Skip to main content

Featured Post

The Vaishnodevi Experience 2023

My first trip to Vaishnodevi was unimpressive. Climbing was hard, and it only served to highlight how badly out of shape I was, while my in-laws managed to cope so much better. Further, I hadn’t quite realized that the cave experience wouldn’t be the same as I had imagined, since the original cave was only opened at certain times a year, and that we only entered a newly created tunnel, one far easier to access, and hence more manageable with the crowds that thronged the mountain shrine. The resulting experience at the shrine, for barely a fraction of a second, hardly compared to what I had expected / imagined / heard about. So, for me, Vaishnodevi was like any other temple, nothing to write home about, something that was reflected (though not explicitly mentioned) in the blog post I wrote then.

Hampi Part 5 - The Hampi Bazaar


Hampi was well known for its bazaars in the days gone by, when merchants from all over the world collected here to show off their wares. From gold and diamonds to horses and cows, the markets boasted of a variety which impressed even visitors from foreign shores! These marketplaces weren’t like our roadside shops, but well planned and well laid out areas, paved with stones, with residences for the merchants as well stables for their mounts! Nothing much remains of these bazaars except the  pathways and the water tanks which mark their boundaries. Today, the name ‘Hampi Bazaar’ signifies a row of shops outside the Virupaksha temple, selling the sort of stuff which appeals to tourists…..

Like these dolls made of clay…..


Musical instruments….


Figures of the Gods and replicas of the Hampi ruins made in stone…





A closer look….


We loved this autorickshaw….


And especially this one of Krishna stealing milk from a cow….


There were a few useful stone products…


Garlands of beads….. and stones of course…


But did we buy any? No! they were terribly expensive….. and targeted at the foreign tourists. The shopkeepers didn’t even pay us Indians much attention, because they knew we wouldn’t shell out so much for these things! And when I asked one of them if she or her family had made these, she stared at me as if I was mad, and replied, “They come from a factory somewhere! Nobody here makes these things anymore!” 

This post is part of the Lonely Planet Blogsherpa Travel Carnival - The Marketplace - hosted by Kiran Keswani of Indian Bazaars.


 
Enhanced by Zemanta

Comments

  1. Hey nice write up. We have missed many place in Hampi & Anegundi coz of Lack of time. Felt good to read about them through ur blogs... My  Hampi Blog...
    http://relivingmyfavouritemoments.blogspot.com/2012/01/hampi-part-1-hemakuta-hillshampi-bazzar.html

    ReplyDelete
  2. Actuall al vil post the monumnts of hampi. But u posted the market n how d ppl wil be.. Ya i really liked ur blog.

    Sir/Madam, me also created first weblog.
    so follow this link :
    http://basavaraj16291.blogspot.com

    here you can see the most beautiful snap from World Heritage Site Hampi. So please visit to my Blog and Add your Expression through your Valuable COMMENTS.
    Thank You.

    ReplyDelete
  3. The handicrafts looks amazing!

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Thanks so much for stopping by. Please leave a comment for me so that I will know you have been here....

Popular posts from this blog

Gokarna Part II – The Five Lingams

We continued our Gokarna trip by visiting four other Shiva temples in the vicinity, all connected to the same story of Gokarna. The story of Gokarna mentions the Mahabaleshwara Lingam as the one brought from Kailas by Ravana, and kept at this place on the ground by Ganesha. (See my earlier post- Gokarna – Pilgrimage and Pleasure). However, the story does not end here. It is believed that, in his anger, Ravana flung aside the materials which covered the lingam- the casket, its lid, the string around the lingam, and the cloth covering it. All these items became lingams as soon as they touched the ground. These four lingams, along with the main Mahabaleshwara lingam are collectively called the ‘ Panchalingams’ . These are: Mahabaleshwara – the main lingam Sajjeshwar – the casket carrying the lingam. This temple is about 35 Kms from Karwar, and is a 2 hour drive from Gokarna. Dhareshwar – the string covering the lingam. This temple is on NH17, about 45 Kms south of Gokarna. Gunavanteshw

The Power of 8 - The Ashta Dikpalas and Ashta Vasus at Khajuraho

The four cardinal directions form the axis on which a temple is built, and are thus the basis of temple architecture. Leading from them are the eight directions, which are believed to be guarded by the eight guardians, or Ashta Dikpalas . In the temples of Khajuraho, great care has been taken by the sculptors to carve the Ashta Dikpalas on the walls, both inside and outside. They not only guard the temple, but also look over us as we circumambulate the shrine, protecting us by their presence. They are augmented by the Ashta Vasus , celestial beings which represent natural phenomena. Together, they enhance the idea of the temple as cosmos, enfolding within it, all the aspects of nature, both, on earth, as well in space.

The Havelis of Bikaner - A Photo Post

The lanes are narrow , twisting and turning amidst buildings old and new. Crumbling old structures with intricate workmanship stand side by side with art deco buildings, and more modern constructions, which follow no particular style. Autos, bicycles, motorcycles and vans rush past, blowing their horns as loudly as possible, while cows saunter past peacefully, completely unaffected by the noise. In the midst of all this chaos, children play by the side, and women go about their chores, as we explore these by-lanes of Bikaner, and its beautiful Havelis. Facade of one of the Rampuria Havelis