The Scenic Ruins of Hampi

The Scenic Ruins of Hampi

Located amidst the remains of the Vijayanagara Empire in Karnataka, are the scenic ruins of Hampi, located about 300 kms from the city of Bangalore. This capital city was once part of the glorious Vijayanagara Empire (meaning ‘City of Victory’), which covered almost the entire southern states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra. Now classified as an UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hampi is truly bewitching in its ethereal beauty.

The city of Hampi is a testament to the last of the great Hindu kingdoms of south India. Hampi was much admired by travellers between the 14^th and 16^th century, when it flourished with its cotton and Indian spice trade, and its proximity to the coastline. It was invaded in 1565 by an alliance of five Muslim kings from the Deccan, who pillaged the rich city of its wealth for six whole months, before it was completely abandoned. The battle of Talikota reduced the once magnificent city into the desolate ruins it is today.

Hampi is located in the Tungabhadra basin in Central Karnataka. The rugged hills, open plains and the massive Tungabhadra river helped the city to remain impermeable until its devastation by the Muslim kings. The architecture found in Hampi tells tales of a highly evolved society that was tolerant of different religions and people from different ethnic backgrounds that flourished for a period of 200 years.

Architecture:

There are more than 1600 remains that have survived the onslaught of the invaders and stood the pass of time. These include royal palaces, sacred temples and buildings, forts, shrines, halls, defense posts, water enclosures, stables, gateways, bazaar, residential buildings, and townships. The ruins found on this site are an example of the great economic prosperity and unique architecture, and are indicative of a highly complex and well developed society.

Dravidian architecture flourished in the Vijayanagara Empire and it is characterised by its sheltered enclosures and massive towers built over entrances that are surrounded by decorative pillars. Amongst the temples found in Hampi, the most ornate of these are the Krishna temple complex, the Narasimha, Ganesha, Hemakuta group of temples, the Achyutaraya temple complex, the Vitthala temple complex, the Pattabhirama temple complex, and the Lotus Mahal complex.

The Vitthala temple is perhaps the most exquisite structure amongst all and is a true representation of Dravidian temple architecture. Another significant feature of the temples at Hampi are the wide streets used for chariot festivals. These streets are flanked by pillars and the stone chariot located right in the front is proof of its religious significance. Most of the structures found on this site are made from lime mortar, burnt bricks and locally procured granite slabs.

The Dravidian architecture found in Vijayanagara has also adopted techniques from the Indo-Islamic form of architecture, which is visible in buildings like the Queen’s Bath and the elephant stables.

Getting There:

The closest town to the village of Hampi is Hospet, which is about 15 kms away. It is the nearest railway station and bus station. There are several overnight trains from the city of Bangalore to Hospet.

There are also state-run bus services plying from Hospet to cities like Bangalore, Goa, Hyderabad, and Bijapur. Private buses are also available. From Hospet, you can take the local buses to Hampi or opt for autorickshaws.