Here's the second part of the interview I did about my recently published eBooks on Hampi. In addition to talking about how writing an eBook can help you get the most out of the photographs you take on a trip, I also describe the audiences that the books are targeted at.

Here’s part I of a recent interview I did in which I talk about why I decided to write my eBooks on Hampi and the exciting possibilities for eBook publishing, particularly in niche areas.

Next time I do an interview I’ll try and make sure my shirt collar is in the right place…..

After completing the BrownBeat Guide to Hampi, I felt I had a lot of materials about the place that I hadn’t fully utilized, so I decided as an experiment to put together a complementary volume featuring my favorite photos of the old Vijayanagara capital and surrounding countryside together with some brief descriptions of the major sights.

Called the BrownBeat Photo Companion to Hampi, this eBook is now available from Amazon for 99 cents (though prices may vary depending on your location) and can also be borrowed through the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library.

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Hampi has stunning natural scenery dominated by granite boulders of all sizes, shapes and colors that have been sculpted by hundreds of millions of years of erosion and exposure to the elements.

The sacred Tungabhadra River has also contributed to the shaping of the landscape, cutting its way through the granite peaks and gradually grinding down the boulders along its banks.  

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Tracing the area’s associations with Hindu mythology has been one of the most interesting aspects of writing about Hampi, even if it hasn’t been easy to verify the origin of some of the stories.

It’s also been intriguing to see how threads from different tales intersect geographically. For example, it is believed that Shiva gave Vishnu one of his most powerful weapons, the Chakra, a sharp spinning discus-like implement, at the Chakratirtha, the holiest bathing spot on the Tungabhadra River.

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Like Hampi Bazaar, Soolai Bazaar was one of the four main markets in the capital of Vijayanagara. Popularly known as Courtesan’s Street, precious little is left of what was reportedly one of the liveliest and most colorful quarters of the city, which according to the literature of the time also housed a thriving jewelry market.

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At the end of Hampi Bazaar is a huge monolithic statue of the bull Nandi housed in a twin-storied pavilion. Known locally as Yeduru Basavanna, this statue was carved out of the rock and although fairly primitive in style has an imposing presence about it.

Behind the statue is a steep stone staircase that leads up to the old entrance to Hampi Bazaar. The views of the bazaar and the Virupaksha Temple from here are spectacular.

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While few vestiges remain of what was once the bustling center of one of the richest cities in the medieval world, you can still get a sense of its original grandeur as you stroll down its broad expanse and view the old houses and pavilions on the sides of the boulevard.

You can see more images of Hampi Bazaar here.

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Here is my final collection of images of Hampi Virupaksha Temple. The photo above showing the 50 meter-high nine-tiered tower of the eastern gateway (gopura) is one of my favorites if only because it shows the sheer magnificence of the structure.

In contrast, I do also really like this shot of a man sat in quiet contemplation inside the temple courtyard. It somehow captures the peaceful reflective atmosphere of the complex.

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