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| About: |
| Hampi, as it is popularly known today was the medieval capital of the Hindu empire Vijayanagara (the City of Victory). Hampi in the Karnataka state of India is listed as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites.Hampi is charismatic even in its ruined state. It attracts thousands of tourists and pilgrims every year. Vast stretches of boulder-strewn hills make the backdrop of Hampi unique.Dotted around the hills and valleys are 500 plus monuments. Among them are beautiful temples, basement of palaces, remains of aquatic structures, ancient market streets, royal pavilions, bastions, royal platforms, treasury buildings.., the list is practically endless. Hampi is a backpackers’ paradise, the same way the pilgrims’ delight.In Hampi at every turn there is a surprise. Every monument hides more than what they reveal. As an open museum, Hampi has numerous popular (100 plus!) locations visitors throng. |
| Location info: |
| Address: |
| District:Hospet |
| Nearest City:Bangalore |
| Best time to visit: Between October and March |
| Climate/Weather: |
| Summer – Max. 35OC and Min. 20OC Winter – Max. 28OC and Min. 14OC |
| History: |
| Hampi ( a.k.a Humpi or Hampe ) is both a historic & relegious place in India. This was the capital of the Hindu empire,Vijayanagara, who ruled the south India during 14th to 16th century AD. The ruins of Hampi, as it is known today, is a vast open museum of history, architecture and religion.Spread over an area more than 25 square kilometers (10 square miles), Hampi ruins is packed with giant temples, palaces, market streets, aquatic structures , fortifications and an abundance of other ancient monuments.The giant boulder strewn hills and the river that bisects make a bizarre landscape for this ancient metropolis. Together with its historic and mythological residues this rural area makes a perfect tourist spot. Hampi is in the list of UNESCO’s World Heritage sites. |
| Interesting things to do: |
| Interesting things to Visit: |
| Mobile range info: |
| How to reach? |
| Nearest Railway Station:Hampi does not have a Railway station. The nearest railhead is at Hospet, which is 13 km from the ruins of Hampi. Travelers use Hospet as a base to commence their journey to Hampi. |
| Nearest Airport:Bangalore International Airport is nearest international airports to the city, The nearest airstrip is located at Tornagallu in Sandur Taluk which is 32 kms away from Hospet. Other convenient airports are at Belgaum and Bangalore. |
| Road Transport:The main bus station in Hampi is located in the Hampi Bazaar area. We would provide you all India tourist permit vehicles for the local transportations and also for the intercity drives too. |
| Nearest Visiting places: |
| 1.Virupaksha Temple(Virupaksha Temple is another magnificent structure featuring the temples of Lord Shiva, Pampa and Bhuvaneswari.) 2.The temple of Malyavanta Raghunathaswamy 3.Vithala Temple Complex 4.House of Victory 5.Hazara Ramaswami Temple 6.The King’s Balance 7.Lotus Mahal 8.The Elephant Stables 9.Mahanavami Dibba 10.Daroji Bear Sanctuary |
| Nearest Petrol Pump: |
| Hotels/Lodge/Accommodation: |
| 1.Hotel Mayura Bhuvaneshwari is located in Kamalapuram area to the southeast of Hampi Bazaar. 2.Hotel Malligi |
| Things to carry: |
| Tips & Suggestions: |
| Help Line/Phone Number: |
| Police Station:There is one out-post police station at Hampi in Virupaksha temple just at the right hand side of the main entrance. Ph: (08394)241241 (it is a shared phone between the police station and the temple). There will be just 2 constables here beating the duty. The main Police station is situated at Kamalapur opposite the new Bus stand. |
| Nearest Hospital:1.KLS Hospital. The nearest hospital to Hampi is the Government Hospital situated in Kamalapur. The hospital also has emergency first aid, 24 hour maternity service and ambulance facilities. 2.Hampi has a small clinic by a private practitioner. 3.The Kamalapur hospital authorities can be contacted by telephone at: (08394)241444. 4.Hospet has bigger medical facilities and can be contacted at (08394)223488, 222122. |
| Society/Community Phone Number |
| HAMPI(VIJAYANAGARA) |
