Hampi is the 700 year old former capital of the Vijayanagar Empire. It was once a thriving and prosperous city built on the banks of the river Tungabhadra. The city was ransacked after the Vijayanagara army was routed in the Battle of Talikota in 1565, and now lies in ruins.
History: Hampi is replete with ancient history and almost every hill and temple situated here has a story to tell. The once-powerful Vijayanagar Empire was compared to Rome by the Portuguese traveler Dominigo Paes.
The city of Vijayanagara was established by brothers Harihara and Bukka Raya in the 14th century. The city reached the peak of its power and prosperity during the reign of Krishnadeva Raya when the kingdom extended to entire southern India. Thereafter, it saw a steady decline in 1565. Best For: • World Heritage Site with spectacular ruins • Stark landscape dotted with boulders • Off the beaten track, good walks and hikes abound • Virupaksha Temple is a significant religious site
The region experiences hot and dry summers (April-June). Once the monsoon (July-September) is over, the weather is quite pleasant with warm sunny days and cool nights. Best time for visit is October and March.
The Indian Rupee (INR) is the acceptable form of currency here. Although few foreign exchange centres can be found, it is advisable to exchange money cheques at bigger cities.
No special permit is required for Hampi but all foreign nationals need a visa for visiting India.
By Air There are no direct international/domestic flights connecting Hampi. Almost all the major airlines connect to Bangalore, and Goa. There are regular domestic flights to Goa and Bangalore thereby providing international connections.
By Road Since Hospet is close to Hampi [13 kms] it would be advisable to reach here first. Hampi can be approached from (Goa) [NH17]. Hampi can be reached from Hyderabad NH 7 that connects with NH 63 leading to Hospet. From Bangalore, you can take NH 4 up to Hospet.
By Train Hampi Express [Train No. 6591/ 6592] connects Bangalore and Hubli. Haripriya Express and Rayalaseema Express are two trains that connect Hampi Amaravati Express [Train No.2847 / 2848] is a cross-country train that connects east India to the west.
Getting Around Hampi’s vast ruins are best explored on foot or bicycle. Alternately, you can also hire a car that will take you to all the tourist spots.
Hampi has the most beautiful and evocative of all the ruins in Karnataka. The Sacred Centre is the religious area of Hampi.
King's Balance is the balance where kings were weighted against grain, gold or money, which was then distributed to the poor.
Queen's Bath with its arched corridors, projecting balconies and lotus-shaped fountains that once sprouted perfumed water and the two-storeyed Lotus Mahal with recessed archways are architectural delights.
Stepped Tank is one of the beautiful remains in the Durbar area is tile Stepped Tank built in chlorite schist, used by the royals and for religious purposes.
Shri Vijayavitthala Temple is one of the major attractions of the place. It is often said that if one wants to witness the competition between man and Vishwakarma (the Architect God of Hindus), this is the place on earth.
Achyutaraya Temple is a large complex built by an officer of the King Achyutaraya, Salakaraju Tirumaladeva. The Ugranarasimha meaning Narasimha of terrifying countenance is hewn out of a rock in-situ. According to an inscription found here, it was executed in 1528 A.D.
The Virupaksha temple is located at the foot of the hill called Hemakuta Hill is the core of the village of Hampi.
Mahanavami Dibba is the tallest structure in this area and hence the first thing you would notice as you enter the Royal Enclosure.
Where To Eat:
Hampi has many restaurants that cater to varied tastes though many are closed during lean season.Authentic South Indian cuisine is the most popular cuisine available here. Where To Stay:
The first option is the Hospet town which is about 13 kilometers from Hampi. Most of the hotels and lodges in Hospet are located between the main bus station and the railway station. The second cluster of lodges is located at Kamalapura about 3 kilometers from Hampi. The state run three star Hotel Mayura Bhuvaneswari is located in this area. Slightly more upmarket are Malligi Tourist Home and Hampi’s Boulders.
One can shop at the state government owned emporium which sell artifacts made of stone and brass.
The most popular festival is the Hampi Festival that starts during November. The celebrations revolve around music, dance, puppet shows, fireworks and a pomp procession. Recently, events like rock climbing, water sports and rural sports also has been included in the schedule.
During January and February, there is a classical musical festival called Purandaradasa Aradhana. It is celebrated every year to commemorate the birthday of the ancient poet Purandaradasa who lived in Hampi.
Though off the main tourist map, Hampi has an excellent collection of monuments as evidenced by UNESCO World Heritage status.
Badami, Aihole and Pattadakkal – Collection of ancient temples and ruins, including a laboratory of temple construction. Recommended Circuits:
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