Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Day 2: Tea Break at Aihole

It took me all of 8-9 posts to complete the reporting of Day 1 of the Hampi Tour. It was a very satisfying day and I had snapped up close to 250 odd pictures many of which I have reflected in my posts. After the visit to Anegunde we headed back to Hotel Sampige for a refreshing hot shower to soothe away the aches and pains before proceeding to a nearby restaurant which went by the name of "Ice & Snow" or something similar sounding. Obviously this had started off as an ice cream parlor and when its popularity increased they expanded into a full fledged restaurant. Our dining experience there was quite exemplary and we topped off dinner with one of their popular ice creams.  
Day 2: The plan on day 2 was to visit  Aihole, Pattadakkal & Badami and since we had quite a distance to travel to reach our first destination Aihole (around 120 Kms or so) we decided to leave sharp at 8.00 am. En-route we were privileged to see the Tungabhadra Dam with water gushing down the sluice gates in full force.It appears that due to heavy rains the reservoir levels has increased considerably and hence the sluice had to be opened to release excess water.  It was a glorious sight to see the water pummeling down the walls of the dam in full fury. As we approached Aihole many in the group wanted a brief stop over for ablutions & a cuppa hot tea. So we stopped at a roadside restaurant "Bharath Dhaba". For evidence see the below pics:
The Bharath Dhaba (restaurant)
Royal charpai's laid out for customers to eat & sleep.
Cut vegetables ready for the cooking
The onion chopping board
Onions being "guillotined" swiftly & smoothly
Piping hot tea being poured into the kettle
Dr.Satyamurthy,  Retd.Supt. from ASI in serious dialogue with a couple of team members
After this brief interruption we proceeded to the ASI office to pick up an ASI official who was to accompany us for the rest of the day. Here are some pics taken at the ASI office. We also found some bullocks in this predominantly rural setting and they made good subjects.
ASI Bagalkot office - above 
A solitary bullock , a bullock cart pulling a couple of bullocks, bullocks ploughing a field.
Add caption

24 comments:

  1. Nice capture. Bharat Dhabha is interesting...Though I've seen Aihole , looking forward to see it again through your post...

    ReplyDelete
  2. Awesome post.

    http://www.rajniranjandas.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. Lovely quotes, but, doesn't those bullocks are look a bit skinny for pulling a cart?

    ReplyDelete
  4. A very interesting restaurant...cut the heads right off those onions, heh? Very funny. We have some bullocks just like those right here in our area!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Yes Bob the bullocks are undernourished !

    ReplyDelete
  6. What an interesting restaurant. Love the rustic look and the plateful of vegetables. Aihole? What an even more interesting name. :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. the food looks fresh and colorful! the bullocks are handsome beasts.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Ramakrishnan
    I am back and organising my work so that I can devote some tie for blogging too. See you soon.
    o were you on tour of Hampi I must read your earlier posts too.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Glad you took so many photos, 'Day 1' is a fantastic series! Great colours, variety and information.

    ReplyDelete
  10. This has been an interesting trip. Lots of local insights.

    ReplyDelete
  11. These small time eateries are mostly the best in terms of taste and economy! wonderful snaps RR!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Why don't Indians smile for the camera? Everybody looks so somber in all of your photos.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Great photos and quotes. The bullocks look very thing...they need to have more food. :) I love tea, I much prefer tea to coffee. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Gigi: Indians do smile too! The pictures are candid,impromptu & not posed.

    ReplyDelete
  15. eye in the sky: It is believed that Saint Parusharama after fulfilling his vow of avenging his father’s murder is said to have come down to the Malaprabha River and washed his blood stained hands and the Axe.The river water turned red due to the blood on the axe. A local lady saw the red water and shouted Ayyo, Hole! (Oh No, Blood!) and hence the name Aihole.

    ReplyDelete
  16. An interesting trip!!
    The last two photos with white cows and a cart loaded are very humorous!!! I like them.
    Red Rose, Green Tomato.

    ReplyDelete
  17. This looks like a great place for quick grab on the way.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Such vivid images - almost like a little film! Thanks for bringing India so close to us!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Dhaba! Gosh, it's been ages since I visited one.
    Very attractive pictures.

    ReplyDelete
  20. nyc read.
    http://myfashionbaye.blogspot.in/

    ReplyDelete
  21. The land looks very green and fertile in these parts.
    Do you know the history of the portraits on the restaurant walls?

    Ruby

    ReplyDelete
  22. Those are AMAZING pictures - Tea stall looks so clean and veggies look so fresh. the old temples are a visual treat - did i tell you I am doing a temple tour in November? the southern TN belt - looking forward very much to it and hope and pray all goes well!
    cheers,
    Priya

    ReplyDelete

RAMAL RAMANATHAN'S 95th BIRTHDAY

Wedding Studio Photo Appa's 90th Birthday Ayushhomam at Coimbatore: 2006 Wedding Photo Photos clicked on Birthday at Coimbatore Special ...