The
name "Hampi" is an anglicized version of the Kannada
Hampe (derived from Pampa, the ancient name for the Tungabhadra
river). Over the years, it has also been referred to as Vijayanagara
and Virupakshapura (from Virupaksha, the patron deity of the
Vijayanagara rulers). Hampi is located in the central part
of the state of Karnataka, in the southern part of India.
It is 353 km from Bangalore, and 13 km from Hospet. It is
located on top of a rugged terrain and is 467 m above sea
level. It is protected by the tempestuous Tungabhadra river
on the north and by rocky granite ridges on the three sides.
Covering an area of about 26 kms, the ruins are situated in
the midst of a rugged landscape. Hampi is famous for its ruins
belonging to the erstwhile medieval Hindu kingdom of Vijaynagar
and it is declared a World Heritage site.
The temples of Hampi, its monolithic sculptures and monuments,
attract the traveler because of their excellent workmanship.
The Hindu style of architecture found at Hampi reflects the
splendor of the Vijaynagar Empire. The rugged landscape adds
to the historic ambience of this site. It was the capital
of the mighty Vijayanagar empire founded in 1336. Hampi is
the Vijayanagar capital (one of the largest empires in the
history of India), in it's ruins of temples, palaces and forts.
Hampi was the 14th century magnificent capital of one of the
greatest empires of the world. Hampi is full of surprises.
A strange and magical place, Hampi is one of the most beautiful
towns in Karnataka.
Hampi is like a Open -air museume of temples, The Virupaksha
Temple rises majestically, at the western end of a 700 m long
street, that was once the famous Hampi bazaar. Nearby is the
6.7 m tall monolith of Ugra Narasimha or Lakshmi Narasimha,
is located in the south of the Hemakuta group of temples that
includes the Virupaksha Temple. The Narasimha is a four-armed
figure seated under the canopy of a seven-hooded snake. But
by far the most amazing monument in Hampi, is the Vittala
Temple Complex, with its 56 musical pillars. Legend has it,
Lord Vishnu found it too grand to live in and thus, returned
to his own 'humble home'.To the east of the complex is the
famous Stone Chariot, with stone wheels, that actually rotates.
In 1565 the end came swiftly. Unable to withstand the combined
assault of the neighboring Muslim kingdoms, Hampi fell at
the battle of Talikota. From then it was only a matter of
time before the conquering forces made rapid inroads into
the rest of the empire. The ruins of Hampi are extremely popular
with tourists who flock here to soak in a sense of the past;
and in every ‘reliving’, this seemingly dead city lives again.
Hampi is one of the important pilgrimage center for both Hindus
and Jains. It is stated that this was the place called kiskindha
of Ramanaya the birth place of Lord Hanuman. Hampi, are one
of the most fascinating historical sites in south India. The
superb ruins are set in a strange and beautiful boulderstrewn
landscape which has an almost magical quality.The first settlement
in Hampi dates back to 1st century AD and a number of Buddhist
sites belonging to that time have been found nearby. Hampi
was the capital of the mighty Vijaynagar Empire. Vijaynagar
was one of the largest Hindu empires in India. The brothers
Harihara and Bukka established the Vijayanagar Empire in 1336.
In an age when the powerful Mughal army of the north was stamping
its authority on almost the entire subcontinent, this southern
Hindu kingdom proved too difficult to crack. In 1509-29 during
the reign of Krishnadevaraya the empire reached the pinnacle
of its influence economically, militarily and culturally,
the legacy of which abides till date.
The Hindu kingdom of Vijaynagar was founded in 1336, with
its capital at Hampi. This city is easily one of the most
beautiful, extensive and fascinating cities of India's ruined
kingdoms. Vijaynagar reached its peak in the early 1550s,
but in 1565 fell to the Deccan Sultanates, when Bijapur gained
importance as the capital of this kingdom. Today, Bijapur
is a small city surrounded by an imposing wall, and packed
with an impressive collection of mosques and other reminders
of its glorious past. This windswept little village was once
the centre of a vibrant, thriving culture that enriched the
entire region with carved temples and rock-cut magnificence.
All the outer side of the gate of the temple up to the roof
is covered with copper and gilded, and on each side of the
roof on the top are certain great animals that look like tigers,
all gilt. As you enter this idol shrine, you perceive from
pillar to pillar on which it is supported many little holes
in which stand oil lamps which burn every night and they will
be in number 2,500 or 3,000". The pillared interior echoes
with the murmur of voices and the squeak of bats suspended
in the dark recesses. Eyes sweep the walls with silent reverence,
hands tap the hollow pillars that were played like musical
instruments. Outside, the granite chariot of the sun god proudly
stands in a central courtyard. Its stone wheels could still
be turned by hand till a few years ago when the authorities
sealed them to prevent damage. The architecture of the Vitthala
Temple strikes a fascinating balance between delicate craftsmanship
and awesome presence.
Against the gate there were two circles in which there were
the dancing women, richly arrayed with many jewels of gold
and diamonds and many pearls. Opposite the gate there are
two buildings...these buildings were all hung with rich cloths,
both the walls and the ceilings, and the cloths of the walls
were adorned with figures in the manner of embroidery; these
buildings have two platforms one above the other, beautifully
sculpted, with their sides well made and worked. On the upper
platform close to the king was Christovao de Figrueiredo (another
Portuguese traveler), for the king commanded that he should
be put in a place as best to see the feasts and magnificence".
Now in a damaged state, the awesome image depicts the benign
aspect of the god since a part of the right hand goddess Lakshmi
skirts around the Narasimha suggesting that goddess Lakshmi
was originally seated on his lap. The monolith's disfigured
but its significance is undisputed. Now in a damaged state,
the awesome image depicts the benign aspect of the god since
a part of the right hand goddess Lakshmi skirts around the
Narasimha suggesting that goddess Lakshmi was originally seated
on his lap. The monolith's disfigured but its significance
is undisputed.
Main Attractions
Hampi Bazaar: has almost returned to former glory with the
old buildings being functional again. Traders once more ply
their wares but now its mostly branded, packaged, with ‘sales
tax extra’! This area has a charm of its own and much of it
has to do with the fascinating phenomenon of renaissance.
Tungabhadra Dam (17 Km): 15 km from Hospet is the site of
the dam built across the Tungabhadra river. The high masonry
dam is about 590 metres long and 49 metres high. The reservoir
has a storage ca[acity of 1,32,559 million cu.ft. of water
spread over an area of 379 sq. kms.Regular bus services are
available from Hospet.
The town of Hospet: which is 13 km from Hampi, is an important
tourist center. Travelers can have a panoramic view of surrounding
areas from the 49-m-high and 2-km-long Tungabhadra Dam, 6
km from Hospet. In Hampi every year in the month of Jan. &
Feb. the Virupaksha Temple Car Festival is held, which is
quite famous. The annual Purandaradasa Aradhana Music festival
at Vithala Temple to celebrate the birth anniversary of the
medieval poet-composer, Purandar.
