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Places to See in India - Hampi (World Heritage Site)

by: Trushti

Hampi is a small village in the southern state of India, Karnataka. It was once the capital of Vijayanagar Empire. The empire ruled southern India from 14th to 16th century. Then the village was a magnificent site with great monuments and temples. Today all you can see are the remains of the great structures. It is believed that there were above 500 such massive structures. It is a great historic site and is now listed in UNESCO’s World Heritage sites.

This heritage site is huge and is spread over 25 square km of area. The site includes temples, monuments, remains of palaces, ancient streets which were once full fledged markets, platforms made for public gatherings, galleries and the list is endless. Today Hampi is not only a heritage site but a pilgrim site as well. Each year thousands of visitors come here to see the remains of the great Hindu Empire “Vijanagara” which literally means “the city of Victory”. It was rich and famous in 14th century and is believed that diamonds were sold on streets of Hampi.

Image credit: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_d2O_ZR9wrjw/SyT9C1dhg_I/AAAAAAAABBk/h1BnIYhpyWQ/s640/hampi-natural-fortress.jpg

Today Humpi is an open museum, which has various stories associated with each of its magnificent structures. It has been a site of interest for various historians from all over the world. With every monument seen you hear a”wow” and an “awe” sound…. the structures are that interesting. There is a beautiful monument at every turn or the corner of the site that keep surprising you with its glory and you will be in awe of this great historic site.

Image credit: http://www.iho-ohi.org/wp-content/hampi.jpg

Today Hampi is a rural area but once it was the main capital of a great empire. It is a place who has seen the charm and glory of being a rich royal city which was destroyed by wars and now its only the ruins of the great historic past. The temples of the city still have mythological values and are still frequented by local devotees and from all over India. It is an awesome place to spend some days and discover the rich, magnificent, great and vibrant historic past.

Image credit: http://images.google.com/url?source=imgres&ct=img&q=http://usandeep.com/images/mumbai_hampi_temple.jpg&usg=AFQjCNGkApyfbECMQXkSofHxVsSbwXjzxw

How to reach?
Hampi is located in Karnataka and is 350 KM away from Bangalore, which is the capital city of the state.

By Air : The nearest Airport is at Bellary, which is 60km away from Hampi. Other Airport at Belgaum 190 km away, You can take flight from Bangalore to Bellary and then can take the road to reach Hampi. There is a daily flight from Bangalore to Bellary.

By Train: The nearest railhead is at Hospet, which is 13 km away from Hampi. There are frequent trains from Bangalore, Bijapur, Hyderabad, Guntakal, Hubli and Goa.

By Road: There are daily buses operating from Bangalore, Mysore and Gokarna to Hospet. From Hospet you can catch a local bus to Hampi. Also there are few private carriers operating from Goa and Gokarna.

Image credit: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_d2O_ZR9wrjw/SyT9wSVFYYI/AAAAAAAABC8/GvYJZ_YVr2U/s640/hampi-tourist-attraction.jpg

Places to See in and around Hampi:

Achyutaraya Temple/Tiruvengalanatha Temple

Akka Tangi Gudda

Anegondi

Anjeyanadri Hill

Aqueducts and Canals

Archaeological Museum at Kamalapura

Badava Linga

Chandramauleshwar Temple

The Kings’ balance

The Underground Temple

Tungabhadra River

Uddana Veerabhadra temple

Ugra Narasimha

Virupaksha Temple

Vittala temple

Yeduru Basavanna

Yentrodharaka Anjaneya temple

Zenana enclosure

Virupapura

Madhavan Palace with more than 1,000,000 pillars

Sasivekalu Ganesha

Elephant stables

Lotus temple

Image credit: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_d2O_ZR9wrjw/SyT9t8yUYiI/AAAAAAAABCk/fcLMxUyV03U/s640/hampi-ruins.jpg

Lotus Mahal at Zenana Enclosure : A mix of Islamic and Hindu architecture

Step Well: A Step well constructed near the Underground Temple

This Stone Chariot : It is one of the landmark of Hampi. A famous monument in the Vitthala temple premise.

A Splendid View : These could have been gate post near the entrance.

Image credit: http://wikitravel.org/upload/en/1/1c/Hampi.jpg

Viruparaksha Temple : The main tower of the Viruparaksha Temple, which is visible from a distance because of its magnificent structure.

View from Anjayana hills : A splendid aerial view of the ruins of Hampi from top of Anjayana hills

Aerial View of Hampi Ruins

Image credit: http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1249/1404767317_c577e682f4.jpg

A view of the main tower of Virupaksha temple from another monument at Hampi

Image credit: http://images.google.com/url?source=imgres&ct=img&q=http://thefamoustouristdestinations.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/hampi.jpg&usg=AFQjCNEWxeMX8s1vhCFyBTMo2j33fOSSMg

Virupaksha temple : The temple has three towers out of which the main tower stands at an elevation of 160 feet above ground level and is also visible from a long distance

A mix of old and new : Today Hampi is a blend of new and old architecture where old monuments are surrounded by small new constructions.

A pillar carved from stone in the premise of Vithala Temple

Image credit: http://cache.virtualtourist.com/2694541-The_Vithala_Temple-Hampi.jpg

Vitthala Temple : The temple is famous for a set of pillars, known as ‘musical pillars’ resonates when tapped.

The remains of a temple on the hemakuta hill

Image credit: http://www.place-hampi.museum/images/archaeology201large.jpg

Hemakuta Hill Temples: The highlights are the sets of triple chambered temples with its pyramid like granite roofs.

Image credit: http://images.google.com/url?source=imgres&ct=img&q=http://www.indiamike.com/india/attachments/2267-hampi-everything-you-want-to-know-temples-on-top-of-hemakuta-hill.jpg&usg=AFQjCNFaizScHcz0AWExgqD8Imy6c7Hs1w