The Walls of Hampi

- Nurturing Nature Amidst The Ruins

By Tharangini

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For over eight years Hampi has enticed and woven its web of magic, mysteries and enchantment spellbindingly around me. The addiction has me craving for more and more, as each year I find myself yet again in this place, to be intoxicated with its never ending surprises. 

As much as the ruins have me under their inescapable spell,  equally enthralling is the variety of life that hides, breeds and thrives on these walls. The walls that protected empires centuries ago continue to diligently carry on their duties of protecting and safe-guarding various life forms that now call these walls a home.

Generations of  men, beasts, flora and fauna have come and gone, yet the timeless wall remains - a silent spectator  to the stories from across time. 

As a tribute, here are just a few fleeting glances at the walls that are very much alive even today with the very different kinds of lives within them. 

Hoopoe Pair

The rains had still not given up on Hampi and the dull breezy afternoon was perfect for exploring the intriguing mysteries hidden here - The only time of the year when the whole day becomes a pleasant experience in Hampi. As our vehicle turned around one of the massive walls, a couple of  Hoopoes came into the view. I was out of the vehicle before it rolled to a stop, also realizing anyone can perform stunts with the right motivation. What better motivation than this incredible sight of the Hoopoe pair feeding their young?  The space between the stones was so narrow, that it was hard to imagine that it actually harbored lives. Keeping safe distance so as not to spook the young parents, we watched as they made multiple trips with varied tasty morsels for the young ravenous fledglings.  Hoopoes are also known to line their nest with secretions that smell like rotting meat, to deter predators. Another reason to stay really far away.

Spotted Owlet

Just before the turn from Lotus Mahal,  is a wall, discreet and barely attracting a second glance. In this wall is a missing stone. This is replaced by a little furball that calls it a home. Almost custom made for the inspiration behind our blog, a Spotted Owlet has been sitting there for years. How do I know that? That's because almost every visit I've made I've tried to pass by that way at least once, and sure enough, never to disappoint me, this one has been requiting my curious gaze with an undeterred stare. 

Male Plum Headed Parakeet

  

Female Plum Headed Parakeet

 All those who have visited the Zenana enclosure in Hampi, would be no stranger to the cacophony of the innumerable colorful inmates, all competing for prime real estate along the surrounding wall. The larger population of  the Plum Headed Parakeets now have the sole occupancy of the watch towers, staving off fierce competition from the mynas and squirrels.  The parakeets are the royalty here and this is their kingdom.

Rose Ringed Parakeet

Male Rose Ringed Parakeet 

The Rose Ringed Parakeets also try to find their fair share of foothold on these walls, but are lesser in population compared to their colorful counterparts. However at roosting time, the war of screeches is not something that can be ignored.

Plum Headed Parakeets in Krishna Temple

The other favorite haunt for these parakeets is the Krishna temple. These communal roosters vie for the attention of the females during breeding season and well, some gain, some lose. This one guy seemed to sulk as another pair engaged blissfully in some PDA. Their world is not that different from ours. 

Sirkeer Malkoha

The walk back from Achyutraya Temple was pleasant enough. The courtesans street kept our cameras busy while our minds kept wandering to the hot idli breakfast waiting at the other end, on the banks of Tungabhadra. All that had to wait when the beautiful Sirkeer Malkoha decided to hop right in front of us. When a naturally shy bird makes such a bold move, it is imperative to give it all the attention. The terrain of Hampi  with the rocks, shrubs, boulders and the grass growing in between gives this bird the perfect concoction to live and prosper.  

For some more of some elusive and some not so elusive species join me in part II.

Location map: