“The use of traveling is to regulate imagination with reality, and instead of thinking of how things may be, see them as they are.” – Samuel Johnson
I hadn't traveled in quite sometime. The long weekend of Independence Day was calling me for a short vacation. Unlike my previous 2 travel plans which were treks to the Himalayas, this time, me along with my roommates(Jyoti and Nikhil) decided to dive into the historic ruins of Hampi. This blog is more of a travel guide than a travelogue.
Hampi is an ancient village in the south Indian state of Karnataka. The dynasties that ruled the Vijayanagara Empire , with Hampi as the capital,constructed many forts,ramparts,temples and statues. What they build then have come to be acknowledged as world heritage sites today.
History:
Hampi is also known as Pampa Kshetra, Kishkindha kshetra and even Bhaskara kshetra. These names were derived from the famous Tungabhadra River Pampa. According to mythology it is said that Pampa was Brahma’s daughter who was later married off to Shiva. It was here where the city was built. As you walk through the remains of Hampi's magnificent forts, palaces and gateways, you will get a glimpse of the excellent architecture of those times. The monuments speak volumes about the history of Hampi that used to be a prosperous and rich kingdom in the 14th century which was eventually ruined owing to the attacks made by the Moghuls. This was the start of an empire that went on to become one of the richest. In a span of over 200 plus years ((1336 AD – 1565 AD), a total of four dynasties ruled Vijayanagar that is also called as the City of Victory.
History of Vijayanagar had been a saga of resistance against the northern Sultanates as well as building of its spectacular capital in Hampi.The Vijayanagara Empire is said to have been established and founded by Bukka and Harihara who were also known as Sangama brothers. The brothers initially lived in Warangal where they were working as treasurer and minister. In 1323, the brothers fled Warangal when the city was attacked by the Muslims and went to Kampili. They fled from there too again owing to the attacks by Muslims and crossed River Tungabhadra to form a new city which is now known as Vijayanagara. This city was ruled by four different dynasties from 1336 to 1565. Sangama dynasty, Saluva dynasty, Tuluva dynasty and Aravidu dynasty were the four dynasties in ruling during that period. The kings and princes of each of these dynasties made sure that while in their ruling, they do whatever it takes to brings richness and wealth to the city and ended up building over 500 monuments.
Hampi also has a strong mythological story associated to it. And if these beliefs are anything to go by, it is said that Kishkinda Vanara Kingdom is where Ram and Lakshman had stayed when they had set out in search of Sita who was abducted by Ravana.
Tentative Travel Itinerary:
Hampi is 12 km away from Hosapet. KSRTC runs buses from 6 AM to 10.30 PM daily. There are 2 routes to Hampi, one goes through Kaddirampura and the other through Kamalapura.
Hampi can be covered in 3 days. I will try and give you an itinerary which will be helpful. It is very useful if you can download offline map of Hampi because there is very limited connectivity of mobile service providers. Following is a google map representation of the itinerary.
Day-1:
The ruins are scattered across Hampi. Many of the important sites are close to bus stop and can be covered walking. They are within a radius of 2 km. You don't need to hire a cab or rickshaw on this day. As one alights the bus, the magnificent tower of a temple is visible to the west, Virupaksha temple.
Virupaksha Temple :
It is the most ancient temple in Hampi and it is a treat to the eyes for people who love history and religion.The inscriptions that you will find on the structure dates back to the 9th and 10th century. Built in dedication to Shiva, this site is one of the most important and visited pilgrim sites.The most fascinating part about this temple is the stunning three gopuras and also a big high tower that stands tall at 160 feet . The temple also has an elephant called Lakshmi.Sri Virupaksha is aslo called Pampapathi. It is said that pampadevi did tapasya for lord Shiva in this holy place. Shiva appeared before her and took the shape of Shivalingam promising to stay there forever. The idol of Shivalingam is Virupaksha.Don't forget to see the inverted shadow of the outer entrance(Bistappa tower) projected on the wall. Also do not miss to visit the sacred pond beside the temple. It is called Lokpavana. Water to the pond is fed by a pipe system which connects the nearby Tungabhadra river.
Once you get out of the temple. You can see a signboard pointing
to large group of temples on the left of the Virupaksha temple. Enter
inside that. You will see 2 distinct paths. Follow the one towards
the left. If you are lucky you can see goats grazing,the beautiful
Virupaksha compound and Matanga hill at a distance.
Move ahead and visit the 2 Ganesha temples (Kadalekalu and Saasivekaalu). Kadalekalu Ganapathi is 18 feet tall and has a big inner sanctum.Get out from the exit gate on the other side and walk straight 300 m towards Sri Krishna Temple.
You can also see Pushkarini opposite to it.
Other sites in the vicinity include the Badavilinga Temple ,where you can see a 12 ft shivling submerged in water, and Ugra Narashimha Temple. It is the largest of all the idols in Hampi. It is about 22 feet tall and is carved on a single stone.
Return back to bus stop by walk or by a rickshaw. Have lunch at
Mango Tree restaurant or Suresh restaurant, two famous restaurants on Hampi river side. The ambiance is good and food is tasty.
Next visit the Monolithic bull and Mathanga hill. It is at a distance of 1km from Hampi Bazar.
Once done walk towards Achutaraya Temple. It is the most beautiful ruin in Hampi. It is worth the effort of walking 850m from Monolithic Bull
Achutaraya Temple: This temple was built by Sri Krishna Devaraya's brother Achutaraya between 1513 and 1539.Apparently it was here that the trade of precious stones and diamonds was carried on. This is also called “Sule Bazaar”.
Return back to Virupaksha temple and enter the gate of Hemkuta group of temples and move towards the right hand side which you had skipped in the morning. Spend some time enjoying the sunset at sunset point. This ends your adventure of day 1.
