Miss India Gold

For about 60 cents, we rented bicycles to explore the area. Katie and I weren't allowed to get the mens cycle, we were ushered over to the pink and lavender 'Miss India Gold' bikes. As Tim ran off to our room to grab something we forgot, we hear a pop followed by a loud "ssssssss". His rear tire goes flat and his bike falls over. Luckily there was another bike for him to take instead. Our single gear Miss India Gold bikes-although the wheels weren't quite aligned-allowed us to set off exploring. The ruins stretch over an area of about 35 square kilometers, which is much more easily covered on two wheels than by two feet. One day we just explored the countryside, riding through the small villages surrounding Hampi. We rode through brown, dry rice paddies adjacent to moist vibrant green ones. Shady banana plantations and palm trees also lined the quiet road. As we rode through the villages, the children eagerly run along beside us (optimistically hoping we might toss them a rupee or two), and the old women watch us with curiosity from the front steps of their modest homes. Many men and women are out in the fields bagging up the rice or spreading it out to dry, watching their herd of goats grazing, or collecting bananas to take into town. The hillsides are full of activity as people are out working the land.
Another day we take the bikes over to the other side of the river to explore the ruins. We spend an entire day biking from one temple to the next, many dedicated to different Hindu deity. I found myself imagining the bustling marketplaces and temples when Hampi was an important commercial center. The stone walls of the temples are covered with elaborate carvings that have withstood the elements for over 600 years.