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South India & Kerala's Top 10
Lotus Mahal, Hampi
HUW JONES / GETTY IMAGES ©
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Today's surreal boulderscape of Hampi (
Click here
)
was once the glorious Vijayanagar,
capital of a powerful Hindu empire. Still glorious in ruins, its temples and royal structures
combine with the terrain in mystical ways: giant rocks balance on skinny pedestals near an
ancient elephant garage, temples tuck into crevices between boulders, and round coracle
boats float by rice paddies and bathing buffaloes near a gargantuan bathtub for a queen.
Watching the sunset cast a rosy glow over the extraordinary landscape, you might just for-
get what planet you're on.