| The last great Hindu empire in South India , the Vijayanagara empire ruled from the 4th to 17th centuries. Vijayanagara, the city of victory, was their capital. Developed by Krisha Deva Raya (1509-1529) it had many temples, palaces and public facilities spread over a wide area. The city walls extended up to 26 km on the Tungabhadra banks and the population was more then 500,000. In 1565 they were overpowered by 5 Muslim kingdoms’ umited front and after the battle of Talikota they shifted to Penukonda and Vijayanagara was abandoned. The Virupaksha temple, where prayers are still offered, is located here and all the ruins are loosely called Hampi. This includes Kamalpuram village and the Anegodi ruins. Hospet town, which is 13 km in the southwest, is the base to visit these ruins which can be visited by bus or taxi. The ruins are divided into temple area in the north and palace area in the south. There is a 700 m long road called Hampi bazaar leading from the Virupaksha temple. The villagers have settled down on buildings on both sides of the street. From here to Vittala and other temples in the north is an enjoyable 2.5 km log walk on the scenic riverbank route. |
| HEMAKUTA TEMPLES (10TH-14TH C/ Jain) |
Hampi was a holy town even before the Vijayanagara empire. There is a group of seven temples overlooking the town with their pyramids like roofs, which tells that the later Chalukyas built them. Now Jain, originally they were all Shiva temples. There are three temples with three shrines, one temple with two shrines and the rest are common shrine + mandapa design. There are no decorative sculptures on the wall. The hardness of the rocks determined the design that was used for carving. |
VIRUPAKSHA (PAMPAPI) TEMPLE (13TH-17TH C/ Hindu) |
| This temple is located in a wide area between the Hemakoota hills. It is a very old construction. It was renovated and additions were made after a long period of time. Virupaksha is another name for Shiva. Since Pampa (wife of Shive) is also enshrined, it is also called Pampapti temple. The Vijayanagara style gopura built by Krisha Deva Raya is 52 m high. The huge precincts are fenced as is the shrine (vimana) inside. The ceiling of the mandaopa was painted with designs in the 18th century. |
RAMACHANDRA TEMPLE (15TH c/ Hindu) |
| This temple is in the hearts of the palace grounds and is called Hazara Rama. It was a medium sized prayer house of the royals. It has entrances in the east and the north and is fenced. The fence wall has a relief of animals, musicians etc, sculpted on it in many layers. Rama ( an incarnation of Vishnu) is defined here. The temple plan is the same as the later Chalukya type square mandapa with a three-sided entrance. The vimana reflects the southern style and the decoration on it are harmonious. Nearby is the Amman shrine (dedicated to the goddess), which was built later and is richer in sculptures. |
VITTHALA TEMPLE ( 15TH C / HINDU) |
| Vitthala temple on hte northeast end is the greatest of vijayanagra architecture. The exact time Krishna Dev Raya was the main patron. In the 1000 years that it took for stone construction to evolve , this temple is evidence that it had attained heights of perfection. This temple spans 95m x 164m with its fence and surroundings corridor. In the middle is the chariot and east gopura . The southern side also has a gopura and the main gate facing the road from the city . The temple consists of a shrine with a pathway around it, a closed mandapa and a three-way enterance. There is a big open mandapa in the east, with a highly sculpted base platform with the pillars. There are 56 pillars which again is group of pillars with gods and mythical horse figures sculpted on them. These make it all look very complex. This space surrounded by pillars makes a fantastic sight. This is one place that is really worth taking trouble to examine carefully.There are number of small shrines in the premises with gods deified in them. The Kalyana mandapa with its suspended construction on pillars leaves on e speechless. The base is made of granite. Vimana and gopura are made of bricks. One side is broken. Even though stone chariot with elephants or horses drawing them are a common sight in south temples, in Vitthala temple they are excellent. |
PLALACE QUATER ( 15TH- 16TH C / HINDU) |
| The place quarter is 35km away from Hampi Bazaar. The fort walls and the most of the buildings are destroyed. What is left is entirely different architectural style from the temples. The structures have been finished with plasters. |
LOTUS MAHAL |
| It is a palace for the ladies with an Islamic arch construction and hindu roof. |
WATCH TOWER |
| There are two watchtowers near the Lotus Mahal. one is four-sided and the other eight-sided. |
ELEPHANT STABLES |
| It stand in a line with many floors in the middle and five rooms on both sides. The roof of each stable look different. |
QUEEN’S BATH |
| It is a rectangular construction with no decoration on the outside. The bathpalace is 15m long and from the surrounding gallery there are extended windows that are richly decorated. |
STEPPED TANK |
| It is called Pushkarani and the water is brought from a higher level. There are no shrines on the steps. Hence, it may not have been religiously connected. |
