Hampi, a temple town in northern Karnataka is one of the most historically rich places and was once the capital of the historical Vijayanagara Dynasty.
Listed under the UNESCO World Heritage Site as the Group of monuments at Hampi, this city was also at one point one of the richest cities in the world when it was at its peak. Located inside the Vijayanagara city, Hampi has been one of the most significant tourist places of attraction.
People from all over the country and globe visit Hampi for its beautiful monuments and history. People who visit Hampi are mostly who love history and architecture. It is no surprise that Hampi is such a famous place for tourists that it get visitors from all over. Visit Hampi at any time of the year and you will see the place swarming with people. We will take you through the fascinating history of the city of Hampi and also the Vijayanagara Empire.
The history of Hampi dates back to the 2nd and also the 3rd century that is the Neolithic and Chalcolithic era. This fact has been established from the ceramic potteries that have been found here from those centuries.
At one point Hampi was also one of the biggest trading centers of the world. Vijayanagar brought a lot of wealth, fame and splendor to Hampi.
Hampi was also rich in art and architecture. The rulers who ruled the region were great lovers of religion and art and hence most Kings put in a lot of effort to set up magnificent empires using one of the best architectural designs, which is for you to see now.
Hampi also has a strong mythological story associated with it. And if these beliefs are anything to go by, it is said that the Kishkinda Vanara Kingdom is where Ram and Lakshman had stayed when they had set out in search of Sita who was abducted by Ravana.
Since Hampi is popular all over the world for its beautiful monuments and temples, here are some of them that you need to explore on your visit.
Virupaksha Temple
The Virupaksha Temple in Hampi is dedicated to lord Shiva. Located on the banks of the beautiful Tungabhadra and is a part of the Group of Monuments in Hampi. The inscriptions that you will find on the structure go back to the 9th and 10th centuries. Built in dedication to Shiva, this site is one of the most important and visited pilgrim sites. The Virupaksha temple is also famously known as the Pampvathi temple and is exactly situated in the Hampi Bazaar. The most fascinating part about this temple is the stunning three gopuras and also a big high tower that stands tall at 160 feet hat is the main entrance. The temple also has an elephant called Lakshmi.
Vijaya Vittala Temple
Among the many Hampi attractions, the Vijaya Vittala temple is one of the most breathtaking. This temple is an ancient monument that is well-known for its exceptional architecture and unmatched craftsmanship. It is considered to be one of the largest and the most famous structure in Hampi. The temple is located in the north eastern part of Hampi, near the banks of the Tungabhadra River. The several hallways, gateway, towers and pavilions make this temple very beautiful. pieces of architecture. The highlight of the Vittala temple is the stone chariot. It is almost considered as an iconic structure of Hampi. It also has musical pillars that are as iconic as the stone chariot. Each pillar of this temple depicts a musical instrument and also serves as the main support for the whole structure. This has been arranged around the main pillar of the temple which when struck gives out the 7 notes from each of the instruments that it represents.
Lotus Mahal
One of the fine architectural designed palaces that are uniquely identified by its lotus look like structure. This glorious building is within the Zenana Enclosure, a segregated area that is used by the royal women of Vijayanagara Dynasty. The Lotus Mahal is otherwise called the Kamal Mahal or Chitragani Mahal. It’s remarkable and unmistakable design is the main highlight of the palace. It is one of only a handful few astonishing building in Hampi that had not been damaged. The balcony and the passages covered with a dome that looks like an opened lotus bud. The central dome is also carved as a lotus bud. The palace is a two-storied building, well-structured symmetrically. It is surrounded by a rectangular wall and four towers. These towers are also in pyramidal shape giving a lotus-like structure visual. Around 24 pillars are present to support the arched windows and balcony of the palace. The walls and pillars are carved beautifully with patterns like sea creatures and birds.
Achyuta Raya Temple
one of the major, splendid and awe-inspiring temples of Hampi located between the Matanga hills and Gandhamadana. This magnificent temple depicts Vijayanagara architecture style of temples in its best and most improved form. The stunning and heavenly temple is devoted to Lord Tiruvengalanatha; he is a configuration of Lord Vishnu. Thus, this temple was initially known as Tiruvengalanatha Temple. The principal shrine of the temple is located in the centre of a pair of rectangular concentric enclosures. There are pillared verandas on the interior flanks of the two courtyard walls.
