Also known as Humpi or Hampe, Hampi is a small village situated in Northern Karnataka. It was the capital of the Hindu empire, Vijayanagara, who ruled south India from 14th to 16th century AD. With the help of his devotee disciples Hakka and Bukka, Saint Vidyaranya established the base of Vijayanagara Empire in 1336 AD. It gained popularity because of its re-establishment of Indian culture and its support for music, art and literature. They also encouraged the renovation and reconstruction of temples throughout India. With their main focus being on caring for the people and their welfare, this empire soon spread from Karnataka to Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra as well.
The name Hampi itself is derived from Pampa, which is the old name of the Tungabhadra River on whose banks the city was built. The destruction of the Empire by the Mughal invaders reduced this beautiful city to ruins.
Even then these ruins are filled with museums, markets, temples and plenty of other ancient monuments. It is both a historic as well as religious place in India and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Spread over an area of about 25 square kilometers, amidst giant boulders and vegetation, Hampi boasts of past riches, grandeur and wealth. It is packed with places to see.
First and foremost is the Vittala Temple Complex, the most magnificent monument of Hampi. It is dedicated to Vittla, a form of the Hindi God Vishnu. The temple contains many halls and shrines, the former known for its beautiful pillars with animated carvings on it. It also contains ‘musical pillars’, a set of pillars that resonate when tapped. It also houses the great stone chariot which has stone wheels that actually revolve.
Next is the Virupaksha temple, one of the oldest active temples which dates back to 7th century AD. It is dedicated to the Hindi God of destruction and is located at a riverbank.
The hampi bazaar is a sight that is not to be missed. It is 35 yards wide and nearly 800 yards long and is lined with beautiful houses. Moreover, there is also the King’s Balance where kings were weighted against grain, gold or money which was then distributed to the poor.
There’s also Royal enclosure, Hemakuta hill temples, queen’s bath…the list of monuments is endless. The best time to visit this historical place is between October and March.
Hampi the capital of the Vijayanagar empire is a world heritage site and should never be missed by anyone. It is an experience in itself.
Wonderful photos
THIS PLACE IS VERY VERY BEAUTIFUL – WE SHOULD VISIT THIS PLACE WITH ALL FAMILY MEMBERS – THIS PLACE ATTRACT FOREIGN TOURIST – WE ALL INDIANS SHOULD SAVE AND PROTECT IT – IT IS PRIDE OF WE ALL INDIANS – D K CHOUDHURY L I C & MUTUAL FUND AGENT – JAMSHEDPUR
Additional knowledge of other countries history. This is GREAT!
I have still not visited the above places. I whould like to visit soon.But please inform from where and from which city we can reach there.This information will be useful to all who are interested in vsiting these places.Excellent photoes and pictures.
I have visited this place 20yrs ago.If you want to study and enjoy the sculptures of the entire are,it takes one full day.worth visiting.
Thanks !
I visited Humpi-Vijayanagaram in the year 1981.
I was on assignment at steel industry at nearby town Hospet.
Magnificent planning on vast area of stretch,on the bank of very calm, neat and gorgeous river Tungbhadra.
I also visited the mountain where Shri.Ram used to sit with shri Lakshman.
Must pay a visit.
there is train and bus connectivity to Hospet if you are coming from North, East and South India you need to get down train in Guntakal if you are coming from West India you need to get down in Hubli after getting down you need to catch bus or tax.if you are coming from Bangalore there is direct train daily which operates from Bangalore city Junction and also there are many government and private buses to Hospet.
If this sight is free than i would like to join. Please let me imform that is it free> I like know the place Nepal.May I know about it?
Amazing , awesome, people talk about structures of greek,roman etc…..what about this hidden treasure……I was ignorant about this….Next visit will be to this place………….
HAMPI IS A WONDERFUL PLACE TO VISIT AND ENJOY THE SCULPTURES AND WE INDIANS SHOULD BE PROUD OF THE VIJAYANAGARA SAMRAJYAM THAT RULED THE SOUTH.
