Boulders and Ruins in Hampi

Hampi looks like nowhere else in India: boulders the size of buildings scattered across a landscape of ancient temple ruins, like a giant playground abandoned centuries ago. We rented bicycles and spent two full days pedaling between crumbling gopurams and stepped-tank reservoirs, mostly alone except for the occasional cow.

Climbing Matanga Hill for sunset over the whole ruined city, boulders glowing orange as the light dropped, was the single best twenty minutes of the trip.