India is a treasure trove of ancient and medieval archaeological sites. Some of the most extraordinary masterpieces of architecture lie in the nooks and corners of India. From the Kailasha temple in Ellora to the Taj Mahal; from the shores temples of Mahabalipuram to the temples in Khajuraho and Konark (Odisha) or the wonderful stepwells of India, the list goes on. However, if there is one archaeological complex that took my breath away it was Hampi. An extraordinary empire of medieval India that rose like a phoenix, time and again! Situated in the south Indian state of Karnataka, Hampi world heritage is quite a marvel.
My whirlwind one-day trip
At the fag end of a winter retreat in Ooty-Mysore with family, I decided to go on a whirlwind 3-day solo tour of north Karnataka. The route was Hampi- Badami- Pattadakal- Aihole– Bijapur that included four UNESCO World Heritage Sites! Out of the three days, I spent a day exploring the magnificent Hampi world heritage site.
Check out here to read another ancient UNESCO World Heritage Site elsewhere in the world in this blog: Stonehenge- Bath.
My first impression:
I reached Hospet, the nearest town to Hampi by train from Mysore. As I had only one day in hand, I hired an auto-rickshaw from Hospet to explore the place. As I reached the first site at the Virupaksha temple, I couldn’t believe my eyes! The 7th century temple still was in fairly good state. The architectural details, fine sculpture of Hindu deities and mythological characters were awe-inspiring!. As I moved from one site to another, the landscape changed dramatically. The whole city of the bygone era revealed in front of me like a great detective fiction novel.
Hampi world heritage is a treat to all your senses; it will leave you spellbound. I had heard so much about the place that I feared if the actual experience could be a let-down! However, Hampi did not only live up to my expectations, but elevated it beyond my imagination. History, heritage, architecture, nature, culture- all packed into a bundle of extravagance.
Hampi- a true world heritage
Ancient times:
Hampi has continuously remained the centre of power and eminence through the ages. In pre-historic times, it was known as Pampakshetra (‘Pampa’= Goddess ‘Parvati’). It has mentions in Hindu scriptures such as ‘Sthala purana’ and ‘Ramayana’. As per ‘Ramayana’, it is the place where Lord Rama met with Hanumana. Pampakshetra was actually a prominent pilgrimage site in the medieval era.
Medieval times:
It came into full glory in the modern times with the rise of the Vijayanagara Empire. In a historic mission in the 14th century AD, King Harihara-I (with his brother Bukka-I) led an inspired army to stop the rampaging Muslim invaders from Afghanistan. Thereafter, the Vijayanagar Empire rose dramatically; and its capital city was Hampi. The Kings after him, especially Harihara-II and Krishnadevaraya built a huge metropolitan city. It had palaces, forts, public utilities, temples and market places. The markets were so prosperous that diamond traders came from near and far. The famous traveller of that era Ibn Battuta mentions in his travelogue that Hampi was the second largest city in the world after Beijing. With its monuments still inspiring us till date, Hampi is a true world heritage.
History talking to you at Hampi world heritage sites
Lost glory and the resurgence:
Vijayanagar Empire and Hampi were in eminence for about 300 years. And then, the grand city came crushing down when the unified Muslim sultanates defeated them in 1565. Later, the British carried out extensive renovations in Hampi after Colin Mackenzie rediscovered its ruins in 1799. The excavations still continue. And the ASI has done some impressive conservation work in the recent decades. Furthermore, the “UNESCO World Heritage Site” status in 1986 has helped Hampi regain its lost eminence.
Lively ruins of the lost empire:
The ruins of the great empire are spread over a large area but are close to each other. Thus, if one has time, one can cycle around the place leisurely over a few days. But, I didn’t have that much of time. So, I hopped in an auto-rickshaw from site to site. As I was moving around and discovering various monuments and other natural sites, a very unique feeling engulfed me. It was partly a deja vu feeling, and partly mesmerizing! The whole area was so ancient, and yet so lively that I felt like history was talking to me! I felt like historical events were happening in front of me! I can’t forget that feeling, and yet I can’t really put it into words properly.
Marvellous, original and unique architecture
With 1600 monuments spread over 41.5 square kilometers, Hampi world heritage site is part of the wider-spread Vijayanagara ruins. Within this area, Hampi alone covers 26 sq. kms. The monuments are so magnificent even today that I wonder how would they be looking like in the 14th-15th century at their heydays! The architectural style followed the original Dravidian style that was developed in south India in the first millennium. The structures were made of local granites, burnt bricks and lime mortar. Except a few Jain and Islamic religious structures, most of the temples were devoted to the Hindu Gods/ Goddesses.
The major monuments:
There are so many magnificent structures that a tourist with limited time on hand might find it difficult to choose from. So, I thought of listing 10 monuments not to miss. (1) the Virupaksha temple (Lord Shiva and Pampa Devi/ Parvathi). (2) Achyuta temple, Vitthala temple. (3) Lotus temple. (4) Lakshmi Narasimha temple. (5) Hemakuta hill monuments. (6) Elephant stables. (7) numerous market complexes. (8) Hazara Rama temple. (9) the water structures (especially the Pushkarani stepwell). (10) Kodanda Rama temple. Some other important places: King’s Balance, Queen’s Bath, Mahanavami Dibba, Old Palace, and Monkey Temple.
My favorite monuments in Hampi:
Without a doubt, my favorite place was the Virupaksha temple. Built by Deva Raya-II some 1400 years ago, it still looks in its prime! Stunning temple architecture, and exquisite sculpture reflect on every corner of the temnple. My favorite view (and the favorite picture) of the temple was from the nearby Hemakuta hill. Next was the Stone chariot in the Vitthala temple campus. Perhaps this was the most photographed place in all of Hampi. My other favorite place was the medieval market place. Looking at it in awe, I couldn’t believe that 1400 years ago, such a multistorey market place did exist where traders came from all over the world!
Stunning landscape
In Hampi I can’t really choose my favorite place. It’s difficult to choose between the wonderful architectural sites and the stunning landscape around them. When the auto-driver friend brought me to the riverfront, I was mesmerized by the beauty of the scenic landscape. With huge boulders perched precariously over each other extending over the whole region, it’s a sight to behold. The beautiful Tungabhadra river flows through the undulating terrains flanked by the boulders. The landscape looks heavenly with enchanting palm groves, banana plantations and paddy fields.
I spent about an hour enjoying the serene environment. How dearly I wanted to stay longer! Besides, an interesting feature of the riverfront is the small circular ferries offering tourists a ride in the river. Further, across/ along the river, there are some interesting mythological places. They tell stories from the pre-historic times.
Hampi's rich culture
A culture evolving through the ages is bound to be rich and versatile. The place, its people and culture have survived incomprehensible destruction and have still managed to thrive. Though it’s not as prosperous any more as it used to be, it still holds a pre-eminent position in terms of its heritage value. Even though Hampi has been an important place for Hindus always, it has assimilated Jainism and Islam to a great extent. How amazing is it that a multi-cultural society evolved so naturally in those days!
Government of Karnataka organizes Hampi festival every year in the first week of November to celebrate this rich cultural heritage. Puppet shows, dance and music shows are main features of this festival. Other important festivals of Hampi are Purandaradasa Aradhana festival of classical music in Jan-Feb, Car festival in Mar-Apr, and Shivaratri in Feb-Mar.
Hampi world heritage: Travel Tips
Best time to visit:
- Best weather: November to February (winters; but average temperatures would be in 30 degree C).
- For photography enthusiasts: Monsoon season from July to October; best pictures of monuments with clouds hovering in the sky.
- For culture seekers: Hampi Festival in November; or, choose your festival from the section above.
How to reach:
- By flight: Vidyanagar is the nearest airport (35 kms); but it has very limited options. Other domestic airports are Bellary and Hubli, around 4 hours away by road. The nearest international airport is Bengaluru (350 kms), well connected by train/ bus service.
- By train: Hospet is the nearest railway station, 13kms away.
- Regular bus services from Bangalore, Hubli, Mangalore, Mysore, and other major cities in Karnataka.
Moving around:
- If you have time, the best option is cycling, or motor-cycling, and walking around slowly exploring the places.
- Auto-rickshaws are cheap options if time is a constraint, and you are budget conscious.
- Taxis are not costly though.
Where to stay:
- Main areas: Main Bazaar area, and Virupapur Gaddi (across the river; popular as ‘Hippie island’).
- Some suggested budget accommodations: Sai palza | Shanti guesthouse | Mayuram homestay | Rolling Stone homestay | Shiva guesthouse | Uma homestay.
Where to eat:
An end note...
I just fell in love with this place replete with historic ruins and having great cultural significance. However, I wonder, how come such a beautiful and historically rich place is not among the most visited places in India! One of the reasons maybe its location; reaching there is not easy. Because, it’s situated at least 4 hours’ drive from the nearest airport in Hubli or an overnight train from Bengaluru. However, with communications getting better by the day, more and more tourists are visiting Hampi every year.
It’s totally worth the effort. Apart from Hampi, people interested in history and heritage can also explore other important places in the vicinity. Some of these places are Badami, Pattadakal, Aihole (all UNESCO World Heritage sites) and Bijapur (like I did). One could also visit Gulbarga (which I couldn’t). From Bijapur, I took an overnight train to Pune where I boarded my flight to Delhi.
Sajith
The architecture attracts and call to sit in the historical lap and enjoy the culture and civilization. Its truly wonderful.
stampedmoments
Sajith: it is definitely among the top 5 places to explore in India.
Suma
As they say “Two eyes are not enough to capture the synic beauty” …..this stands so true for Hampi. What I found remarkable in this post is every aspect has been mentioned as to the way you need to see and feel the place when you visit it
Suma
Read it as “scenic” and not synic🙏
stampedmoments
Yes Suma, Hampi is a place to feel, not only to see. A must visit.
Thanks for the encouraging feedback.
Soumen Chatterjee
It’s fantastic read. The blog enriches mind, the beautiful architecture description feels like I am actually viewing this. Every minute details are being captured. the majority monuments are described and I think it’s a must visit for us.Humpi is truely a world heritage , it’s cluture and temples are realy famous and it has so much artistic in nature.
stampedmoments
Soumen, it truly is an amazing place. As a travel enthusiast, you must visit.
Thanks for reading, and giving you feedback.
Jayvanti Einjen
V.nice
stampedmoments
Thank you 🙂