bananas

Much of the area in, and around, the ruins in the Hampi Bazaar area, is being used for banana plantations. The bananas are very good indeed.

conservation vs squatters

Hampi has become a major tourist attraction and has been listed as a World Heritage site. There is little of the site that is under protection or control. Over the years, centuries, people have moved into the surrounding area, and into some of the ruins, with homes and farms. Now there is a move to get the people out of the major archaeologically valuable areas, but these are good areas for tourist related businesses, so the people don't want to go. This is like the beautification of old town.

Hampi - take my picture please #2

I was sitting on the side of the road watching the world pass by when these women approached. I asked if I could take their picture, and they agreed, and then they wanted me to take some more pictures of them, for them to view and laugh about.

Hampi - take my picture please #1

This family group came along, and the children immediately asked me to take their pictures, as a group, and by some, individually. They greatly enjoyed looking at the pictures that had been taken of them. Then they wanted to take turns taking pictures with my camera with me in the group.

Hampi - Krishna Temple

The Krishna Temple is in the Hampi Bazaar area. I was the only person there in the early morning sun. It was unique in that some of the upper decoration was still in pretty good shape. The lower part of most of the temples was carved stone, and if it had not been carted off, it remains in good shape. The upper parts, above twenty feet, looked like it was brick under work, covered with plaster. Most of this brick and plaster construction had not survived in most of the temples.

Hampi - Vittala Temple

The Vittala Temple is the main showpiece at Hampi, with the stone chariot in the entry as the main postcard photo. It was the busiest tourist attraction at Hampi. Many of the ruins and temples had very few visitors.

Hampi elephant stables

The royal elephants had a grand stable.