The landscape and climate have changed dramatically by the time we reach Hampi. This unfamiliar arid landscape leaves me wondering why such a significant city was built here in the first place.

Many of the huge boulders that make up the landscape here bear the marks of a thousand strikes with a hammer and chisel – perforated, ready to split and create the next great structure to compliment the temples, palaces, queens bath, elephant stables and more.  Lying around these, and everywhere, are large sharp-edged blocks of stone, patiently prepared and waiting for the next stone mason to create something beautiful.  The engineering prowess required to bring water to the ancient city is most impressive.  Perhaps the reason to build here was simply because they could…

After a long history (too long for this post), the fortified city Hampi was abandoned in 1565 when the Vijayanagara Empire was defeated by Muslim sultanate coalition armies, the city was estimated to have a population of 500,000 – second only to Beijing at the time.

“Hampi, the last capital of the last great Hindu Kingdom of Vijayanagar. Its fabulously rich princes built Dravidian temples and palaces, which won the admiration of travellers between the 14th and 16th centuries (CE). Conquered by the Deccan Muslim confederacy in 1565, the city was pillaged over a period of six months before being abandoned”
UNESCO

The past present and future sit as one in this place. The photography exhibition we find shows us the restorations made and those yet to be completed.  The only sense of urgency we find here is that of the Tuk Tuk drivers striking bargains with their next fare. The bazar is still busy and the devout still worship. The place reminds me very much of a wise man we met in Mawlamyine.