Sep 13, 2011

Pattern Inspirations from Hampi

As you drive past wayside scenes as regular as small colorful houses, children playing on the streets, pigs and cows and dogs on the road, bullock carts, and old men sitting under the shade of trees, little would you think that this small village in North Karnataka was the capital of an Empire more than five hundred years ago.

A visit to Hampi, as any site of ancient ruins, evokes in you a strong feeling of awe of how prosperous the place must've been in its heydays. The temple stone carvings here are not as elaborate as you would see in other parts of India, but are awe-inspiring nevertheless. Now in ruins, they stand a reminder of the invasions by the Muslim-ruled Deccan Sultanates way back in the 1600s.

Apart from memories of the kingdom's past grandeur, I also brought back in my camera some of the simpler, easy-to-reproduce patterns from the ruins .... simplest among all the complex ones I spotted there.

As travel memories at home, I must try painting them onto fabric, paper, canvas, walls, urns, or tiles - to remind me of the place each time I walk by!




How about these as borders?

This string of elephants would make a happy border along the edge of a wall, or on a stole!

I got to try this one

Have to add in this pic of an elephant we spotted.
Love the frame - colors on his trunk, and the blue window behind.


On another note, let me proudly share this too ... that A Sunny Yellow Window has been added to the Directory of Best Indian Blogs in the Arts category, and I am Mighty pleased! :-) A big thank you to the IndianTopBlogs.com team. Do visit their website for a listing of several wonderful Indian blogs.

Coming back to topic, tell me which heritage site has inspired you to Create, Write, Paint, Stitch, Engrave, Decoupage or just Poster-it-up-on-your-wall.

28 comments:

  1. Congratulations on the inclusion - totally deserved it :)

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  2. Anonymous3:13 PM

    Congratulations :-)

    I visited Hampi last year and was totally mesmerised by the patterns that I saw on the various monuments. Have you visited Champaner? That place has some superb examples of Indo-Islamic art. I visited Champaner about 2 weeks back and am in the process of writing the blog posts.

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  3. शानदार लेख चित्रों सहित।

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  4. So very inspiring Ambika and congratulations on being selected, well-deserved:):)

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  5. Thank you Purba, Sandeep and Kala!

    Thanks Sudha, I haven't been to Champaner, but your description and a quick Google Image search make it a must-visit heritage site! Will look forward to your posts on the place!

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  6. patterns are everywhere. And Hampi was surely a minefield for great patterns, which are not just beautiful to look at, but inspiring as well!

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  7. Anonymous9:05 PM

    Oh my gosh.. You lucky girls.. I've always wanted to go to Hampi.. :-( Your post is stunning.. :-) Hope you are having a fabulous week..

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  8. The ruins of Hampi reveals only 10% of the grandeur rest have been pillaged, pilfered and pirated. Even in ruins it signifies the era of Diamond trade.

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  9. Congratulations Ambika!!

    What a beautiful way to get inspired! Waiting for your paintings and artistic works now :)

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  10. hey...when did u visit??
    i just visited satrday thats 10th
    its up in my blog too
    http://chitrayurveda.blogspot.com
    and say ur feed back !
    nice blog

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  11. Those images are beautiful. U are inspiring me as well. Congratulations on the inclusion.

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  12. WOW!!! Congrats! Hampi is too on my wish list :-)

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  13. Congrats!
    Hampi is a stunning place. Thanks for sharing those gorgeous pics:)

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  14. Such lovely photos and COngratulations too on your blog being honored

    Cheers from Bangalore ,India
    Dr Sonia S V
    http://cardsandschoolprojects.blogspot.com

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  15. Beautiful Snaps!
    Hearty congratulations on the inclusion :)

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  16. @Ankush and Umesh, very very true..

    @Patty you must visit the place given a chance!

    And thank you Arti, Rituparna, Sangha, Sameera, Sonia, Chitra and Shanti!

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  17. Wow..this is gorgeous place ...beautiful post and congrates for the incusion in top indian blogs.

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  18. first of all - CONGRATULATIONS!! you deserve it :)

    I have been to Hampi a few years back and I just love the place...
    will look forward to your new creations inspired by the place

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  19. Hi Ambika, I am going to India in January! You can show me good hotels in Varanasi and Agra? my e-mail is flor.baez@yahoo.com.br

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  20. Congrats!! You totally deserve it!! Beautiful pictures!!!

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  21. I have been to Hampi too, what an unbelivebale place so full of history and memories.
    Congratulations, your blog certainly deserves attention.

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  22. Indeed quite an achievement ! Congratulations !

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  23. there are many such places and each have their own set of inspirations and tales to tell...
    Nice summary and kudos for being add to the blog list :)

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  24. Congrats! That's awesome! Those pictures are beautiful!!



    In our sea of love

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  25. Anonymous1:16 PM

    Beautiful carvings... Loved the trial of walking elephants and the concentric circles of flolwers and leaves.
    Congratulations on SYW's inclusion in the list of top Indian blogs.

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  26. Cool patterns.Enjoyed your post. And thank you for the kind words.Very sweet of you.

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  27. memories of hampi refreshed! thank u so much! love the pictures as well

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  28. Congratulations Ambika!
    You know many years ago when i visited Hampi, I too had an idea of having a string of elephants as a border on the wall in our house/ flat. However it had just remained an idea. Now that I have this house still, I have not got it done. Now you have reminded me through this blog. Thank you.
    Happy Deepawali!

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