic style, and its considered to be the stable for state elephant. 

Gaja Shala (Elephant's Stable)

Jain temple

Hazararama Temple

Way in front of Hazararama Temple

this small path in front of Hazararama Temple goes to Kings Audiance hall, Underground shrine chamber also built near it. 

Kings Audience hall

Underground chamber

Surroundings of Kings audience hall

It was around 1630hrs. So  decided to take break to Hampi sightseeing, a few days back I have seen a beautiful picture of Thumgabadra dam on Udayavani News paper, so decided to go there, It was just 13km from Hospet town. 

At evening whole crowd rushed towards the dam, thousands of tourist vehicles, motorcycle I have never seen such a traffic jam, in every junction cops diverted two wheelers in to inner road, we are totally confused about the route, locals helped us a lot by hand signaling the right way. 

View from the top of the bridge

At last reached near Dam and parked 'Bird on the bridge and wait for lightings which goes to start around 1900 hrs.

Families enjoying beneath the bridge

In party mood

At last colourful light start to appear on the dam, after some clicks went back to our lodge, on return trip main road was fully blocked hundreds of motorcycles goes on side of the sewage canal we also followed the same at last reached to the lodge.

Colourful view

And Ended our Second day with having delicious food in Lingayath's style hotel just near the lodge.