Hampi : Tribute to a Rich Heritage

Hampi, a small hamlet located in the Bellary district of northern Karnataka, is known all over the world for the ruins of the ancient empire of Vijayanagar.  Situated on the banks of the River Tungabhadra on an uneven terrain, Hampi sits at an altitude of 467 meters above sea level.A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hampi was the capital city and religious centre of the Vijayanagar Empire. Now in ruins, Hampi attracts a multitude of tourists to its historic premises.

Legends tell us that Hampi is Kishkindha, the renowned capital of the Vanara Kingdom (Monkey Kingdom) from the epic of Ramayana. Later, Hampi became the center of the Vijayanagar Empire. From the years 1336 to 1565, Hampi prospered under the reign of the Vijayanagar dynasty, whose rulers patronized art, architecture and religion. Hampi came into the hands of the Muslim rulers of the Deccan, who were attracted by its strategic location, as it is flanked by River Tungabhadra on one side and hills on the other three.

Hampi is under the care of The Archaeological Survey of India, who, in association with other researchers, takes deep interest in the place as it is historically and architecturally unique. The sightseeing attractions of Hampi are divided into two, namely, the Hampi Bazaar and the Royal Centre.

Hampi is dotted with monuments of various kinds like exquisite carvings, huge boulders and great structures of temples to name a few. Majority of the Hampi ruins are temples, which were constructed to commemorate the victories of the monarchs of the Vijayanagar dynasty.

The major attractions among the ruins of Hampi are the Malyavantha Raghunathaswamy temple and the Virupaksha Temple.

The Malyavantha Raghunathaswamy temple is built in the typical Dravidian style of architecture and is replete with extraordinary carvings on the wall. The Virupaksha temple in the west end of the Hampi bazaar was a busy street bustling with activities during the olden days. The temple has a 120 feet high tower near the entrance at the east that houses the shrines of Lord Shiva, Pampa and Bhuvaneshwari Devi.

The other attractions of Hampi are the Hazara Ramaswamy and Vijaya Vittala temples along with the monolithic statue of Ugra Narasimha. Hampi is also replete with delicately carved structures that add to the splendor of the place. Walking around is the best way to explore the monuments and temples of Hampi. Motor boat ride across River Tungabhadra to reach the Virupapur Gadde is also an exciting activity in Hampi.

Popular attraction in and around Hampi are the Daroji Bear Sanctuary, Akka Thangi Gudda, Anegondi, Anjaneyadri hill, Zenena enclosure, King’s Balance, elephant stables, Yeduru Basavanna and Yentrodharaka Anjaneya temple among others. All these structures belong to the Vijayanagar and Pre-Vijayanagar times.