Steeped in history and dripping with mythology is a place called Hampi—a modern-day UNESCO World Heritage Site and the second-largest medieval-era city after Beijing.
Hampi is a microcosm that encapsulates stories of Shiva and Parvati from the Puranas, Ram and Hanuman from Ramayana, and Harihara and Krishna Deva Raya of the Vijayanagara Empire.
A magical place, with magical sunrises and sunsets, Hampi will remain etched in my memory till my last breath.
Getting on top of Mathanga Hill, for the sunrise, was quite an interesting experience. A bit of rock climbing/crawling was required in the dark. Headlamps and hiking sticks helped. My wife and I got there well before sunrise, while it was still dark. We found what we felt was the perfect spot for sunrise. And when the eastern sky lit up … it was pure magic.
And just when I had started believing that nothing can beat the sunrise from Mathanga Hill … there was this sunset from Vijaya Vittala Temple. A long walk from the shores of the Tungabhadra river, along country roads, led me to this magical moment.
