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Tourist attractions in Hampi |
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Hampi is famous for its ruins belonging to the erstwhile medieval Hindu kingdom of Vijaynagar and it is declared a World Heritage site. |
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The main tourist spots in Hampi can be divided into two broad areas: the Hampi Bazaar area and the Royal center near Kamalapuram.
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The 15th-century Virupaksha Temple is located in the Hampi Bazaar area. It is one of the oldest monuments of the town. The top of the temple rises about 50 m from the ground and the main shrine is dedicated to Virupaksha, a form of Lord Shiva. Hemakuta Hill, south of the Virupaksha temple, contains early ruins, Jain temples and a monolithic sculpture of Lord Narasimha, a form of Lord Vishnu.
Virupaksha Temple
The 15th-century Virupaksha Temple is located in the Hampi Bazaar area. It is one of the oldest monuments of the town. The top of the temple rises about 50 m from the ground and the main shrine is dedicated to Virupaksha, a form of Lord Shiva.
The Virupaksha is also called the Pampapati. While the construction belongs to the later Vijayanagar period, there are many shrines inside the temple that are much older. At the eastern end, there is the large Nandi in stone; on the southern side is the larger-than-life Ganesha. Large single stone carvings seem to have been the fashion of the day in Hampi, for there is a large image of Narasimha (6.7 m high), the half-lion half-man incarnation of God, as well as a huge linga. This phallic symbol now has its base in water.
Vittal Temple
Two kilometres east of Hampi Bazaar, the traveller can see the Vittal Temple, built in the 16th century, and now a World Heritage monument. The carvings on this temple give an insight into the architectural splendour achieved by the artisans of Vijayanagar Empire. In the Vittal Temple, the columns are so balanced that they have a musical quality.
The Queen's Bath
The Queen's Bath looks rather block-like from the outside. Inside, however, gallery-verandas, with overhanging Rajasthani balconies, encircle a 15-metre square bath. Once, cool, perfumed water poured in a minor waterfall at one side and flowed out through an underground drain. The bath, though carefully shielded on all sides, was open to the sky. It was a celebration of the good life, which, in many ways, was the leitmotif of Hampi.
Hazara Rama Temple
The Hazara Rama Temple was perhaps the king's private shrine and contains some exceptional carvings and murals both within and on the outer walls. The outer friezes show horses, elephants, dancing girls and infantry in procession, while the inner panels depict individual deities or scenes from the Ramayana. There is a garuda (hawk-like bird) with multiple wings, which is the most striking of them all.
Lotus Palace
Near the Hazara Ram Temple, in the walled area of zenana (women's quarters), there is an exquisite pavilion called the Lotus Palace. It is believed that the women of the royal family who lived in the nearby Queens' Palace disported themselves in the water pavilion within their protected enclosure and met in the Lotus Palace. Its inflicted arches are particularly intriguing. This palace is a blend of Indo-Islamic architecture and gets its name from the lotus bud carved on its domed and vaulted ceiling. The Mughal monuments in Agra, built a century later, show modified variations of such features.
Elephant Quarter
The Elephant quarter is adjacent to the zenana enclosure. It is a domed building, which housed the royal elephants.
Underground Virupaksha Temple
The Underground Virupaksha temple, built in 1442, is another important place to visit within the royal centre. It is one of the earliest structures in the city. The temple is devoted to Lord Virupaksha, a form of Shiva.
Archaeological Museum
The Archaeological Museum at Kamalapuram (a small village adjoining Hampi) has a good collection of sculptures belonging to the Vijayanagar Empire. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and closed on Fridays. There is no entry ticket.
Anegondi
Apart from the Hampi Bazaar and the Royal Centre, Anegondi is another place worth visiting. It is a fortified area north of Hampi Bazaar across the Tungabhadra River. There are a number of temples in and around Anegondi.
Excursions
The town of Hospet, which is 13 km from Hampi, is an important tourist center. Travelers can have a panoramic view of surrounding areas from the 49-m-high and 2-km-long Tungabhadra Dam, 6 km from Hospet.
Fairs And Festivals
Hampi is famous for the Purandar Festival. This annual festival is held in January-February in the Vittal Temple to celebrate the birth anniversary of the medieval poet-composer Purandar.
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