Listed as a World Heritage Site, Hampi the city of ruins is one of the most captivating historical sites of South India. It houses as many as 500 monuments, each with a story behind it, reflecting a fascinating history reaching the pinnacle of glory and then stumbling to a decline of utter neglect. The name Hampi originated from the word Pampa, the ancient name for the River Tungabhadra that flows through the city. There are many other names that it goes by - Vijayanagara named after the ruling kingdom and capital city, and Virupakshapura named after the revered deity Shiva. Hampi is also a sacred place for the Hindus as it is believed that Pampa was Lord Brahma's daughter, who married Lord Shiva, and thus the place was called Pampakshetra. Around it grew the biggest ever empire of South India, the Vijayanagar Empire in 1336 A.D. till
The Vijaynagar city ruins near the village of Hampi, 353 kilometers from Bangalore, are one of the most fascinating historical sites in South India. Hampi holds many delightful surprises. The most famous is the King's Balance where kings were weighed against gold or money which was then distributed to the poor. Also worth a visit are the Queen's Bath with its arched corridors, projecting balconies and lotus shaped fountains, the two storeyed Lotus Mahal, the huge Elephant Stables, the splendid Vitthal Temple with its musical pillars and the Stone Chariot, the Virupaksha Temple, Ugra Narasimha, the 6.7 meters tall monolith, the Pushkarini Tank, the Mahanavami Dibba, etc. Temples of this city are noted for their large dimensions, florid ornamentation, bold and delicate carvings, stately pillars, magnificent pavilions and a great wealth of iconographic and traditional depictions, which include subjects from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. The Pampapati temple is one of the largest temples at Hampi. The Vitthal temple is an excellent example of Vijayanagar style. Also present are some monolithic statues of Lakshmi, Narasimha and Ganesha which are noted for their massiveness and grace. Other temples in the surroundings are the Krishna temple, Pattabhirama temple, Hazara Ramachandra, Chandrasekhara temple and the Jaina Temple. 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 er-strewn hills make the backdrop of Hampi unique.Hampi in brief.. Hampi in brief : A quick over view of Hampi. 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.
www.Hampi.in is cobbled with a range of information on Hampi. For example, descriptions & photo album of various monuments ; Hampi ruin maps that you can print; travel details ; tips for your Hampi trip ; hotel locations , itinerary plan and so on...
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