After bustling city adventures, the grandeur of old churches, and the chill vibe of Palolem, I was ready to see some old buildings. Lucky for me, Hampi was up to the challenge.
Hampi is a village in Karnataka state that is close to the Vijayanagara ruins. These ruins are a UNESCO world heritage site, so you know it’s going to be impressive. Even then I was still unprepared for what Hampi had to offer. This isn’t hyperbole: the landscape there is truly extraordinary. Large pink-grey lava stones are piled into larger hills, huge boulders punctuate roads, palm and banana trees fill the valleys, and the village is peppered with ancient ruins. All this is a complex feast for the eyes.
The highlight was the Vittala temple, built during the 16th century it demonstrates the artistic heights of South Indian Hindu culture. The sun-bleached ruins were crumbling in some areas, but were mostly intact and showing off their intricate details. The showpiece was a stone chariot, fully intact and beautifully detailed. There were about thirty art students spread around the ruins. Most of them chose the stone chariot to draw or paint—you can see why from the picture below.
The highlight was the Vittala temple, built during the 16th century it demonstrates the artistic heights of South Indian Hindu culture. The sun-bleached ruins were crumbling in some areas, but were mostly intact and showing off their intricate details. The showpiece was a stone chariot, fully intact and beautifully detailed. There were about thirty art students spread around the ruins. Most of them chose the stone chariot to draw or paint—you can see why from the picture below.
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