A
s far as “man-lions” go, this
particular statue was especially
striking – almost seven metres tall
with bulging eyes and a peculiar,
almost frog-like, grin. For more than
five centuries, this celebrated monolith depicting the
god Vishnu has witnessed pilgrims and kings come
and go, empires rise and fall, creeping vegetation
and callous vandals. Now it’s the selfie era, and while
dozens hurriedly took snaps, I patiently awaited my
turn for an old-fashioned full-frame portrait.Forgotten city
Amar Grover leaves business behind in Bengaluru for a long weekend in historic Hampi
This is one of the busier spots in Hampi, a
remarkable site in northern Karnataka. Once known
as Vijayanagar, or City of Victory, it was the capital
of a huge, powerful empire that ruled southern
India until 1565. Spread over 40 sq km, the city’s
atmospheric remains became a UNESCO World
Heritage site in 1986. Yet tourism hardly noticed,
mostly attracting backpackers coaxed up from Goa’s
beaches to experience the “real India”.
Now, finally, a five-star property has opened62 I Escape to... India