Hampi in ruins! One can imagine the grandeure when it was under the reigns of Sri Krishnadevaraya, a connoisuer of Art and Music. Tirupati Temple was in his kingdom under a chiefton. The king replicated Ramarajya in Deccan region. One recently merged in Indian Union is Mysore State. Any visitor, both Indian and from abroad will be awe inspired by visiting places and palaces. Under any strech of imagination it is difficult to visualise how such rare heritage centres were brought to shambles by soldiers of Adil Shah regime even after plundering immense wealth of jewellery and artifacts. Barbarianism!
This is one is a wonderful place. we should be very proud to be Indian that these are in India. we ve to protect these monuments. I hv n`t visit this place yet. But i like to visit it soon. Thanks for the information kumar.
Good One and worth to visit once
LORD GANESHA,LAKSHMINARASIMHA STONE IDOLS ARE VERY POPULAR FOR VISITORS.
EVEN DASARA DIBBA, WHY THESE PHOTOS ARE NOT COVERED?
The HAMPI is the 500yrs old monument of Golden Hindu samrajya. The emperor Sri. krishnadevaraya’s Administration be always remembering history. Every Indian should be proud of VIJAYNAGARA Samrajya.
Very beautiful places like tovisit atleast once in my life time.
i visited this place so many times.but untill few months back i didn’t know how it was completely damaged. i thought it was natural calamity that leads to total damage.as it is on the banks of thungabhadra i thought heavy floods may be the cause. it is actually caused by muslim rulers. for them it took around 6 months to demolish the city almost totally.
I havent visited this place very recently i will visit because the photos i have attracted if live it will be awesome may be with in a month i have some work over there
I have visited this place so many times in the recent past. It is a place worth to be seen. One should have strong feet to traverse the surroundings of the main temples. It is better to have a Guide along with.There should be small correction in the text. Instead of HINDI GOD, It should be HINDU GOD.
The mere thought of Hampi, takes us back to the days of SRI KRISHNADEVA RAYA and the splendid proceedings of BHUVANA VIJAYAM. A history that will be enjoyed forever and it will be ever fresh making one to feel very sorry for missing the LITERARY GATHERINGS of ASTADIGGAJAALU and enjoy the architectural wonders of those days.
i am a student of history alsi now i am aged70. having problems of travelling.thanks a lot at last i could able to see hampi tro this.my memires realised this way.
Very lovely place.We are proud of rich heritage.we should protect it
The government should bring some business activities by way of introducing
some light industries and repopulate that area.Never leave any place of yesteryear to disintegrate and lose it’s past glory.I say restore these places back to it’s past glory.
My comments is over Mr.NagarajaM’s observation “Under any strech of imagination it is difficult to visualise how such rare heritage centres were brought to shambles by soldiers of Adil Shah regime even after plundering immense wealth of jewellery and artifacts. Barbarianism!” It is a shame that the Indian government is treating these decedents of this evil Muslims barbarians with special privilege under minority.I say stop all this sympathetic treatment to these worms and should stop the government grants for their Haj pilgrimage.No where in the world such treatment is accorded even in an Islamic country.
I belong to HOSPET. Hampi is just 8 km from Hospet. Hampi is worth seeing. One should walk or ride a cycle from Hampi to Kamalapura (2-3 km) to see maximum monuments. Nearby Kamalapura one place by name Malyavantha is also worth seeing. I agree with Mr. Nagesha Chari for the correction suggested by him.
WE ENJOYED THE HAMPI TRIP. KSRTC ARRANGES FOR A SIGHT SEEING TRIP FROM HOSPET FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT HAVE MUCH TIME IT LEAVES AT AROUND 9AM AND YOU ARE BACK BY 6.00 PM.
Many families in Bangalore,Kollegal, Coimbatore, border villages of Tamil Nadu, particularly Telugu speaking communities like Devanga, Naidu, Reddy, Visya, etc. were driven out of Vijayanagar Territory due to Bahumani Muslim Rulers. What happened to Kashmiri pandits in the recent past happened to many Telugu Speaking people at that time. Highly cultured people at that time from Hindu Communities ran away from their home land. Kempegowda was the Hindu ruler of Bangalore at that time, accommodated those richly cultured people. Again the history repeated when Hyderali invaded Bangalore, most of the people deserted Bangalore to distant places around Bangalore. Hampi is the home town of most of the people in and around Bangalore. But time has vailed this truth.
