The trek was very
satisfying and fulfilling. Although the difficulty level was beyond
expectations and surprising but its best part is that it gives us the moment to
be cheered later, a long lasting memory and above all one of its kind
experiences.
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Way to Mathanga Hills |
Let me start with the very beautiful quote by Pat Ament :
When you
ride your bike, you're working your legs, but your mind is on a treadmill. When
you play chess, your mind is clicking along, but your body is stagnating.
Climbing brings it together in a beautiful, magical way. The adrenaline is
flowing, and it's flowing all the time.
I would say trip to Hampi will be incomplete
without climbing to Mathanga hills which provides the panoramic 360 degree view of
the Hampi. Once you get at the top, you will easily understand the Map of
Hampi. However getting to
the top is a tough row to hoe.
During our complete to and fro trip, we encountered only 3, 4 climbers and coincidentally all of them belong to Spain and and also all were alone.
At 2, 3 places, you have to climb a very risky
mountain with no support at all. It would be difficult for me to explain in
words. Please see the picture.
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| Tipping point 1: See man made stairs. |
The trek is moderately challenging as there is
no clearway or signboards for directions and at some places, one will really
doubt if he is on the right route. But don’t worry much about it, trust on your
intuition.
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| Random Pictures depicting our track |
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| One of the Difficult turn |
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| Where the end road will be visible only after climbing these turns. |
Trek gets tougher as you climb higher. Also,
just before reaching to the top, there in one very critical turn which is also
the turning point for some of the people.
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Most difficult point to cross. Seeing the heightis enough to give you shiver |
It is really difficult to cross as the stones
were slippery and there were no stones/support on one of the side and also you
cannot hold anything. You must maintain balance at that point. I would not
recommend this place to people with acrophobia. I still remember the dilemma I
faced that day, whether to cross it or trace back even when I am not afraid of
heights. Glancing at that point is enough to give you the shiver.But the spirit
inside me told me to cross.
“Thousands of
tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out going to
the mountains is going home; that wilderness is a necessity.” John Muir
Views were worth it.
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| Beautiful Banana Plantation, Hampi Tower and Virupaksha temple |
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| Premises of Mustard Ganesha and Jain temples. |
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| Pushkarni and also the route to Vitthala temple |
After enjoying the view, it was the time to go
back.
“Getting to the
top is optional. Getting down is mandatory.”
― Ed Viesturs,
No Shortcuts to the Top: Climbing the World's 14 Highest Peaks
While going
back, one should be more watchful and cautious. There were only a couple of
points which were challenging. At both the places, there is turn such that
there are no stones at the other side and seeing the height while descending
can be dizzy. At one of the point, something similar to stairs were constructed
in stone but it was very slippery. It did not take more than 20 minutes while
descending; however, it was little less than 1 hour while ascending. For
regular trekkers and climbers, however, it will not require even that much
time.
Day 1:
Day
2:
