Brown Motion

As in along the river (Tungabhadra) bank lies the temple city of Hampi. Northern Karnataka state in central India is where we find this village that thrived under the domain of several kings including Harihar I and onto and in early 16th century King Krishnadevraya who defeated several attempts by Mughal warriors to lay siege. Over the 7th through 16th century many temples were added along the river bank with the famous one being devoted to Lord Shiva.  He is also known as Pampa and a derivation of the word was made into Hampi. Shiva, his consort Parvati and son Ganesh are all enclosed in the main temple complex called Virupaksha at the western end of the village.  Visitors can walk the hills around this temple complex before proceeding along the southern bank of the river to the eastern end where the large Vitthala temple sits along with an amazing stone chariot. Nandi (Bull) guards the eastern gate or gopuram to Virupaksha temple Virupaksha seen from adjacent...

Another classic title for a wannabe Hollywood thriller.  Hardly.  Real life experience - 100%. I had decided to visit the well preserved relics of the Chola dynasty along India's eastern shores this summer.  Of import were two sites - Gangaikonda Cholapuram 100 km south of Pondi and Breehadeshwara Temple (Shiva HQ) another 100 km ot so to its south outside Tanjore (aka Tanjavore). Having my next train connection in Tanjore I decided to cab it from Pondi (the onetime French bastion) to visit these one off and relatively inaccessible UNESCO sites before culminating at Tanjore station. So I worked with my local contact in Pondi to find a relatively economical mode of transport yet with the luxury of stretching out, perhaps catching some much needed zzz's as well.  The hotel manager came up with a dude named Hitler. No kidding.  I inquired with as much PC manner as possible as to the origin's and validity of the fella's name but came up with zilch. Okay -...