Khajuraho

Trip: Delhi - Khajuraho - Gwalior - Delhi

• Khajuraho can be planned as a weekend getaway from Delhi. Overnight trains at convenient time run but travel need to be planned at least a month given limited seats.
• Temples should be visited early morning or in evening. Noon is hot unless its winter. Be ready for couple of miles walk around the complex.
• Raneh Waterfalls and Pandav Cave are nearby attractions that one may cover. Hotels are aplenty and affordable. There is an airport also under construction.

Khajuraho happened to us so quickly that we were neither ready with appropriate duration nor with a camera fitting for the occasion. One fine morning we were just there. We reached this legendary temple city by train one morning. Hotels are in abundance near main temple complex. We settled in Ramada Khajuraho and freshened up quickly. Plan was to have a brunch near main temple and then start off.

Poses, Khajuraho

Hampi

• Be ready for long walks. Major attractions are afar and massively spread in themselves. Then there are small treks to Anjanaya Temple or the magnificent Hemkuta Hills adjacent to Virupaksha Temple.
• Avoid summers. Even in cooler climate, you will need a vehicle to take you around the dusty city. There are restaurants near Virupaksha Temple that may offer your kind of food.
• Sunset at Hemkuta, lunch at one of the river bank restaurants and a photograph with the golden chariot at Vishnu Temple - these are a must.

Trip: Bangalore > Chitradurga > Hampi > Bangalore

Hampi offers such bizarre backgrounds in such quantity that it can easily be declared a photographer's haven.  From flowing river to ruined city,  from ancient temples to high hills it has everything a remarkable photoshoot demands.WereachedHyatt Hampi from Chitradurga by taking a diversion from Kudligi. This proved to be a big mistake as the 35 miles stretch can hardly be called a road. By the time we checked in we were good for nothing. Hungry and tired, we settled at the restaurant and ate a mouthful.

Virupaksha Temple @ Hampi

Kanchipuram

Tiruvannamalai - Pondicherry - Mahabalipuram - Kanchipuram

Kanchipuram was a bonus and a surprise on our way to Mahabalipuram.  We decided to cover it on our way back. It was a decision I rue since the architectural richness of this city begs for more than a day to spare - not to forget the market of famous silk sarees which has developed its own brand.

Sri Ekambereswarar Temple @ Kanchipuram