At a glance As the capital of the Hindu kingdom of Vijayanagara, which reached its zenith under the rule of Krishnadeva Raya between 1509 and 1529, Hampi was a beautiful city in its prime.The ruins of Krishnadeva Raya's capital lie beside the Tungabhadra River at the heart of Karnataka, 13 km from Hospet.
About the city Hampi is located in the central part of the state of Karnataka, in the southern part of India. It is 353 km from Bangalore, and 13 km from Hospet. It is located on top of a rugged terrain and is 467 m above sea level. Tungabhadra River flows through Hampi. It has a tropical climate with hot summers (April-June), and cool winters (October-February). It experiences the southwestern monsoon rains from June to August. Hampi is famous for its ruins belonging to the erstwhile medieval Hindu kingdom of Vijaynagar and it is declared a World Heritage site. The temples of Hampi, its monolithic sculptures and monuments, attract the traveler because of their excellent workmanship. The Hindu style of architecture found at Hampi reflects the splendor of the Vijaynagar Empire. The rugged landscape adds to the historic ambience of this site. You approach Hampi from Hospet, through the south. The village of Hampi has one main street Hampi Bazaar, which is closed to all vehicular traffic. The bus stand is just off it on the eastern side. At the western extreme is the Virupaksha Temple. At the eastern extreme of the street is the museum at the base of Matangi Hill, run by the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums. And a few metres from this are the steps that lead to the Achutaraya Temple, which bypasses Matangi Hill. The KSTDC office too is on this street. The ruins are scattered south-east of Hampi Bazaar. Be prepared for some amount of walking even if you hire a car or take the guided tour carry along your walking shoes. If you can cycle or ride a motorbike, this is a great way to see the place. No matter what you decide, carry some kind of head-gear for protection from the sun, and take a picnic lunch (and water) along you can always get bread and bajjias, boiled eggs or parathas from one of the eateries to carry along with you. On your first day here, it may be worthwhile to take the guided tour run by KSTDC or hire a vehicle (auto or car) to get a broad overview of the ruins. If you choose the latter, make sure you take a government-approved guide along, otherwise you will find yourself shelling out money at every site for mediocre guides. If you don't use the services of a guide, you also run the risk of overdosing on hundreds of stones that don't, after all, speak. If you would rather go solo, do your research since just the aesthetics of some sites are insufficient reason to commend themselves. Keep in mind that if you don't have at least a minimal affection for history, Hampi is not for you no pubs, no non-veg restaurants, no shopping. The locals are a quiet lot, so there's none of the ease of conversation one can strike up as in Rajasthan, none of the curiosity towards outsiders as in Bihar, none of the colour of Tamil Nadu. Hampi still needs a healthy dose of tourist-oriented dynamism. It remains a somewhat unexplored territory. 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.
How to reach Road: Car: Hampi is a comfortable drive on two well-serviced national highways. En route halt Kamat Upchar Restaurant (Tel: 08135-277632) in Sira Bus: Super deluxe KSRTC bus from Majestic leaves at 10 pm to reach Hospet at 6 am. Rail: Nearest railhead: Hospet (13 km/ 1/2 hr) Best option TO Hampi Express (dep: Bangalore City 10.15 pm; arr: Hospet 7.50 am) Best option FROM Hampi Express (dep: Hospet 8.10 pm; arr: Bangalore City 6.30 am). Taxi to Hampi costs Rs 250-300 Journey Time Road: 7 hrs Rail: 9 1/2 hrs + 1/2 hr by road
Distances 350 km North from Bangalore From Bangalore NH4 to Chitradurga via Hiriyur NH13 to Hospet via Kudligi State road to Hampi
Best Seasons The monsoon and winter are best It has a tropical climate with hot summers (April-June), and cool winters (October-February). It experiences south-western monsoon rains from June to August. The best time to visit Hampi is from October to March.
Places in and around Virupaksha Temple 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 Lotus PalaceNear 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 Lord Narsimha 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.