Flying with the time-machine – The world where history meets mythology

@ mithun123

I just wonder how I've overlooked such a great write up with amazing snaps thread................keep posting........I'm just adding those places on my 2014 check-list.........thanks goes to you buddy

Thank you Piyush- Da. There is a absolutely nothing to write up in this TL for two reason.

1) Everything about Hampi is described here

Naveena has written an excellent log where she had described the significance of every stones of Badami- Pattadkall- Aihole

2) I was accompanied by Kshil(He has already started posting his TL), so I am sure you understand what else should I share.

I will try to finish this TL just for the sake of sharing pics.

But I can assure you , if you love stone and the sculpture , I am sure there is very few places in the whole world to compete with Hampi-Badami-Pattadkall- Aihole. But if you search the same remoteness and the similar beauty of Himalaya- I afraid you will be disappointed. These places are very very crowded at the first place.

Good Morning Hampi.. And Marry Christmas. Last evening we had planned to wake up at 5 but finally managed to wake up not before 9. So second day of our trip started with a miss of sunrise. We get ready and checked out from the guest house and kept our luggage in the custody of the guest house owner.
Initially we had the plan to spend all 4 days in Hampi. However , to match with kshil’s schedule we had planned to join him in Badami and would spend the last day in Hampi once again.
We had our quick breakfast from a roadside shop and started walking toward the sacred centre.

Our first destination was Hampi Bazar and Monolithic Bull.









Hampi Bazar and Virupaksha Temple as seen near Monolithic Bull.



Every turn tells a different story

Our next destination was Achyuta Raya’s Temple

We came out of the temple and found ourselves in Courtesan’s street.








Varaha Temple






Puskarini

Tungabhadra River




Stone Chariot



Vittal Temple Complex

After lunch , we have taken our luggage from guest house and started our journey toward Badami. Our initial plan was to take direct bus from Hospet to Badami. There are couple of bus service daily which runs from Hospet to Badami. After reaching Hospet bus depo , we came to know there is no direct bus to Badami and we have to go via Gadag. The bus took two and half hours to reach Gadag from Hospet. Just before entering Gadag we have encountered probably the best sunset of my life. The sun was setting behind the blades of the wind mill located on top of a hill. But unfortunately couldn't take any snap , as we were availing public transport. For a moment we thought of getting down from thebus to take some snap, but restricted ourselves , as we were not very much sure about the route.

The bus reached Gadag around 6 PM , and after inquiring, we came to know that the bus for Badami would be available from the Old Bus Depo. We took an rickshaw and rushed toward the Old Bus terminus.

Buses for Badami is quite frequent there till 7 PM and Badami is about two hours bus journey from there. We reached Badami at about 8. I had prebooked hotel Rajsangam near Badami Bus Terminus. And it was once again a pathetic experience.

When I booked the hotel they confirmed my booking(@Rs 800/night, Non AC) and while asking for advance they mentioned it is not needed at all. Just couple of days before my journey starts , I got a call from the hotel that my booking will be cancelled due to some reason. When I had requested them several time none of them heard my request. When I have started using slang, the manager assured me that we will get a room there.

While check in he told that he will be charging Rs 1200/night , after much debate he finally accepted to charge Rs 800/night.

The rooms of the hotel is pathetic , and I would never never recommend this hotel to anyone in this world. I would rather suggest to stay on the KSTDC Guest House- that is value for money.

After a quick dinner we retire to bed.

Reason being peak season. As it is the service was very slow even in the slack season, so not to mention during peak !

Rooms were OK when we were there, again due to the fact that it was off-season!

Lovely thread. Did not notice it before but its never too late.

Yes things changes drastically in the peak-season, but one thing was very very clear , the staffs of Hotel Rajsangam are lacking in their professionalism.

‘Gadag…Gadag…. Gadag… Gadag”- I still remember my days in Sikkim where I used to wake up with the sweet sound of chirping birds… It has been two long months after that… I am again touring today … and waked up with the unbearable sound of the bus conductor. It is already 5 AM , quite dark outside. I found Soumya is already awaked. Probably for the first time in last 29 years Soumya had waked up before sun , without anyone knocked him.
I have talked with him so many time over phone – sometime even 3 hour continuous phone call – even sometime, I had called him after midnight and he had helped me with the same enthusiasm. I had always surprised with his passion of travelling , and ‘The art of living’. He is one of the encyclopaedia on tourism and tourist places in India and my true ‘travel guru’.
Yes you are right , all these above words were for Kshil. The avid traveller and a wonderful writer of the following logs.
http://www.indiamike.com/india/karna...ataka-t154953/
http://www.indiamike.com/india/ladak...amily-t148464/
Trip Report: Sikkim May 2011
Trip Report - Bandhavgarh-Amarkantak-Kanha-Bhedaghat-Pachmarhi-Pench
Trip Report - Kinnaur Spiti Lahaul - June 2010
Trip Report of Eastern Arunachal: Dec-10 / Jan-11

Today is the day to met him in person.I am as excited as when I was about to met Mt. Kanchenjunga for the first time.

I know he has been waiting for such a long time to comment on my 500th post. And Kaushik-da I am dedicating my 500th post to you. Please proceed with your comment before I start the day in Badami.

The post#41 was a duplicate Mithun, remove it if possible.

I was spell bound with your narrations and this excellent report. The snaps are superb too, especially the black and white one. In context of Hampi B/W snaps look nice but one need to know which one fit there properly. You have chosen the snaps well. I couldn't read it so far as I was working with my own mega serial, Now I will be following this regularly, keep pouring!!

EDIT: Congratulation for being a Mahaguru Member in IM. Thank you for being such a good and supportive friends always!!

Thank you snonymous. Thanks for the encouragement.

No words...excellent stuff!

Thank you so much Sagar.