Day Three 16/8/2014
Today we have plenty of time, So took our breakfast around 0700 hrs at Udupi Hotel just opposite of our lodge, and went to explore the rest of Hampi.
Railway level crossing
Scenery on the way
Way to Daroji Bear Sanctuary
Thungabhadra River
Rich fields near Hampi at the bank of River Thungabhadra
First decided to visit Vittala Temple complex where iconic stone chariot located, to reach here one has to take right from Hampi circle. Hence it was working day there was no rush in site. around 0800 hrs reached the parking lot of Vittala temple complex.
Villagers
On the way to Vittala Temple
Vittala Temple parking lot
From there electric vehicle available to explore the temple complex for just for Rs.20 per head, hence it the distance around 2km I had decided to walk especially I would like to click some pictures in morning sun light.
Electric vehicle Depot
Shepard family near parking lot
Check the women holding small child
Way to Vittala Temple
Gajjala Madapa on the way
Women washing clothes near small stream
Horses found everywhere inside the complex
Some of clicks on the way
Vittala Temple main entrance
The road leading to the temple was once a market where the horses were traded by persian merchants.
Main Entrance Gopuram
First decided to explore outside Vittala temple, Vishnu temple, Thulabharam Madapa (Kings Balance) and Inscribed Vishnu Temple located left side of the Vittala temple.
Thulabhara Mantapam
Side view of Vittala Temple
Check the Arch
The way took us to the bank of Thungabhadra river, hence the Thungabhadra overflowing one can see only the top of Purandaradasa Mantapa. In the summer it will visible clearly.
Overflowing River Thungabhadra
Some of the ruined structures
Inside view of the Vittala Temple
Once completed the surrounding of Vittala temple entered inside the Temple, the famous musical pillar and, monolithic stone chariot was located inside the temple.
The famous stone chariot
Some of the constructions
Back side view
Tree inside the temple
Market
Pushkarni
Around 1030 hrs left the complex and reached parking lot, now the electric vehicle was started fleeing inside the complex, because tourist start to come.
Electric vehicle carrying tourist
Next visited Underground Shiva temple and Pattana Yellamma temple on the way back, a pushkarani also built near the Yellamma temple.
Inside Underground Shiva temple
Pattana Yellamma Temple
Pushkarni
Madhava (Ranga) Temple just behind the Yellamma temple
Queen's bath
Inside construction
After visiting the Queen's visited Chandrashekara tempe and saraswathi temple, on the way stucked between the sheep herd, and also find one interesting procession where peoples beating drums and walking briskly, small childrens were running along with them the center of attraction was a man holding a empty pot.
Stuck between sheep herd
Way to Chandrashekhara temple
Procession
The man holding empty pot
Chandrashkhara temple
Later we found same kind of the procession just outside the Archeological Museum at Hampi, while enquiring about this with the parking person he explained that that was hence it was Shravana Masa (5th month of Hindu year) they are going to Virupaksha temple and after worshiping the God collecting holy water from the River Thungabhadra and taking into their home.
Hence photography restricted inside the Archaeological Museum unable to show the inside things, just took some photographs from outside. Totally Museum was properly maintained, really good work from the department.
Entrance of Archeological Museum
Another procession
Shepherd man
People playing on empty Highway
On the way back to Hospet just visited another temple called Ananthashayana Temple which located out skirt of the Hospet town. While entering inside the temple it looks like some religious function going inside, people inside the temple first asked us do you belongs to any press groupe ? and and second question was where are you come from, after knowing our back ground they feel little relaxed and informed us they are doing some Sharavana Pooja rituals and offered us a Prasadam.
Lady laying inside the temple
Childrens playing
Womens preparing food
Pooja rituals
After visiting the temple went Hospet town first took lunch at Udupi Hotel and vacated the room and headed towards Shimoga via Harihara. It was around 1300hrs. On the way little confused in the route because could not found Harihara diversion.
Tunnel on the road
Maximum utilisation
Sunflower fields
Till Harapana halli road was superb along with picturesque landscapes on both the side, while crossing one of the village some function going in the house, peoples invited us to take food but we politely refused and moved.
Wind mill
Fully loaded 'Bird
Bullock cart on the way
After crossing Harapanahalli road condition start go bad and once reached Honnali again start to improve and rice field starts to appear along with Sunflower, Jowar fields. On the rice cultivation was going in the large fields,
Rice field cultivation
I suddenly pulled my 'Bird on side and stopped, because these sights are very rare to see in my home town, in my childhood I had grown up between these activities so it forced to stop. While clicking some photographs two boys appeared, while asking the water source for cultivation they told it's supplied from Gajanoor dam.
Around 1900 hrs reached Shimoga and took room on lodge, there we met some of the Royal Enfield riders who came from Bangalore.
Bulls at parking area
Day Four 17/8/2014
There was nothing special about the day just a return trip, I had already covered this route earlier on my Siganduru trip . On the way visited inside the Upper Thunga project dam and Sakrebailu Elephant camp and Mandagadde Bird Sanctuary.
Upper Thunga project dam
View from the dam
Sakrebailu elephant camp
Mandagadde Bird Sanctuary
At Thirthahalli took breakfast and continued our journey, on the way found one interesting Idol which kept on road side while enquiring with locals they told us that was called 'Maari' and it was not a good thing, In case of drought or some difficulties occurs in the village they make some rituals and make Maari Idol along with small cart and kept outside the village border.
Agumbe Ghat view point
Hence it was bad thing I felt some hesitation to take the photographs in front of the villagers, In case I took photograph it will definitely hurt their faith, so didn't took. But while descending the Agumbe ghat section found similar Idol kept on the road side, nobody was around it's looks like somebody kept it there some weeks back.
Abandoned Maari on Agumbe Ghat section
At around 1230 reached home, Total km covered around 1125, in four days, distance wise it was not my longest trip but I had enjoyed a lot in this trip. If you would like to explore the Hampi minimum 1 ten days required, because every pillars, every boulders standing at Hampi had it's own story. So if you have enough time take your own time amd explore, It's really worth to visit.
