Vittala Temple, Hampi

Hampi, is the cradle of Vijaynagar architecture as showcased by various monuments in the region. But,the Vittala Temple is the prime attraction among them. No words of explanation can do justice to the architectural extravaganza of this temple. The construction of the temple was initiated in 1513 AD by the Maharaja Krishnadevaraya. The work was later supported by its successors Achuta and Sadasiva till its destruction in 1565 AD. (Click on all the images for bigger picture)

Sculptures on the tower of gateways

The sprawling temple campus was built inside the high boundary walls with 3 gateway towers on the east, south and north. The eastern entrance is used for entry into the temple complex. Inside this campus there are many halls, pavilions and temples.

Stone chariot

In front of the main temple is the Stone Chariot. This has become a iconic monument in Hampi. Even though it is referred as monolithic, it is in fact built with many giant granite blocks. (Click on all the images for bigger picture)

Temple Maha Mandap

The Vittala Temple stands on a strong ornate stone basement that has been richly carved with designs of horses, elephants, dancing girls, floral motifs and soldiers. The temple can be entered through a series of steps flanged by elephant balustrades that leads to the Maha Mantapa. This contains four open halls within. While the central western hall has collapsed, the south, north and the east ones are still intact.

musical pillars

The main attraction of Maha-Mantapa is its superbly carved giant monolithic pillars. The outermost of the pillars have slender and short pilasters carved out of the giant pillars. They are known as musical pillars as they emit musical tones when tapped. The tapping on it is not permitted for the sake of preservation. (Click on all the images for bigger picture)

Sculpture on the pillar

The eastern hall is known as the musicians hall because of the sculptures of musicians on the pillars. The southern hall pillars are carved with mythical creatures called Yalis. The northern hall is surrounded with a series of pillars with the Narasimha themes. The ceilings of the halls are carved with lotus in the centre. The inner sanctum is devoid of any idol. (Click on all the images for bigger picture)

Pillared Hall in the temple campus

Even the other halls inside the campus are equally worth noticing. There is a 100-pillared hall at the southwest, the ceremonial marriage hall in the southeast. Even they have been richly carved.

Five Things I Hate About Luxury Cruises

I love cruise travel. I honestly do, but there are just a few minor things that annoy me each and every time I embark on a ship.

My Top Five Cruising Pet Peeves

I have a name too. On every single cruise I've ever been on, all correspondence to our suite—invitations to an officer's table for dinner, for example—are always addressed to Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Hospidor. Why is that? I'm the one that booked the cruise. The credit card that paid for the cruise is in my name. Why do I never got a nod and get my name listed on anything?! I realize that cruise lines are sticking to an old etiquette tradition, but times have changed. Studies indicate that it's the woman that controls most travel decisions in a household. She selects the destination, the cruise line, works out the arrangements with the travel agent, etc. So cruise lines, give us girls our props and address both the husband and wife (even if the woman has a different last name than her husband, which is pretty normal these days).

I can carry my own plate. Seriously. When I'm older and less steady on my feet, I'm sure I'll appreciate the mad dash waiters make to carry my plate from the buffet line to my table. If I'm in my bathing suit and just ordered a hamburger from the pool grill, I really can carry the plate back to my lounge chair. If I decline your offer to help, please accept it. (Of course, if the seas are rough and it's an issue of safety for those around me, I'll of course let you carry my plate.)

Formal, Semi-Formal, Elegant Casual, Country Club Casual. Gah! Every cruise line uses slightly different terminology when referring to its evening dress code. Could we try to standardize the nomenclature? The term "elegant casual" drives my husband crazy. How does it differ from Country Club Casual? Can he wear a golf short on those evenings or not? I think each cruise line should simply show photographs of smartly dressed travelers with a caption that says, "These outfits meet our standards for Elegant Casual evenings."

Teetotalers would like a beverage served with dinner too. I realize that the main concern of the sommelier is bringing the best wines possible to the table. However, some of us don't drink alcoholic beverages (even when on all-inclusive cruises). When I ask for an ice tea, please bring me one. Must I ask two or three times? Also, please refill my drink. If there's wine in my husband's glass, there should be ice tea in mine.

Longer hours for the hot tub, please. Why bother having a hot tub onboard if you close it at 6 pm? Could you at least let guests enjoy the whirlpool after dinner for a few hours?

So there you have it. The five things I hate about luxury cruising. What are your cruise ship pet peeves?

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Silversea's Silver Spirit Begins Sea Trials Today

Luxury cruise fans have been waiting for this: Silversea's new 540-passenger cruise ship, Silver Spirit, begins her sea trials today in Ancona, Italy. Located on the Adriatic Sea, Ancona is about 275 miles northeast of Rome.

Silver Spirit's first sea trial will take her from Ancona to Trieste, a city in northeast Italy near the border of Slovenia. Once she arrives there, she'll spent a week in dry dock before embarking on her final sea trials.

Good luck to Silversea! We can't wait to see this gorgeous new ship in action!

Visit Silversea's website for more information about Silver Spirit.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com