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The magnificent ruins of Hampi

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The magnificent city of ruins, Hampi, is not far from Bangalore. A World Heritage Center, Hampi is the most beautiful and evocative of all the ruins in Karnataka. This erstwhile capital of the Vijayanagar Empire boasts some exquisite examples of temple architecture of that period. One can still glimpse the splendor of Vijayanagara - one of the largest empires in the history of India - in its ruins. The Vijayanagar Kings were great patrons of Art & Architecture as evident by the vast ruins of Hampi.

Hampi, the land of surprises was founded in the middle of 14th Century by two local princes, Hakka & Bukka. The Vijayanagar Empire came to be celebrated for its might and wealth and as a show piece of imperial magnificence.

Although in ruins today, this capital city once boasted riches known far beyond the shores of India. The ruins of Hampi of the 14th Century lie scattered in about a 26 sq. km area, amidst giant boulders and vegetation. Protected by the tempestuous river Tungabhadra in the north and rocky granite ridges on the other three sides, the ruins silently narrate the story of grandeur splendor and fabulous wealth.

The splendid remains of palaces and the gateways of the broken city tell a tale of men with infinite talent and the power of creativity together with their capacity for senseless destruction. The Vijayanagar Festival organized by the Government of Karnataka in December recreates the grandeur of the bygone era.


Hampi is the former capital of the Vijayanagara Empire in northern Karnataka. The site, located near Hospet, was originally a religious center that may have predated the establishment of the city. The village contains several of the monuments of the old city and extends into one of the old ceremonial streets of the ruins.

On a commanding site, stands the temple of Malyavanta Raghunathaswamy. It is built in the Dravidian style. Strange-looking fishes and marine monsters carved along its outer walls are worth noticing.

The Hampi Bazaar is a broad, dusty boulevard lined with stalls and restaurants. It leads to a vast temple complex consisting of the Virupaksha Temple and the spectacular Vitthala Temple, dedicated to an incarnation of Vishnu, and is one of the most fabulous and famous of Hampi's monuments.


One of Hinduism's most enduring images, an ornate stone chariot, is found here. With solid stone wheels that can turn on their axles, the chariot faces a shaded dance hall where ancient musical dramas were once played out and from where you can now enjoy panoramic views of Vijayanagara. The pillars of the temple are commonly referred to as "musical pillars," each one producing a different note when tapped.


The royal enclosure incorporates the ruined palaces where the Vijayanagara kings lived and held court. There is the Hazara Rama temple where the royals went to worship, a small stepped tank, and the Mahanavami Dibba, a platform where performances and entertainments were held.


On the outskirts of the royal complex, is the Lotus Mahal shaped like a lotus flower from top. This two-story structure has beautiful arc ways set in geometric regularity. It was an air-cooled summer palace of the queen having massive pillars, delicately punctuated arches and fine stucco ornamentation; its unusual design blends elements of Muslim and Hindu architecture.

Some of the must see monuments are the House of Victory, where the kings of Vijayanagar used to sit on a grand throne in the House of Victory and witness the nine-day Dussera festival and the Hazara Ramaswami temple which is believed to have been the private place of worship of the royal family. The chief attraction of the temple is the series of scenes from the Ramayana carved on two of the inside walls of the mantapa.


Hampi is not just about the ruins but the whole setting that makes it a surreal retreat that it is.


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