Solo Tripping the Land of Ruins : Hampi

Tripoto
13th Feb 2018
Photo of Solo Tripping the Land of Ruins : Hampi by Alisha Gonsalves

If you are wondering where to go for your first solo trip , look no longer !!! You can wander off to Hampi. That's where I started off too.

Photo of Solo Tripping the Land of Ruins : Hampi 1/1 by Alisha Gonsalves

So my trip started from Goa ( Margao ). And I took the cheapest and in a way convenient way to travel - Train. I boarded the VSG Howrah Express which is almost a 7 hour trip to Hosapete - that's where I decided to stay. The journey itself was so scenic. I did pass by Dudhsagar and Hubli aka Hubballi stations. Post that the train journey is full of dry land.

Dudhsagar Junction

Photo of Margao, Goa, India by Alisha Gonsalves

Hubballi Junction

Photo of Margao, Goa, India by Alisha Gonsalves

Hosapete Railway station

Photo of Margao, Goa, India by Alisha Gonsalves

On arriving at Hosapete station, I was happy to see rickshaws, as for me it is a very comfortable mode of transport ( P.S: You need to bargain , I hope that you can ).

I took a rick from Hospet railway station to my hotel Pratap residency . I found this hotel convenient as it is at the center , with the bus depot and market at a walking distance. I decided to explore Hospet today, just to go around places to eat , visit the market , depot and the church.

Photo of Pratap Residency, Hosapete, Karnataka, India by Alisha Gonsalves
Photo of Pratap Residency, Hosapete, Karnataka, India by Alisha Gonsalves
Photo of Pratap Residency, Hosapete, Karnataka, India by Alisha Gonsalves

GOT MYSELF SOME GAJRA FROM THE LOCAL VENDOR

Photo of Pratap Residency, Hosapete, Karnataka, India by Alisha Gonsalves
Photo of Pratap Residency, Hosapete, Karnataka, India by Alisha Gonsalves
Photo of Pratap Residency, Hosapete, Karnataka, India by Alisha Gonsalves
Photo of Pratap Residency, Hosapete, Karnataka, India by Alisha Gonsalves
Day 2

DAY 2

After having some good rest, I was all ready to explore the land of ruins. I hired a local autodriver to take me to Hampi and get me back in just INR 700 . It takes around 30 minutes to reach Hampi.

Photo of Hampi, Karnataka, India by Alisha Gonsalves
Photo of Hampi, Karnataka, India by Alisha Gonsalves
Photo of Hampi, Karnataka, India by Alisha Gonsalves
Photo of Hampi, Karnataka, India by Alisha Gonsalves

I started off by visiting Virupaksha Temple...

Photo of Virupaksha Temple, Hampi, River Road, Hampi, Karnataka, India by Alisha Gonsalves

MEET LAXMI

Photo of Virupaksha Temple, Hampi, River Road, Hampi, Karnataka, India by Alisha Gonsalves
Photo of Virupaksha Temple, Hampi, River Road, Hampi, Karnataka, India by Alisha Gonsalves
Photo of Virupaksha Temple, Hampi, River Road, Hampi, Karnataka, India by Alisha Gonsalves

A CUSTOM FOR UNMARRIED WOMEN

Photo of Virupaksha Temple, Hampi, River Road, Hampi, Karnataka, India by Alisha Gonsalves
Photo of Virupaksha Temple, Hampi, River Road, Hampi, Karnataka, India by Alisha Gonsalves
Photo of Virupaksha Temple, Hampi, River Road, Hampi, Karnataka, India by Alisha Gonsalves

Later, I headed to Hemakuta Hill Temple, I spend almost 2 hours here as the area to explore around this hill is hugh.

Photo of Hemakuta Hill Temple, Hampi, Karnataka by Alisha Gonsalves
Photo of Hemakuta Hill Temple, Hampi, Karnataka by Alisha Gonsalves
Photo of Hemakuta Hill Temple, Hampi, Karnataka by Alisha Gonsalves
Photo of Hemakuta Hill Temple, Hampi, Karnataka by Alisha Gonsalves
Photo of Hemakuta Hill Temple, Hampi, Karnataka by Alisha Gonsalves
Photo of Hemakuta Hill Temple, Hampi, Karnataka by Alisha Gonsalves
Photo of Hemakuta Hill Temple, Hampi, Karnataka by Alisha Gonsalves
Photo of Hemakuta Hill Temple, Hampi, Karnataka by Alisha Gonsalves
Photo of Hemakuta Hill Temple, Hampi, Karnataka by Alisha Gonsalves
Photo of Hemakuta Hill Temple, Hampi, Karnataka by Alisha Gonsalves
Photo of Hemakuta Hill Temple, Hampi, Karnataka by Alisha Gonsalves
Photo of Hemakuta Hill Temple, Hampi, Karnataka by Alisha Gonsalves
Photo of Hemakuta Hill Temple, Hampi, Karnataka by Alisha Gonsalves
Photo of Hemakuta Hill Temple, Hampi, Karnataka by Alisha Gonsalves