Pattabhirama Temple
Pattabhirama Temple is a beautiful structure that stands in the city of Hampi. The temple is known for its intricate architecture. It is dedicated to the Hindu deity, Lord Rama. It was a prominent destination for devotees during the period of the Vijayanagara Empire. The Pattabhirama Temple is situated in the center of a huge rectangular walled complex. The main temple structure has axial mantapas. There is a pillared walkway that runs along the inner side of the enclosure wall surrounding the courtyard. There are four towers on four sides of the temple complex that were built as gates of the temple. The main mantapa is a beautiful structure that has pillars with intricate designs. The whole temple exhibits splendid architecture. The Vijayanagara style of craftsmanship is easily visible in the walls and pillars of the temple.
Akka Tangi Gudda
Akka Tangi Gudda or Akka Thangi Gudda is a formation of two gigantic rocks. It is located at Kaddirampura, just near the main road that leads from Hampi to Kamlapur. It is a natural arrangement of rocks that have been standing at the site from ancient ages. Akka Tangi Gudda is the name given to two giant boulders that are in a leaning position against each other. As a result of their leaning, the two boulders make a huge archway like formation. One can actually pass under the archway.Akka Tangi Gudda means ‘sister stones’ in the local dialect. As such, these two leaning boulders are also referred to as ‘Sister Stones.’ The spot is also referred to as the ‘hill of the sisters.’
King’s Balance
King’s Balance in Hampi is an ancient and rare balance scale. It is located to the southwest of the Vittala Temple, at the end of the Kampa Bhupa’s Path. This rare balance scale is also known as Tula Bhara or Tula Purushadana. It attracts a lot of visitors due to its interesting history and its amazing structure that remains almost intact even today. The King’s Balance was used in the 15th century. It has a fascinating history associated to it. The story goes that the balance was used by the kings of the Vijayanagara Empire on special occasions like the New Year’s Day, Coronation ceremony, solar or lunar eclipse, Dasara, etc. The monument consists of two beautifully carved granite pillars with a height of 15 feet. The pillars support a heavy stone beam of about 12 feet. There are three hoops on the underside of the stone beam.
Pushkaranis
Pushkaranis in Hampi are the sacred water tanks that are attached to the temples. Most of the major temples in Hampi have a pushkarani built near them. The sacred tanks were related to various rituals and functional aspects of the temples and the people surrounding the temples. The tanks were considered to be sacred places by the people of Hampi in the ancient times. Even today the pushkaranis are a big attraction for the tourists who visit Hampi. The pushkaranis of Hampi display great architectural beauty. They are built in the typical Vijayanagara style of architecture. Many of these water tanks have beautiful rows of pillars or decorative arcade surrounding them.
The massive water tanks have large stone steps that allowed people to get into the water easily. The water tanks are connected to an extensive network of stone aqueducts and canals.
Hampi is a great place to spend lazy days chilling out and soaking up the scenery but you can make your visit even better by understanding more about the myths and legends of this magical place. In Hampi dive back into its history and mythology to bring to you fascinating tales and anecdotes from South India’s largest, wealthiest and most powerful kingdom.
Alleppey Houseboat Itinerary (2 Night/3 Days) This short tour program covers best canals, more interior villages in Alleppey and part of Vembanadu Lake. 14 km from Kottayam in Kerala, Kumarakom has turned out to be synonymous with backwater travels over the world. The village of Kumarakom is a cluster of beautiful little islands on the Vembanad Lake, and is part of the Kuttanad region. Kumarakom is also know as the rice bowl of Kerala and is encompassed by rich paddy fields bungled by channels and the lake. The Vembanad Lake has its most extreme length and broadness close Kumarakom. It is a beautiful place to go and has turned into a prominent backwater destination.
