Hampi

DO NOT AND I MEAN DO NOT LISTEN TO ANY OF THE INDIANS TOUTS IN HAMPI, NOT EVEN THE TOURIST INFO CENTER IS RELIABLE. WALK, RENT A PUSH BIKE OR SCOOTER AND EXPLORE THE PLACE ON YOUR OWN. ONE FULL DAY IS SUFFICIENT AND YOU DON'T EVEN NEED A MAP.

I for one got suckered into a tuk-tuk for the day. The plus side of it was that I was out of the hot sun as I went from one place to another. The highlight of this city was watching more of the Ganpati Festival at night after visiting the ruins. Here are some of the sites:

Started at the Sasivekalu Ganesha. The guard on the right looks like he's working hard, right :P.

Lakshmi Narasmiha Temple: Vijayanagara sculpture from a single rock.

Playing music at the Chandikeshwara Temple.

The sister rocks and my tuk-tuk.

Taking a noon-time nap in the Band Tower.

The Elephant Stables.

Yawn...stretch. 

Carvings in the Hazararama Temple.

A family enjoying a picnic at the Queen's Bath. They invited me for some rice and brinjal curry.

View inside the Vitthala Temple.

The famed chariot in the Vitthala Temple.

Sunset at the Virupaksha Temple.

Starting the celebration off with numerous kids.

The audience: "Yeah, check out my guns."

Kids continued. 

Singing and dancing his heart out. One of the better dancers. He also did a Gangnam style remix later that night with some friends. 

The holy elephant having his bath. 

Getting blessed once you gave the elephant a coin or note.

On my own the next day and realized the minute size of the city. At the King's Pond.

The view from above. No wonder there are so many monoliths in this city.

Sending the idol to the river. They said it would be finished before sunset but that was never going to happen. They went from starting at 4 PM to starting at 7 PM. Even then, the idol, which was carried via a tractor, moved an inch every half an hour. You felt like you were included in the festivities though as they ran up and covered your face in red powder.