It was just another lazy afternoon, almost a year ago, in the days of the email responses and business communication etiquette training when Loveena popped out of nowhere and asked if I was coming to Hampi. I had to good reasons to give an instantaneous positive response at that time - there was a conference room called Hampi in our old office from where we could work without any disturbance, and there was a hotel near our church called Hampi and we were trying out on every possible hotel in Hyderabad.
However, my joy increased multi-fold when I knew the details-we were planning on a trip to the place that actually inspired both these names. Yes!!! HAMPI!!! It was planned in a jiffy. We booked tickets and were to board a bus from the Koti MGBS (The Hyderabad's Koyambedu equivalent) and the return journey from Hospet to Secunderabad. The accommodation in Hampi was booked at Shanti Resorts and that too with only a confirmation through phone. Things were happening too fast and it was too good to believe!!
The day had come!! We boarded our cabs to the bus station and boarded a bus that was too much on contrary to the usual luxury-Volvos that we used to shuttle from Hyderabad to Chennai. It was a pleasant journey and I got the first glimpse of the Shamshabad airport at that time. It was a nice journey because I had seen for myself the endurance that I had developed over the ages, to overcome any kind of environment for sleeping. While all the lassies who came with me were struggling to sleep, I just dozed off on the so-called push-back seat.
We reached Hospet at three in the morning. The place was so odd and we were welcomed by a pack of auto drivers who were ready to take us to Hampi. It was a ride of a life through the forests and the cold air hitting straight on our faces and all said, it was fun too. We reached Hampi while it was still dark. We all checked in at probably the only open guest-house we could find, left our luggages and refreshed ourselves.
Then we set out to begin our adventure on the unknown land, with the little amount of Kannada that Sunanda knew. We had piping, hot coffee in the morning in one of those platform shops. The best moment came when we were questioned by the local cops about our whereabouts and stuff like that. And believe me, that was the best moment because those cops gave us the information that there will not be boats until ten in the morning to cross the river, and that there is a hill called Mathanga Hill from where we can get a nice glimpse of the sunrise. And that pulled the trigger!!!
We all were set on our way to this Mathanga Hill. And finally we found a hillock after some inquiries and then started climbing the hill through the stairs. It was tiring and exciting and with brief photo-clicking sessions and a short break in between, we reached the cliff...and what a magnificent and picturesque sight it was!!! The whole ruins of the fabled Vijayanagar Kingdom was there before our eyes. Also, to add to it, the curves of the Tungabhadra river, the chirps of the birds and the subtle sound of water rushing along, were the highlights of the moment. True to th words: If dreams were made of stones, then it would be none but Hampi.
After spending half-an-hour on the hill, we headed for the foot. All were already hungry and could not wait to fill our stomachs. We went to a roadside shop and had bread omelets. Both the quality and cost were higher than expected. With our stomachs full, we went back to our temporary asylum, packed our things and set to Shanti Resorts, which was on the other side of Tungabhadra River. A pleasant ride on the boat and we were there at Shanti Resorts.
I must now digress a bit to tell about the resort. This was one of the most beautiful places I have ever halted in a tour. Overlooking the green fields irrigated by the rich waters of Tungabhadra, this guest house had cute little cottages and all facilities one could ask for.
We had booked two cottages in the resort, one opposite to the other. We thought we could laze around for the day rather than tire ourselves after the night journey and the brisk morning trek. After a sumptuous brunch, we ventured in to the city and made a brief study of what to buy and where to buy. It was then we heard about the restaurant 'The Mango Tree,' which was built around a huge mango tree, in a very natural atmosphere. we decided that no matter what, we will be visiting the restaurant.
We retired to our rooms for dinner and we were offered an Iranian couch for dinner in one of their luxury dining halls. It had majestic diwans donned with the fabrics of finest art work. And the best part - prices were the same. There was an old 29 inch TV and we thought we could watch some movie. We asked the people around about the available movies, hoping we could watch some kinds 'Sholay' or 'Yaadon ki Baraat.' Actually I am glad that we did not step out of that 1970s confinement - We were all startled to hear that one among the available movies was 'Om Shanti Om' - it was relatively new then. We watched the movie, munching on the strangest kebabs that we have ever had. A sumptuous meal, and then we were off to bed.
Next day we woke up, gulped some quick breakfast, crossed the river and were planning on means of commutation, when Shobha got the enlightenment that all were running out of cash. We had no other go but to get an auto to the nearest town with an ATM - Hospet. We got an auto and we went to the Hospet SBI ATM, drew some sufficient cash and we were on our way back to Hampi. I casually struck a random conversation with the auto-driver and by some weird magic, he consented to take us around Hampi.
The auto was not the ordinary one - it was as big as share auto and everyone had sufficient space to sit comfortably. It was a blue moon that everyone consented to go by that auto. We felt like rulers of the land - when everyone was in a two-wheeler or a car, we were the odd people to have that class of distinction.
We saw the places that I swear, are the best possible things that could be fashioned out of stones - the stepped pond, the temples, the musical pillars, the Queen's bath and the single-stone chariot. After a quick but careful visit to the places around, we retired to our rooms. Not much to describe about this night - luxury in stay was becoming usual! the next day, we packed our bags as fast as we can, crossed the river, did some quick shopping and were preparing to go to this restaurant called the Mango Tree.
Mango Tree - A weird name for a restaurant. But when we went in through the paths in the abandoned fields, we entered this weird looking place. It only took moments for that 'weirdness' to disappear for what was in there was the most spectacular (Shobzz! No pun intended!) restaurant housed in a completely natural ambiance. At the base of a colossal mango tree was a backrest-table king of a cement structuring. There was a swing tied to one of the branches and overlooking the virgin valley of the Tungabhadra River. The food, I should accept, was not worth the hype but the place and time that we spent are alone worth the price that we paid.
We packed some stuff and left for Hospet. We reached the station and we left the auto. The total cost for the auto from the day we started using it was just 600 bucks. Ok! ok! relax!! It was too good to believe but still we had the best mode of transport. We boarded the train and with so many sweet and some bitter memories, we were back in Hyderabad.
This trip to Hampi was very eventful and memorable because of the following reasons and learnings:
1) This was the first trip planned within us without an organizational involvement.
2) This is a trip when I learned that I was tested under tough conditions of travel and stay. Now everything was easy for me.
3) Cost has got nothing to do with comfort and happiness in a tour. It's just the gang with you that matters.
4) Never to judge a hotel or a resort by its looks, website or visiting card.
5) Ladies are not ladies always. :P
6) Good things don't come with a herald. You just have to be ready when it happens to take it, not minding the probable chaos it might cause.
7) Everything is nice when planned but bot everything that is nice, is planned.
8) Be prepared for adventure. It can happen on a boat, or in the hotel, or on a train.
and the best: Loveena, Shobha, Lekshmy and Sunanda make nice travel companions... and the memories of this tour will forever stand as a testimony to this wonderful tour I had been on.
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