Alleppey Houseboat Itinerary (3 Night/4 Days)
The route to Hampi from Hospet is quite scenic. It’s like entering the world of Flintstones. Hills made up of rocks. Start the trip with the visit to Badavi Linga which is the biggest of all lingams in Hampi. You can find the biggest idol of Hampi, a few feet from Badavi Linga. Ugra Narasimha is 22 feet in height. We will also visit Balakrishna temple and then visit Hemunta hill. Visit the magnificent Virupaksha temple It is from the Hoysala period and is the oldest temple in Hampi. The temple tower has eleven storeys and the river Tungabhadra flows inside.
Vijaya Vittala Temple is probably the grandest masterpiece around. The musical pillars of the temple is one of the greatest work of art by mankind.
Next destination is Kings Balance King’s Balance. This is a huge stone frame east of Purandara Mantapa. A stone beam is placed on two pillars of stone. Legend has it that the generous Kings of Vijayanagara used to weigh them with gold and gems and distribute it among the poor.
Go to Tungabhadra River in Bellary District of Karnataka We take a ride on a coracle on the Tungabhadra.
The memorable structures here are the Elephant stables, Queen’s bath and the Lotus Mahal. Next on the itinerary is the Zanana enclosure , which was the place for the royal women. Towards the evening we visit Anegundi village for the cave paintings. The paintings here date back to the Iron Age around 1500 BC.
Start your day with the visit to Aihole. There are more than a hundred stone temples from 5th century onwards to see. Legend says it is at Aihole that Lord Parashurama washed his axe after killing all the Kshatrayas.
Next go to the group of Monuments in Pattadakal, Bagalkot District. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is an epitome of the Visara style of architecture. The grandest of all temples here is that of Virupaksha, built in 8th Century by Queen Lokamahadevi.
Next stop is the Badami Cave Temples, capital of the Chalukya Kings. Located in a ravine at the foot of red sandstone hills Badami looks mesmerizing surrounded by the Agastya lake. The cave temples are made of made of red sandstone and feature a hall with numerous pillars and a square shaped sanctum.
Bangalore is not only one of India’s most progressive cities but is also a city with a rich history. A Bangalore city tour can not only be fun but also enriching. Today you will visit Gavi Gangadhareshwara Temple rock cut temple dedicated to Lord Shiva was built in the 16th century. Next go to Lalbagh Botanical Garden place of the scientific study of plants, plant conservation, and botanical artwork.
Later visit to Bangalore Palace built in the Tudor style of architecture with fortified battlements and towers. Finally go and end the trip in evening at Indira Gandhi Musical Fountain Park. A 25-minute fountain show begins at 7 pm. The show combines fountain patterns with music, lights, color and visual projections.
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Hampi is the UNESCO recognized World Heritage Site located on the banks of the Tungabhadra River in the eastern part of central Karnataka near the state border with Andhra Pradesh
Your gateway town to Hampi is Hospet , bustling town located very close to the Hampi village. This is the major travel hub from where you can get the travel connections as well as a variety of hotel options.
By Flight Hubli is the nearest airport (about 160km) west of Hampi. Further northwest is Belgaum airport (about 270 km from Hampi). Both has moderate connections with cities around the region. Jindal Vijaynagar Airport near Hospet is a small airport with connection to Bangalore and Hyderabad.
By Train Some of the long distance express trains pass via Hospet. There are a few passenger trains that connects Hospet with nearby cities. If you are coming from far places to Hampi ( like Chennai, Mumbai , Bangalore, Delhi , Kolkata etc ), look for a direct ( or even split journey ) train connection from your place to Hospet Jn ( HPT) . Hampi is a short bus ride from Hospet town.
By Bus The state run KSRTC operates (www.ksrtc.in ) a number of schedules from Hospet to various towns and cities in Karnataka. There are even a few interstate services connecting the cities of neighbouring states (services to Goa, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra ).
The state run KSRTC operates (www.ksrtc.in ) a number of schedules from Hospet to various towns and cities in Karnataka.
There are even a few interstate services connecting the cities of neighbouring states (services to Goa, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra ).
No, no permit is required for Foreign and Indian Nationals to visit Humpi
Hampi a place where a week could be spent easily. Basking in the languid terrains and ruins. But, if the aim is just to cover the monuments and temples, 3 to 4 days should suffce.
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