Hampi is the place where you see old architecture, temples, and monuments. This place is full of history and ruins of the Vijayanagara Empire. Hampi is one of the UNESCO world heritage sites in India and has a lot of history of the Vijayanagar Empire. This place is a great collection of nobility and grandeur, presenting the rich culture of the previous Empire. According to old history, In the 3rd century BC, this was a Mauryan Empire, there are many proofs of the Mauryan Empire like the rocks in Bellary which show the Ashoka design in this. After this in 1336 AD, the Vijayanagara Empire was started in Hampi and they started making many buildings inspired by southern and modern architecture.
Behind every ancient architecture in Hampi, there is a presence of many Gods and Goddesses. One of the places in Ramayan is dedicated to Lord Rama and Lord Lakshman. According to old legends, Lord Shiva penance upon the Hemakuta hill before the marriage to Pampa. Hampi also shows the presence of Lord Narasimha, here you see many pillars, dedicated to Lord Krishna Narasimha’s avatar. You also see the famous Krishna temple in Hampi.
All the old and unique architecture of temples and monuments, the untold history of the Vijayanagara Empire, and the homes of many gods make it a fabulous tourist place in Hampi. These architecture and monuments attract people all over the world every year. If you are also making a plan to visit Hampi, then here is the full information about Hampi. You can cover Humpi in a few days and see the rich culture and ancient monuments while exploring the history.
Location
In the southern part of India, Hampi is located in Karnataka. This place is 353 km from Bangalore and 13 km from Hospet. This place is situated on the top of the rugged terrain and 467 m above sea level. The Tungabhadra River flows through the Hampi. Make it more precious.
History of Hampi
In the 1st century, Hampi was the place of several Buddhists who lived and meditated here. In ancient times, Hampi was the capital of Vijayanagara Empire. In India, Vijayanagara was the largest and most reputed empire. Hampi was founded in 1336 Ad by two brothers, Harihar and Bukka.In 1509, Krishnadevaraya ruled this place, he was the greatest ruler and controlled all the south part of the Tungabhadra River. In the time of Krishnadevaraya, they made many royal and unique architecture and temples here.In the 14th century Hampoi was the largest kingdom and had a strong army to protect their kingdom. Along with architecture, Hampi was the largest and most important center of trade like cotton and spice. But in 1565, all the glories and structures were ruined by the Muslim kingdom. After this, here only see the ruined structure and building. But in 1986, this place was added to the UNESCO world heritage site and Hampi was recovered and restructured by the government of India.
Places to visit in Hampi
Hampi is counted in the UNESCO world heritage sites because of its unique architecture, building, temples, and some ruins part of the Vijayanagara Empire. Because of their precious beauty, many tourists are attracted to them every year. Here you see many heritage sites, temples, Bazar and sunset points from the hill also. To make your journey easy, here are some famous places to visit in Hampi-
- Virupaksha Temple- This temple is counted among the most famous things in Hampi. This is the oldest monument in Hampi and it is situated at the top of the ground. This temple is dedicated to Virupaksha, a vision of Lord Shiva. Here you see the great ancient architecture and some unique designs on the walls of the temple.
- Hemakuta Hill- This hill is located south of Virupaksha temple. Here you see the many temples of various gods and at the top of the hill, you see a temple of Lord Krishna. This hill offers you a memorable view of the whole town and sees the beautiful sunset at the top of the Hemakuta hill.
- Vittal Temple- This temple is different from others because here you see the musical pillar, when you touch them they produce sound. This is situated south of the Virupaksha temple and here you see ancient ruins of the Vijayanagara Empire, their antique structure This temple was built in the 16th century.
- Krishna temple-This Temple is dedicated to Lord Krishna and was built by the great emperor Krishnadevaraya. This place is heaven for Krishna devotees and the campus area of this place is covered with pillars and many structures.
