Anjaneya Hill marks the spot where the locals believe that Hanuman was born. Steps snaking up the hill were filled with pilgrims; some chanting repeatedly as they hiked up the stairs. The view is quite breathtaking, to say the least.
Once at the top, one can take in the 360 degrees view. The arid landscape strewn with giant boulders interspersed with green paddy fields stretched as far as the eyes can see. The other-worldly landscape actually provided the ancient Vijayanagara empire with the rocks needed to build the capital in Hampi. Ancient palatial ruins and temples still dot the UNESCO-listed area.
This holy man in Lakshmi Temple gestured to follow him when we had just entered into the temple compound after a long climb of steps. He took us up into a higher point which was surrounded by stone walls. It looked like a fort from the outside.
Skipping from massive boulder to boulder at the hill top, we finally arrived at this viewpoint. In the distance, we could make out Anjaneya Hill where the Hanuman temple stood. It is believed that the birthplace of Hanuman was at that very spot on Anjaneya Hill.
Both Lakshmi Temple and Anjaneya Hill are located at Anegondi, north of the Tungabhadra River, just across from Hampi.
This was one of the highlights of the Kecak performance at the Uluwatu amphitheatre. In the Rama and Sita love story, Hanuman, the monkey king, had the role of trying to rescue the kidnapped wife of Rama.
In this dramatized part, Hanuman ran, skipped and jumped into the ring of fire causing mayhem to the villians. In this image, the faint figure of Hanuman on the left was about to jump into the ring of fire.
For some, it's shopping therapy. Others, movie therapy. Yet more, reading therapy. For me, it's writing therapy.