The last Capital of the Hindu Kingdom of Viajayanagar, Hampi was pillaged and abandoned by the Deccan Muslim Confederacy in 1565.
Climb any boulder-toppled mountain around the ruins of the Vijayanagar Empire and you can see the dizzying scale of the Hindu conquerors’ glory; Hampi was the capital of a kingdom that covered the whole of southern India. Little of the kingdom’s riches remain; now the mud huts of gypsies squat under the boulders where noblemen once stood, and the double decker shopfronts of the bazaar where diamonds were once traded by the kilo is now geared solely towards profiting from Western tourists and domestic pilgrims. Away from the hubbub and hassle of the bazaar, Hampi possesses a romantic, hypnotic desolation. You’ll need at least a full day to get a flavour of the place, but for many visitors the chilled-out vibe has a magnetic attraction, and some end up staying for weeks.
HampiReaching there:
By Air : Bellary-74 km, Bangalore-360 km
By Rail: Hospet-12 km
By Road: Hospet - 12 km, Hubli-210 km, Bangalore-315 kmAt Hampi, the past comes alive. Whispering winds, magnificent ruins, traces and scents of a bygone era all linger fresh here. And they virtually transport you to a world of kings, battles and long forgotten marvels. The ancient city of Hampi was spread across a 29 sq km area along the Tungabhadra River. Welcome to the world's largest open-air museum - Hampi, Karnataka.
Hampi was the capital city of the magnificent Vijayanagara Empire. Founded by Harihara and Bukka in 1336, it fell to invaders from the north in 1565 after the Battle of Talikota, and subsequently lapsed into decline. However, these historical ruins still evoke memories of regal splendour.Amidst a boulder-strewn landscape along the banks of the Tungabhadra River, Hampi was a showpiece of India's might in the 15th century. There were opulent palaces, marvellous temples, massive fortifications, baths, markets, aquaducts, pavilions and stables for royal elephants. The city's merchants traded in diamonds, pearls, fine silks, brocades, horses and more. Most of the ruins are located in two areas, the Royal Centre and the Sacred Centre. The Royal Centre contains structures that were primarily for ceremonial use.King's Palace
The largest enclosure in Hampi, the King's Palace includes two major platform structures, an underground chamber which must have served as a treasury or private audience hall and double fortification walls, besides other interesting architectural elements.Virupaksha Temple
Dedicated to Lord Shiva and his consort Pampadevi, this is the only temple here that is still used for worship. Parts of the temple predate the Vijayanagara Empire. The temple, with its nine-storied gopura, towers above the other structures at Hampi. The ceiling of the Ranga Mantapa is beautifully painted with scenes from the epics and Puranas.Ganesha Images
Two Ganesha images (Sasivekalu and Kadalekalu) can be seen on the slopes of the Hemakuta Hill. The former image is in an open hall while the latter one is enclosed in a temple with unusually tall pillars.Lakshminarasimha
The awesome 6.7 m high monolith depicting the man-lion form of Lord Vishnu is seated on a seven-hooded serpent.Badavilinga
Located next to the Lakshminarasimha statue, the Badavilinga is 3 m high and stands permanently in water that flows through an ancient channel.
Elephant Stables An imposing edifice, with arched entrances and many domes, that once housed the magnificent state elephants.Pushkarni
The stepped water tank, excavated in the mid-1980s, was originally a part of the palace complex. Almost lyrical in its beauty, the tank is a tiered structure crafted from rectangular pieces of granite.Lotus Mahal
This visually appealing structure has two levels, with open pavilions at the bottom and balconies above. Highlighting the fusion of the Hindu and Muslim styles of architecture, the Mahal derives its name from its beautiful, geometrically-arranged cusped arches that resemble the petals of a lotus opening to the sun.Vijaya Vittala Temple
The Vijaya Vittala Temple is Hampi's crowning glory, with a magnificent stone chariot standing in the temple courtyard. Equally impressive is the large Ranga Mantapa with 56 musical pillars that resound with musical chimes when struck.Hazara Rama Temple
The royal temple that was reserved for ceremonial use, the Hazara Rama Temple is embellished with bas reliefs depicting scenes from the epic, Ramayana. The walls of the enclosure are richly carved with friezes depicting processions of horses, elephants, dancing girls and soldiers attired in splendid armour. Inside, four exquisitely sculpted granite pillars add to the beauty of the Ardha Mantapa.Mahanavami Dibba
Equally impressive is the massive Mahanavami Dibba, where the kings of the Vijayanagara Empire once sat upon their gem-studded golden throne and watched processions pass by. The structure is also embellished with densely carved bands of horses, soldiers and depictions of various aspects of courtly life.Queen's Bath Though the exterior may appear simple, the interior is stunningly ornate, with graceful arched corridors, projecting balconies and lotus-shaped fountains that once spouted perfumed water for the ladies of the court.Around HampiAnegundi
Situated across the Tungabhadra river from Hampi, is the fortress town of Anegundi, which pre-dates the Vijayanagara Empire. Anegundi lies in the mythical kingdom of Kishkinda, believed to have been ruled by Sugriva. Anjanadri Hill, near Anegundi, is believed to be the birthplace of the monkey-god Hanuman. Anegundi is dotted with forgotten temples and fortifications. The dilapidated Huchappayana Matha, is worth a peek for its black stone lathe-turned pillars and fine panels of dancers. The other places of interest are the sacred Pampa Sarovara, Aramane (a ruined palace) and the Ranganatha Temple.It has been selected under the Rural Tourism Project of the Union Tourism Ministry which aims for the socio-economic and cultural development of the local people.Bellary Fort
Situated 74 km from Hampi, is the magnificent Bellary Fort. It was built atop the Ballari Gudda or Fort Hill, during Vijayanagara times by Hanumappa Nayaka. Hyder Ali took possession from the Nayakas in 1769 and got the fort renovated and modified with the help of a French engineer. Legend has it that the engineer was hanged, for overlooking the fact that the neighbouring Kumbara Gudda was taller than Ballari Gudda, thus compromising the secrecy and command of the fort.Tungabhadra Dam
The Tungabhadra Dam, 5 km from Hospet, affords a spectacular view of the sunset. There is also a beautiful garden here.Kamalapur
Karnataka Hotels, Hampi (Bhuvaneshwari), a popular KSTDC Hotel, is the nearest such facility to Hampi and has hosted prestigious guests like Her Excellency, the President of India.The Director, Department of Tourism
# 49, Khanija Bhavan, Second Floor, Race Course Road, Bangalore -560 001, Karnataka, India. Tel: +91 80 22352828 Fax: +91 80 22352626
Email: info@karnatakatourism.org, www.karnatakatourism.orgFor more information, contact: Assistant Director, Regional Tourist Office, Government of Karnataka, College Road, Hospet -583201 Tel: 08394 -228537
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