Tuesday, Mar 10th, Hampi, India

Greetings!

Yesterday, we took the train from Mysore to Hampi.  The last stop was an hour away from our homestay, but our driver met us, and got us home.  It was a long ride, with no chance of photos, and ended at 7am this morning.  I won't go into details except to say that I don't recommend it.

So let's talk about today.  It's Holi day, a festival of spring, love, and colors.  For some, it's the start of a long set of festival holidays.  For others, life is becoming uncertain because the Corona virus is closing schools and businesses, and people are not showing up even if they're supposed to.

But one thing is certain.  If you were around some teenagers today, you probably got some very colorful powder thrown at your face and hair.  It was that kind of day.

Hampi is a recently-discovered (1986) treasure of India.  With a huge complex of temples, gates, palaces, marketplaces (some two stories high), roads, elephant garages, stone chariots, and house foundations that supported over a half-million residents five centuries ago, it is a bit overwhelming.  Add to its magic that it was built almost entirely out of single pieces of solid rock, and you will get how mind-blowing it is.

The fitting together of the stones on the walls, the details in the carvings on the columns, and the way they used the landscape to integrate the experience into nature  just spectacular.

To see all of the photos taken today, click on Tuesday, Mar 10th, Hampi, India.