- Achyutaraya Temple- One of the precious temples in Hampi, located at the Matanga hill. If you find peace then this place and temple are for you because this is an unexplored temple of Hampi. This temple is dedicated to Lord Tiruvengalanatha, another form of lord Vishnu.
- Lotus Mahal- This place is a perfect blend of Indo-Islamic architecture. This building is made for women of the Vijayanagara Empire. Lotus Mahal is built in the structure of a lotus that’s why its name is pronounced as Lotus Mahal. Here you see the unique design on walls and architecture is fabulous.
- Archeological Museum- This is the place where you see the ruins of the Vijayanagara Empire, their great architecture, and their heritage. This Museum collects all the memories of the previous Empire and proves the great ancient architecture of Hampi.
- Hampi Step Walls- These step walls of Hampi are also included in the UNESCO world heritage site. Hampi step Walls are counted as the largest step wells in India. The area of these step walls is covered with many temples and monuments. In the middle of the step walls, you see a water tank, and the water tank is related to many rituals to do in the temple. The name of these step walls is Purshakarinis.
- Daroji Bear Sanctuary- This sanctuary is famous for sloth bears, which are easily seen in this sanctuary. This sanctuary was established in 1994, along with bears you see houses like leopards, hyenas, jackals, spotted deer, and many other animals. The sloth bear attracts people to do activities and play with each other. Along with wildlife, you discover a trek also.
- Sasivekalu and Kadalekalu Temple- This temple is located on the southern side of Hemakuta Hills. This temple is dedicated to Ganesha, nobody misses these places while traveling in Hampi. Here you see two types of Ganesha, one is Sasivekalu Ganesha and another one is Kadalekalu Ganesha. The large size of their statue and temple structure is impressive.
Food and shopping
After discovering all the temples and monuments, you must visit Hampi Bazar to explore the culture and food of Hampi. This Bazar is in front of Virupaksha temple and the famous shopping spot in Hampi. This market street has a series of old pavilions on both sides and shows the various significance of the Vijayanagara Empire. At the entrance of the bazaar, you see a statue of Nandi Bull, Yeduru Basavanna. On the other side of the statue, you see a photo gallery and it is a huge attraction for all the tourists. You took amazing pictures here of streets and monuments across the market. You must visit this bazaar to explore the local shopping and food of Hampi. Here you find many ancient pieces of jewelry, silk clothes, and precious stones.
In the street Bazaar, you must enjoy the delicious food of Hampi. There are many restaurants and residences where you can enjoy amazing food. The places are chillout restaurants, Durga Roof Top, Garden Paradise, and Tom & Jerry. In these restaurants, you find many varieties of food and they serve their special South Indian food also. They are all affordable and comfortable for you.
Fair and Festivals
There are many festivals that are celebrated in Hampi but the most famous are these-
- Hampi Festival-This is one of the largest festivals in Hampi. This festival is scheduled for 3 days at the end of November. You see music, dance, fire dance and many sports like rock climbing, water sports, and rural sports also included in this festival.
- Virupaksha Temple-This festival is held during March and April, this is also a large festival in Hampi.In this festival, to do rituals to marry gods and goddesses.
- Purandaradasa Aradhana-This is a classical music festival and this festival also celebrates the birthday of poet Purandaradasa who lived in Hampi.
- Shivratri-This festival is celebrated all over India but there is the presence of Shiva that’s why they celebrate it with much joy and pleasure.
Best Time to Visit Hampi
To explore all the ancient structures and temples and see the sunset point at the hill, the best time to visit Hampi is from October to March. because at this time you don’t feel too cold or too hot. This is the perfect time to visit Hampi. You can reach Hampi easily by train or by car. You come to Hampi and book any hotel or guest house to stay. They provide all the facilities and guide you about the locations and temples also. So add Hampi to your next trip. This place gives you an unforgettable memory and offers an opportunity to explore the history of Hampi.
Also Read: 13 Best Things To Do In Hampi India
