Mahabaleshwar !!!

Pune is one of the best place to live in India. There are so many options, so many places to see which are around couple of hours journey from Pune. If you visit Pune and surrounding during monsoon, then you surely fall in love with this place.

Mahabaleshwar is one of the most famous hill station in India and it attracts many tourists. It is around 100 km from Pune and so it can be visited in a single day trip from morning to evening. I had already visited Mahabaleshwar once and generally I don't repeat places unless it is exceptional. Mahabaleshwar is not an exceptional, and plan was not to visit it during that weekend. My roommates had departmental trip to Lonavla and I had to go to Mumbai for some work. But then all of a sudden, two of our college friends came to Pune for some office work and we had to drop all our plans and had to spend weekend with them. And after all discussions, we came up with Mahabaleshar as destination. 

But it was good that we went there. during my first visit in September 2009, I could not take any photograph because of rain and cloud cover. We could not see a single point because of clouds. This time we went in mid July, and weather was awesome. Clouds were there which added mood to the beautiful landscapes. 

We started early in the morning at around 07:00 am, and returned to Pune by 08:00 pm as my friends had to catch bus at 09:00 pm. Here are few photos which I clicked there.

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Me and friends at Table Land, Panchgani !!!

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Hampi !!!

Hampi is a village in northern Karnataka State of India. It is located withing the ruins of Vijayanagara, the former capital of the Vijayanagara Empire. Predating the city of Vijayanagara, it continues to be an iportant religious center, housing the Virupaksha Temple, as well as several other monuments belonging to the old city. the ruins are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, listed as the Group of Monuments at Hampi.

It was planned to be one of the best trip. It was planned to go with many friend whose company I really enjoy. It was planned well in advance. The numbers of people supposed to go for this trip were 10. Trip was planned by me. It was planned for one of my very good friend because that one of my friend is getting married in January 2013 and we all wanted to have one trip before it. When the days came closer, many of them refused because of some or the other reason. But I wanted to go for the trip. At the end I was confused whether I should go alone or not. Then I decided to go alone. And that was the best thing I did. I went alone. It would not have been possible to enjoy so much if I would have gone with anyone else. Train tickets were booked for 10 people. I cancelled all tickets except mine. I booked one room for me at Gowri Guest House at Hampi. Generally, when I go for trip, I try to avoid doing things which I do in my general routine (like going to malls, watching TV, etc.). But at the same time I can’t live without following cricket. At that time, T20 world cup was in progress. So, while booking my room, I just asked whether it will be possible to watch a cricket match as there was India vs Pakistan match and I got positive reply and I booked the guest house. My review for this guest house is available on following link: http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowUserReviews-g319725-d1976150-r142123811-Gowri_Guest_House-Hampi_Karnataka.html

My journey from Pune was to start at around 01:10 hours on 29^th September, 2012. I got stuck in the office because of some work. I left from office at 10:30 pm, asked my friend to drop me at station and reached there by time. I reached Hubli at around 01:00 pm on 29^th September, 2012. Then I caught the bus to Hospet. I was in constant contact with the owner of the guest house.  He asked me to get down at Hosalli Cross on the way to Hampi. It was around 3 hour journey. He came to pick me up at that point as guest house was around 10 km away from that point. The person (owner of the guest house) was looking very scary as he was in entirely black clothes with beard. His look was little scary, but I found him very kind person in reality during that 10 km bike journey from Hosalli cross to guest house. I reached at guest house at around 06:30 pm, and sun was already set. The guest house was located in Sanapur village, 4 km away from Hampi. There was a beautiful reservoir just beside the guest house. After reaching at the house, immediately I headed to reservoir with my camera. The sky was blue and there were little colors in the sky, and I tried to capture them. Result was not bad.

After clicking 2-3 photographs, I returned back to guest house. I had tasty homemade dinner and then I tried to sleep. But, power got cut and it was little hot inside room and wasn’t much comfortable to sleep. There was swing just outside room, and I went there. It was such an awesome experience to be alone at such a beautiful place in the middle of rice fields under the beautiful sky. I tried to sleep on the swing, but after few minutes, heavy wind started, and after there was a very heavy rain, and so I had to go inside the room. But luckily, electricity came back, and finally I had a decent sleep. I had to finish my entire sightseeing in one and half days. Plan was to start early in the morning on 30^th September, and finish most of the places on the same day which are on the other side of Tungabhadra river. I hired a bike and left for sightseeing at around 08:30 am after wonderful breakfast of Poori and Bhaji.

On the route to main Hampi, I had to cross the Tungabhadra river which is the shortest route to reach Hampi from Sanapur and which I did in the ferry with my bike. It was again an exciting experience. The whole Hampi is a beautiful place to see. The ancient temples in the ruined condition are worth to see. I had to come back to river crossing point by 04:30 pm as last ferry leaves at that time. But I finished early and returned to that point at around 03:30 pm.

After reaching guest house, I went to Sanapur reservoir to see the sunset and click some photos. After that, there was India vs Pakistan match which I saw at the guest house restaurant with dinner. Then I spent the night sleeping at the room. The main attraction on 2^nd day was Anjanadri Hill where it is believed that Lord Hanuman was born. The climb to the top of the hill was little difficult because of steep slopes, but the view from there was so awesome that I felt refreshed. I had to finish my remaining sightseeing in half day and had to catch the train for Hubli at 04:15 pm from Munirabad railway station which I finished in time and went to Munirabad by bus after having lunch at guest house. I spent the night at hotel in Hubli and had to catch the train to Pune on 02^nd October at 06:35 am by which I reached Pune at around 09:00 pm.

Here are the few photos which I clicked during my entire trip !!!

Sanapur Reservoir, Sanapur, Hampi !!!

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Those small huts are part of Gowri Guest House, Hampi !!!

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Vitthala Temple Complex !!!

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 Wheels of Stone Chariot !!!

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Stone Chariot, Vitthala Temple Complex !!!

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Vitthala Temple Complex !!!

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The ruins of Hampi !!!

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Stepped Tank !!!

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Krishna Temple !!!

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Lotus Palace !!!

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Elephant Stable !!!

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Ugra Narsinha !!!

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Huge Shiva-Linga !!!

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Sanapur Lake !!!

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Monolithic Bull !!!

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Virupaksha Temple seen from Hemkata Hill !!!

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Ganesha Idol !!!

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Sanapur Lake !!!

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Hut for stay at Gowri Guest House !!!

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View from Anjanadri Hill !!!

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View from Anjanadri Hill !!!

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View from Anjanadri Hill !!!

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View from Anjanadri Hill !!!

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Farmers at work, Hampi !!!

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My bike !!!

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Sanapur Lake !!!

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Me at Hemkata Hill, Hampi !!!

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P.S.: Indeed, that was my one of the best trips. It would not have been so awesome if I would not have gone alone !!! :)