Boat cruise on the river Tungabhadra at Hampi

One has just returned to the cool confines of our hotel at Hampi after an eventful cruise on the
Tungabhadra river. The ancient city of Hampi is a nine hour drive from Bengaluru, hence it is
advisable to start early to avoid the rush hour Bengaluru traffic. At Hampi, bicycles can be
rented from local shops, guesthouses and hotels located along the market. Visitors can capture
Hampis atmosphere along their way to see the Virupaksha temple, the Badavalinga and
Kadalekalu Ganesha along the way to this heritage city. The Tungabhadra flows through Hampi
and a boat cruise along the river is a deeply meditative experience!
One hires a hand paddled bamboo boat and your guide will gently paddle down the river.
Hampi is a tranquil town and the residents do not seem to be in a great hurry. The boatman
gently guides the boat through the river, using the current to propel the canoe forward. The
canoe gently makes it way through the waterfront and soon enters a thickly wooded area full
of bamboo groves and neem trees. After about fifteen minutes, we leave Hampi town way
behind and find ourselves in thick deciduous forests. One can glimpse several yellow beaked
hornbills perched on the branches of a nearby tree. The curving bamboo groves create a
natural canopy through which the boat cruises along, simulating a canoe ride through caves.
One moves through the forests at snails place taking ones time to enjoy the beauty of the
cascading white water seen in the distance.
Watching life in slow motion aptly describes my early morning cruise on the river Tungabhadra
at Hampi. The journey lasted for a few hours but its memory will last a lifetime. The biting cold
and a dip in the freezing waterfall in the wee hours of the morning made it more memorable.
One beats the cold by sipping lukewarm herbal infusion made with ginger and basil. This
unique combination stimulates the immune system and one becomes more energetic and
active. Visiting the Stone Chariot at Hampi is a very moving experience.
The most exciting part of my trip was trekking inside the isolated hills near Hampi. Easily
reached by a short trek from the Vishnu temple, the park sits in the middle of thick jungle and
contains a series of small waterfalls descending a hill and flowing into a series of pools. It's a
delight to swim in the cold clear pools as an antidote to the thick tropical heat. There is much
more to Hampi than its bridge. The surrounding countryside is great for exploring on a bicycle
and the town itself has a very relaxed atmosphere. There are also a great many other
attractions in the area including waterfalls, small temples and many routes for impressive and
scenic boat cruises. A day-trip from Bellary to Hampi, with a scenic boat cruise along the river
Tungabhadra and a visit to the Virupaksha temple, make it a favourite for tourists looking for a
nature-friendly day trips from Bellary.
Hampi is a tourist paradise. There are hundreds of temples scattered around Hampi in a
diameter of eight kilometers. Most of the temples are accessible on foot. The natural beauty of
Hampi is accentuated by the silvery river Tungabhadra which winds down in splendor around
the tiny hills that surround Hampi. Watching the sun rise over the Virupaksha temple
transports you to the glories of a bygone era and watching the sun set over the swirling waters
of the Tungabhadra is a powerful experience which will touch the inner chords of ones soul.

How to get there:

By air:
The nearest international airport to reach Hampi is Bengaluru. There are direct flights to
Bengaluru from all major Indian cities.
By car:
From Bengaluru drive to Hospet via Bellary. Hampi is 15km. away from Hospet.
By bus:
Air-conditioned /non air-conditioned buses leave Bengalurus KSRTC Bus Terminal regularly. The
trip takes about 9 hours.
By train:
Ordinary trains leave Bengaluru Railway Station daily. Air-conditioned class seats/berths are
available till Hospet on the Bengaluru-Hubli train. The journey takes approximately 8 hours.
From Hospet, shared taxis are available to Hampi.
Where to stay:
The Temple View Guest House at Hampi, is the hotel of choice to stay at Hampi. Most budget
guest houses charge Rs. 500 for a room with attached bath and hot showers.
Where to eat:
There are a few pure vegetarian joints at Hampi. Sagar Vegetarian opposite the Bus Stand
offers good steamed rice with vegetables. Fresh cabbage, cauliflower and carrots are available
from the farms around Hampi. Vegans can get fresh tropical fruits including papayas, watermelons and musk-melons at the local market.
Author before starting the coracle cruise on the Tungabhadra
The wide expanse of the Tungabhadra can be seen during the cruise
During the coracle ride through the Hampi hills
At the fabled stone chariot inside the Vittala temple at Hampi

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Murli Menon, is a travel writer, stress management consultant and
author based at Ahmedabad, India. He is the author of "ZeNLPLearning through stories" published by The Written Word Publications,
"ZeNLP-the power to succeed" published by Sage publications and
ZeNLP-the power to relax by New Dawn Press. He can be reached at
ceo@tips4ceos.com
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Courier payments/published magazine author copies to:

Murli Menon
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Phone:079-25600269
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by emailing us at ceo@tips4ceos.com
________________________________________________________________________
Courier payments/published magazine author copies to:
Murli Menon
E/503, Borsali Apt;
Khanpur
Ahmedabad-380001
Phone:079-25600269
________________________________________________________________________
High resolution digital photographs attached with caption.
________________________________________________________________________