When i was in hamppi that time i realized that in 13 centuary mans are clever than 21 centuary man.
Wonderful site. I must visit.
Very nice article and beautiful pictures. However, why does the article keeps referring to Gods as ‘Hindi God Vishnu’ or ‘Hindi God of Destruction’?
Shouldn’t this be ‘HINDU’ God?
I have visited this world heritage site.
Thanks to the archelogical department for facilitatind tourist facilities.
Please do not miss an opportunity to visit the site
The photos are execellent.
its a large and nice ,beautifull place.we are visiting regularly.
old pauranik tample with all carving and kalakari
EXCLENT PLACE
I visited Belur, Hampi, Halebedu, Hospet, Vijaya Nagar Fort, Davengere, Thalai Kaveri, Coorgu, Mookambigai Temple, arranged tour by my Colleagues of SITRA.,Coimbatore by a Tourist Bus,during 1993, pleasant journey, very
lovable places, presently in 2013 lot of friends are no more,By seeing this monument/s now at the age of 60 after my retirement from SITRA, I recollect the old memories and also enjoyed a lot at present.Thank you.
The Archaeology Department should work with more dedication to preserve these historical monuments. I always pity for the fading conditions of the statues and plaques. I think and feel that concerned authorities should involve more personally to preserve this great heritage. I am noticing the ruined conditions year after year more, though the cleanliness is better, especially when the top leaders visit the place. If the conditions are maintained always like this, it will be better.
This is reason enough to be proud of your Indian heritage no matter where in the world you live.
There is no Idol of Vithala in Vithal temple. When the Moghuls attacked Vijayanagar, the devotees of Lord Vithal, took the deity to Pandharpur in Maharashtra. The famous song by Asha Bhosale sings as ” Kanada ho Vithalu Karnataku”. There is also an under ground water canal from Tungabhadra river to Vijaynagar which highlights on the engineering skill of the Engineers of that generation. Escavation of ruins is still continuing and many more things come to light. One must visit at least once in life time.
Betsur
wonderful photos. memories of my previous visit came back.
Hampi The capital city of forgotten Great Empire that stood for up holding and promoting Vedic traditions, it is painful to see, now is ruined. Great and mammoth structures speak silently about the skill of construction engineers and workmen of that period. Current construction designs are way behind Vijayanagara empire. I wish to know if any one can inform me whether the DEVA RAYA lineage is continuing. What happened to that family. It is hadly 500 years, excepting the statue in Tirumala Temple no other memorial of Sri Krishna Devaraya is available. There are many things that were not covered in this article ex. Navarathri podium, foundations of king and queens palace, inverted pyramid Koneru ( A structure to store water ) water Ducts running 35 miles, swimming pools for aqua sports. Hampi Virupaksha Temple- secret camera, Royal symbol etc. Please up date your coverage.
Very! Very! Beautiful Temple.
Am a Hindu I m very proud of these spiritual art , But very sorry some communities does not have value of these kind of heritages . still they work on it to destroy .
Hampi is such a nice place usually takes two days to trek around. One must go to see this marvellous historical place. Please read the book “The Forgotten Empire” before visiting this site.
Fantastic!,we are appreciating from all of such photocopies, and wish to get for ever response from you.
Thank you.
Pankaj Shah
Myself with my friends had visited both Hampi & Badami. Its really wonderful experience. One who really want to know about Hindu Sanskriti will feel proud of it. So every Indian must visit Hampi & Badami.
Dear friends, Good evening! I have enjoyed this on Hampi very much! The pictures are excellent with nice comments! Let us express our fine gratitude to them! With regards, Manchi Sarat Babu
Excellent site. I wish I could visit one day.
awsome places, like 2 visit atlst once in lyf tym 🙂
i am proud to say I am kannadiga & belong this land of cultural heritage!!! this is on of the few splendid Piece of architecture , awesome and extremely astounding!!!!!
Amazed to see the beautiful pictures alongwith the information provided there. We should protect this rich heritage. Observing all this in our country, I am feeling proud to be an Indian.
avesum…….Wonderful site. I must visit in future…