Gangavathi

Looks like every post now will have a mention of the pandemic. Me and cousins were sick and tired of staying indoors, waiting for things to get better. Hence, we did not think twice when we were invited to the quaint town of Gangavathi, close to Hampi. We drove to the place and as were entering it, we could see people roaming without masks. Small groups of people were chatting in abandon with no concern for social distancing. My cousin looked around to see if there was at least one person wearing a mask. Upon spotting such an individual, he remarks "Look, that guy is wearing a mask. Marle (crazy guy)!" The joke was so on point that we couldn't stop laughing!!

That's the reality now. Anybody abiding the law or following rules and regulations are frowned upon for not being smart enough to outwit the authorities. Anyway, we moved on as per the location pin sent to us and landed in the middle of nowhere. No sign of the resort. After asking around we observed, true to its name, "The Hidden Place" was hidden amidst thick shrubbery. We went into a large expanse of land with a natural stream from the Tungabhadra river flowing by.

What followed is a refreshing experience amidst nature. Gangavathi is a mix of the old and the new. It has a fusion culture. Thanks to Hampi, it has a constant influx of foreigners. You can find several cafes dotted along the path that cater to continental food. However, the decor of these cafes is rustic, lending an old-world charm to the whole setup. I learnt to enjoy a steaming cup of coffee in the chill weather of Gangavathi.

The cousin who hosted us is extremely nice! He wants people to have fun. There would be a large spread of food for every meal. The day's activities would be planned in advance. Our every need was taken care of. And even after coming home, the party wouldn't stop. There was an impromptu karaoke session and someone sang "Ae zindagi gale lagale..". At the point where the lyrics goes "Humne bhi tere har ek gham ko, gale se lagaya hai, hai na?" my cousin would go "Ha ha ha..". It was hilarious. The host's wife is named Vaidehi and for the most part of the night, we kept chanting "Vaidehi Vaidehi..". These memories are going to live with me forever.

We had planned our trip only for the weekend. Soon, it was time to leave. Before heading to Bangalore, we made one last stop. It was a huge estate with the Tungabhadra river flowing just beside it. The view there is beautiful. We were amazed to hear from the owner that the place transforms during different seasons. During summer, the land turns dry and one can ride vehicles on it. With the advent of spring, sunflowers blossom in the same fields. One can also see flamingos flying in. As the rains start pouring, the plants get washed away and the river marks its path. And the river brings along the seals with it. Imagine seals climbing up to the shore. What a magical place!

The estate also had a dragon fruit plantation. Farmers are getting many exotic fruits to India and cultivating them here. This just shows that nature and science go hand in hand. The trip served as a good break for me. We don't have to travel far to experience different cultures. There is so much to explore around us.