Hampi

The magnificent ruined city of Hampi is a tiny village in northern Karnataka state. Located within the ruins of Vijayanagara, the former capital of the Vijayanagara empire (One of the greatest empires in the history of India), Hampi is 353 kilometers from Bangalore, situated on the south bank of the the Tungabhadra River, 13 km northeast of Hospet. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is one of the major historical places of South India.

According to Hindu mythology, Hampi finds mention in the epic Ramayana as Kishkinda, the kingdom of Bali and Sugriva (the monkeykings). Constructed by Harihara and Ukka in 1336, the city was a great centre of Hindu rule for 200 years from its foundation.  The city was wealthy, greater than Rome, with a market full of jewels and palaces plated with gold, having held a monopoly of trade in spices and cotton, bejeweled courtesans and joyous festivities. However, with the defeat in 1565 at Talikota at the hands of the Deccan Sultans, the dazzling city was largely destroyed. Now the city has ruins of stone temples, elephant stables, barracks and palaces. The ruins of Hampi lies scattered in about 26 sq. km area, amidst golden brown granite boulders and vegetation.

 The city is also the home of Pampakshetra - home of Pampa, the daughter of Lord Brahma and wedded to Shiva.

Hampi comes alive during the three-day Music and Cultural extravaganza, held in the first week of November. Organized by the Government of Karnataka, the Hampi festival includes Dance, drama, music, fireworks, puppet shows, spectacular processions. Eminent artistes from all over the country reaches at this festival and enthrall the audience who also come from different parts of the country to witness the gala event.

The temples here are noted for their large dimensions, florid ornamentation, bold and delicate carvings, stately pillars, magnificent pavilions. Most of them are built in early 16th century, during the reign of the great Vijayanagar ruler, Krishna Deva Raya (1509 -1529). Hampi holds many delightful surprises and every rock here is worth a visit. The most famous is the King's Balance where kings were weighed against gold or money which was distributed to the poor. Also worth a visit in Hampi are the Queen's Bath, the two storeyed Lotus Mahal, the huge Elephant Stables, the splendid Vitthal Temple with its musical pillars, the Virupaksha Temple etc and it takes three days or ten days, depending on one's time and love for history.

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