HAMPI, KARNATAKA

11:25 AM HAMPI , KARNATAKA 0 Comments

Hampi is one of the 32 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India located in the Karnataka state. Hampi was the capital of Vijayanagar Empire in 13th century is both a historic & religious place in India with magnificient temples and architectural wonders. The city is in ruins now, but it serves as one of the most interesting places in India to hangout with good weather and ambience to spend some time away from the cities.

Hampi is charismatic even in its ruined state attracting thousands of visitors every year. Spread over an area more than 25 square kilometers Hampi ruins is packed with giant temples, palaces, market streets, aquatic structures , fortifications and an abundance of other ancient monuments. If you’re looking for a quick getaway from Bengaluru for a weekend in October, Hampi is only an overnight train ride away.

The most splendid of temples at Vijayanagar is the Vitthala temple, near the Tungabhadra river. It is considered to be the most ornate of the Vijayanagar temples. No amount of words can explain this spectacle. The temple is built in the form of a sprawling campus with compound wall and gateway towers. There are many halls, pavilions and temples located inside this campus.

Amidst the ruins of the ancient city Vijaynagar the Virupaksha temple stands tall with all its earlier structures still intact. Virupaksha temple is believed to be one of the oldest active temples (from 7th century AD) in India. This is a place equally sought-after by the tourists and the pilgrims. The temple personifies Lord Shiva and is still used for worship. The inside of the temple consists of a sanctum with a madapam in front, three ante chambers, a pillared hall and an open pillared hall.The chariot festival is celebrated in the premises of this temple during the month of February.

Located near the Virupaksha Temple, the Hampi Bazaar is also known as Virupaksha Bazaar. On either sides of this one kilometer long street near the temple, are pavilions which were once a part of the markets of the nobles. Most of these pavilions, particularly towards the west of Virupaksha Temple have shops and restaurants.This is the place to explore the ruins reminiscent of a splendid past and be fascinated.

Matanga hill is a well known tourist destination in Hampi. Its main attraction being the breathtaking aerial view of the Hampi landscape and enjoy either sunrise or sunset at Hampi.The experience is beyond words and unmatched. When on top, you can appreciate the sheer wisdom of the Vijaynagara rulers for selecting Hampi as their capital. Matanga hill is historically connected to the epic Ramayana as it was the hiding place for Sugriva, the ruler of Kishkinda.

Hazara Rama Temple is the family temple of the rulers and surrounded by enclosures containing buildings and ruins associated with the king, court and military. Finely carved basalt pillars depict the incarnations of Vishnu. The exterior walls are sculptured with events from the Ramayana. This temple is renowned for its elaborate frescos extensively portraying scenes from Hindu mythology.

Lotus Mahal is a two-storeyed pavilion on a stepped plan. This palace was inspired by the beauty of a woman. Hindu and Islamic architectural elements are skillfully blended that displays the Vijayanagar courtly style. Today, the tower is in a dilapidated state, and guarded by eunuchs.

The elephants of the royalty were kept in this imposing edifice with arched entrances and many domes. The architectural style of the building has a strong Indo-Islamic influence that gets reflected in its domes and arched gateways. The building consists of eleven chambers amongst which ten of these are crowned with domes. These chambers were used as elephant stables.

Tungabhadra Dam is the South India’s largest stone masonry dam built across the Tungabhadra river. The reservoir has a storage capacity of 132,559 million cubic feet of water. It contributes 99000 KW of electric power.

The Hampi festival is held every year in the first week of November. Music and dance programmes, drama, fireworks, puppet shows and spectacular processions are a part of this festival. This festival is organized by the Karnataka state government in order to recreate the grandeur of the ancient Vijayanagar empire. The artists from every part of India gather here to take part and enjoy the festival.

There are 35 Budget hotels in Hampi which are priced below Rs. 2500.There are good road and rail connections from Hospet(gateway town to Hampi) to a number of major towns and cities around this part of India. Hubli is the nearest airport (about 160km) west of Hampi. A more practical option is to fly to Bangalore and take the Hampi Express.