Sites, Statues and Smiles

Sravanabelagola, Karnataka - February 15

Upon recommendation from a couple people we met while staying at the lovely Honey Valley, we decided to visit some thousand-year-old ruins and the tallest monolithic stone carving in the world before continuing on to Mysore. We were not disappointed. The Hoysala-style temples at both Halebid + Belur boast unique, star-shaped plans and OUTRAGEOUSLY intricate stone carvings. Better than any we'd yet seen. The later, a Jain deity standing high on a hill overlooking the town of Sravanabelagola, was equally dramatic. A restaurant in this charming, little town is where we sit now, enjoying a breakfast of chai, upma + idly.

Besides the quality + grace of the architecture we've seen, the people have been another highlight. Shy, well-manered and not all that used to seeing foreigners, they queitly sit nearby (especially the women + girls) and smile + stare, particularly at me. Any sort of acknowledgement on my part ellicts bursts of giggles which are quickly muffled by hand over mouth as they look away. Younger kids, as they seem to be everywhere, are a bit more brazen. The ones we've met here use "Please", "Sir" and "Madam" and love to drill you with questions to practice their English at every opportunity. They also LOVE to have their photos taken, which was how, yesterday, I found myself surrounded by this lovely swarm of butterflies. All 12-13 years old on a school fiedtrip from the northern part of the state. They were MUCH more interested in me than the giant deity. I was thoroughly charmed :)

Check the "link" for more photos