Hampi in Karnataka

Location : Karnataka India
Area26 sq km
Best time to visit Hampi : October to March
STD Code08394

Hampi the architectural wonder was once the seat of the Vijayanagara Empire in the post Mughal India. The Hampi covers the several states reigned supreme under emperor Krishnadevaraya. Karnataka Maharashtra and Andhra pradesh were under the jurisdiction of the emperor. When the city of Vijayanagara was destroyed by the Mughal invaders reduced the city to ruins amid scenes to savage massacres and horrors beggaring description.

The ruins of Hampi of the 14th century lies scattered in about 26 sq km of area, amidst rich flora and fauna. History is resplendent with a multi faceted splendor. The ruins of the palace and gateways of the broken city tell a tale of three cities that were once the seat of arts , culture and sciences.

The remains of Hampi are testimonies that speak of events and occurrences besides giving us glimpses of a long lost dynasty. Every rock, every path and every monuments at Hampi speaks the same language a language of glory and beauty.

Attractions of Hampi : Major tourists attractions in Hampi can be divided into two areas namely Hampi Bazaar Area and Royal Center Kamalapuram. Virupaksha is the oldest temple here which lies in the Hampi Bazaar area. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is visited by tourists from all over the world.

To the south of this temple lies the Hemakuta Hill, which is famous for the ancient Jain temples, ruins massive sculpture of Lord Narasimha or Lord Vishnu. Than near to the Hampi bazaar is the Vittal temple, built in 16th century, which is also a World Heritage Site. Vittal presents the perfect example of the ancient form of architecture. It is believed that outer pillars of this temple produce music when tapped. Other attractions in Hampi include Lotus Mahal built in the Indo Islamic form of architecture. Than there is Anegondi, one of the famous tourists attraction across Tungabhadra River in Hampi.

Efforts are on to retain the lost glory of Hampi. It is the world Heritage Site and Hospet in Hampi provides the gateway for Hampi. In April 2002, Karnataka officially set up the Hampi World Heritage Area Management Authority and wide ranging powers as well as a state Level Advisory Committee.

Aparana Chauhan