Posted on 11 October 2025:

From Stone to Stream: A Soulful Journey Through Hampi and Pampa Sagar

As the Tungabhadra River flows quietly through the heart of Karnataka, she carries with her centuries of stories—of empires that rose and fell, of temples carved in stone, and of civilizations that once thrived along her fertile banks. Her waters have witnessed the grandeur of the Vijayanagara Empire, and today, they continue to nurture the land with grace and strength.

Under the warm October sun, we—twenty curious souls from all walks of life—embarked on a journey that felt more like a pilgrimage than a tour. Led by the spirited team of Savari Travelmate Kannur, we wandered through the ancient ruins of Hampi, where history breathes through every stone. 

Children skipped over sunlit boulders, elders paused by silent shrines, and the rest of us stood in awe as the past unfolded around us.

“Every broken pillar here has a heartbeat,” someone whispered, and it was true. 

The grandeur of the Vijayanagara Empire still lingers in the air, carried by the wind that rustles through temple corridors and echoes off the carved walls. 

Hampi is not just a place—it’s a feeling. A timeless reminder that beauty can endure even in ruin.

From these sacred stones, our journey flowed naturally to the lap of the Tungabhadra Dam, also known as Pampa Sagar. 

As we approached the reservoir, the landscape shifted from ancient to awe-inspiring. Calm waters stretched before us, cradled by hills and history. 

“The dam doesn’t just hold water, and it holds history.” “ Nature flows, but it’s man’s vision that shapes the flow.”

Conceived in 1949 as a joint venture between the Kingdom of Hyderabad and the Madras Presidency, the project was later carried forward by the newly formed Indian republic. 

“Built in 1953 using surki mortar—a humble mix of mud and limestone—the dam is one of India’s rare non-cement structures, alongside Kerala’s Mullaperiyar Dam,” explained Adarsh, our ever-enthusiastic Team Manager.

“The vision of architects Vepa Krishnamurthy, Pallimalli Papaiah, and M.S. Tirumale Iyengar gave birth to what is now India’s largest stone masonry dam,” he added.

The dam stood like a quiet sentinel, its stonework glowing in the mid-day light. 

It wasn’t just a feat of engineering—it was a tribute to vision, resilience and collaboration. 

Conceived in a time when India was still finding its feet as a republic, Pampa Sagar continues to serve the land with grace, offering irrigation, power and protection.

As we sat by the water’s edge, someone said, “From the sacred ruins of Hampi to the engineering brilliance of Pampa Sagar, we’ve touched two sides of the same soul—one carved by devotion, the other built by determination.”

This journey reminded us that travel isn’t just about places—it’s about stories. And in Karnataka’s heartland, the stories flow as freely as the Tungabhadra herself.