Hampi, Karnataka

You probably thought I was done with India posts but I'm only half way through!! I am trying to push my way through these last few posts, they were filled with our top favorite cities and our best experiences out of India so I don't want to forget them!

Hampi was the most different city that we visited in India.  It was full of over 100 archeological sites that were free and open to hike and explore around.  It was full of huge rocks and the city was built around an old ancient temple which made us feel like we were in a movie set.  We met many people who said they travel there every year for 2 weeks to explore new trails and temples.  Unfortunately, archeologists and the Indian government are trying to preserve the sites and kick out the Indians from living there.  Though it would be great to preserve them, the sites are where they live and where they built their homes.  We talked to many people who said the government came through and destroyed their homes and stores and left them with no where to go.

We arrived in Hampi when the heat was starting to get unbearable, which meant at least 5 cold showers a day, 3 coconuts each, and a few sugar cane drinks a day.  It was the hottest I've ever been…ever.  We wanted to leave as soon as we could to head up North but since it was such a small town there were only certain days we could get bus and train tickets so we were there for 4 days, which doesn't seem like a long time but when you have the entire day free, living the slow life, it feels long.  But looking back, we loved having those 4 days to allow us to really be able to explore Hampi we didn't know it had so much to offer, so if you go to India, Hampi is a must-go-to location!  

Funny story,  we had our laundry done by our hostel where you have to pay $2 to get at least 20+ pieces of clothing washed.  As we were walking through the main street Landon noticed our clothes hanging on a barbed wire fence drying with cows eating up against the fence.  Some of our clothes were on the ground and Landon saved some of our clothes from getting trampled on, but for the rest, well we got some dusty smelly laundry back.  It was just so funny to see all our undergarments just hanging on a barbed wire in the middle of main street.  Oh India.