Next stop, Kadalekalu Ganesha.

Its believed to be carved off a single rock.

Photo of Kadalekalu Ganesha, Hampi, Karnataka, India by Alisha Gonsalves
Photo of Kadalekalu Ganesha, Hampi, Karnataka, India by Alisha Gonsalves

Followed by, Elephant's Stables...

As the name suggest, it was a elephant stable during the golden days.

Photo of Elephant's Stables, Hampi, Karnataka, India by Alisha Gonsalves
Photo of Elephant's Stables, Hampi, Karnataka, India by Alisha Gonsalves
Photo of Elephant's Stables, Hampi, Karnataka, India by Alisha Gonsalves
Photo of Elephant's Stables, Hampi, Karnataka, India by Alisha Gonsalves
Photo of Elephant's Stables, Hampi, Karnataka, India by Alisha Gonsalves
Photo of Elephant's Stables, Hampi, Karnataka, India by Alisha Gonsalves

And , Lotus Mahal

Photo of Lotus mahal hampi, State Highway 131, Hampi, Karnataka, India by Alisha Gonsalves
Photo of Lotus mahal hampi, State Highway 131, Hampi, Karnataka, India by Alisha Gonsalves

But my most awaited experience was the CORACLE RIDE. I was certain that I was fine not visiting places but I wanted to experience this ride. I did go to one place and they said that it was banned and I was heart-broken and asked around and found a place on the lonely side of the banks of the Tungabhadra river. I was lucky as I was the only one on the coracle and he spinned the coracle around in the middle of the river ???? ( for all the blogs that I have read you really need to ask them to spin you hence I believe that I was lucky )

Photo of Tungabhadra River, Karnataka by Alisha Gonsalves
Photo of Tungabhadra River, Karnataka by Alisha Gonsalves
Photo of Tungabhadra River, Karnataka by Alisha Gonsalves
Photo of Tungabhadra River, Karnataka by Alisha Gonsalves

There were alot of other places that I visited like Zanana Enclosure,Underground Shiva Temple (Prasanna Virupaksha Temple) ,Badavilinga Temple, Royal enclosure and so on.

Later in the evening I took a bus journey of 14 hours from Hospete to Mumbai.

SOME TIPS:

* I visited Hampi in February and it was hot , I was literally roasted. I would strongly suggest you to keep your self covered and hydrated at all time.

* Travel light and safe.

*Since this is a tourist hot spot, try not to get cheated . They do overcharge for everything.

COST

It was a very cost efficient trip where I spend INR 3000 for my travel (train-auto-bus) and stay( It just cost me INR 800 / night). And the balance INR 2000 in food+alcohol and some souvenir.

I managed my trip in less than INR 5000, I do feel that you can reduce your cost more if you stay in a hostel and don't spend much on food/drinks like me.

Some local food

Photo of Solo Tripping the Land of Ruins : Hampi by Alisha Gonsalves

Marble elephants

Photo of Solo Tripping the Land of Ruins : Hampi by Alisha Gonsalves

Earnings from the market

Photo of Solo Tripping the Land of Ruins : Hampi by Alisha Gonsalves

Medu vada

Photo of Solo Tripping the Land of Ruins : Hampi by Alisha Gonsalves

Gadbad ice-cream

Photo of Solo Tripping the Land of Ruins : Hampi by Alisha Gonsalves
Photo of Solo Tripping the Land of Ruins : Hampi by Alisha Gonsalves
Photo of Solo Tripping the Land of Ruins : Hampi by Alisha Gonsalves

Yes, there are still alot more places in Hampi that I gotta to visit and that will give me a reason to come back.

I hope this post has been helpful. Feel free to like , comment and follow me.

Photo of Solo Tripping the Land of Ruins : Hampi by Alisha Gonsalves