Day-2
Following is a summary Of Places to be covered on Day-2
You can visit the Vitthala Temple directly. You will find the marvelous Stone chariot in the temple compound. The temple campus is huge and beautiful too.
Spend some time exploring the ruins.
Vijaya Vittala temple is one of the most breathtaking pieces of architecture. Built in dedication to Vittala who is a form of Vishnu. The Vittala temple was built in the 15th century. The highlight about the Vittala temple is the stone chariot. It is considered as an iconic structure. It also has musical pillars that are as iconic as the stone chariot. Each pillar of this temple depicts a musical instrument and also serves as the main support to the whole structure. This has been arranged around the main pillar of the temple which when struck gives out the 7 notes from each of the instrument that it represents. This temple is also a venue to the famous festival Purandaradasa festival that is held here annually.
On the temple outskirts you should be able to locate Stupendous Vishnu Temple and King's balance. These two are the important attractions in this part of Hampi.
King's Balance: The King’s balance is just five meters tall and forms an archway like structure. The structure has been carved from stone and it is believed by many that during lunar and solar eclipse and also during Dussehra, the King was weighed with gold and many other precious stones. These jewels were then given away to the priests of the temple.
Return back to Kamlapura side of Hampi and explore other sites.
Following sites attract the tourists to a greater extent.
You can optionally visit Chandrasekhara Temple and Saraswati Temple
Day -3 :
If you aren't still bored try and visit Hampi Island which includes the following tourist attractions. You can enjoy the magnificent boat ride from Hampi river side to Hampi island.
You can also spend half a day exploring the Tungabhadra Dam and the beautiful park which is just 6 Km from Hosapet Bus stop. You can hire Auto rickshaw which charge 70-80 INR
We thoroughly enjoyed our trip. Hope this blog helps you plan your vacation!!
I can HA[m]PPIly conclude
“Our happiest moments as tourists always seem to come when we stumble upon one thing while in pursuit of something else.” — Lawrence Block
Additional Info:
Recommended Places to Stay at Hampi:
I hadn't traveled in quite sometime. The long weekend of Independence Day was calling me for a short vacation. Unlike my previous 2 travel plans which were treks to the Himalayas, this time, me along with my roommates(Jyoti and Nikhil) decided to dive into the historic ruins of Hampi. This blog is more of a travel guide than a travelogue.
Hampi is an ancient village in the south Indian state of Karnataka. The dynasties that ruled the Vijayanagara Empire , with Hampi as the capital,constructed many forts,ramparts,temples and statues. What they build then have come to be acknowledged as world heritage sites today.
History:
Hampi is also known as Pampa Kshetra, Kishkindha kshetra and even Bhaskara kshetra. These names were derived from the famous Tungabhadra River Pampa. According to mythology it is said that Pampa was Brahma’s daughter who was later married off to Shiva. It was here where the city was built. As you walk through the remains of Hampi's magnificent forts, palaces and gateways, you will get a glimpse of the excellent architecture of those times. The monuments speak volumes about the history of Hampi that used to be a prosperous and rich kingdom in the 14th century which was eventually ruined owing to the attacks made by the Moghuls. This was the start of an empire that went on to become one of the richest. In a span of over 200 plus years ((1336 AD – 1565 AD), a total of four dynasties ruled Vijayanagar that is also called as the City of Victory.
History of Vijayanagar had been a saga of resistance against the northern Sultanates as well as building of its spectacular capital in Hampi.The Vijayanagara Empire is said to have been established and founded by Bukka and Harihara who were also known as Sangama brothers. The brothers initially lived in Warangal where they were working as treasurer and minister. In 1323, the brothers fled Warangal when the city was attacked by the Muslims and went to Kampili. They fled from there too again owing to the attacks by Muslims and crossed River Tungabhadra to form a new city which is now known as Vijayanagara. This city was ruled by four different dynasties from 1336 to 1565. Sangama dynasty, Saluva dynasty, Tuluva dynasty and Aravidu dynasty were the four dynasties in ruling during that period. The kings and princes of each of these dynasties made sure that while in their ruling, they do whatever it takes to brings richness and wealth to the city and ended up building over 500 monuments.
- The Sangama Dynasty was founded by Bukka Raya 1 and Harihara 1.It was established in 1336. The ruling passed on from them to Harihara II and Devaraya II and several others.
- The Saluva dynasty was ruled only by two rulers in the name of Saluva Narasimha Deva and Immadi Narasimha.
- The Tuluva Dynasty was the third in row to rule the Vijayanagara Empire. Immadi Marasimha who initially ruled the dynasty was killed by Vira Narasimha who then took over the throne and made the Tuluva dynasty in 1505.
- The Aravidu Dynasty is the last dynasty of the Vijayanagara Empire and Tirumala was the founder. This dynasty was defeated and taken over Bijapuri muslims.
Hampi also has a strong mythological story associated to it. And if these beliefs are anything to go by, it is said that Kishkinda Vanara Kingdom is where Ram and Lakshman had stayed when they had set out in search of Sita who was abducted by Ravana.
Tentative Travel Itinerary:
Hampi is 12 km away from Hosapet. KSRTC runs buses from 6 AM to 10.30 PM daily. There are 2 routes to Hampi, one goes through Kaddirampura and the other through Kamalapura.
Hampi can be covered in 3 days. I will try and give you an itinerary which will be helpful. It is very useful if you can download offline map of Hampi because there is very limited connectivity of mobile service providers. Following is a google map representation of the itinerary.
Day-1:
The ruins are scattered across Hampi. Many of the important sites are close to bus stop and can be covered walking. They are within a radius of 2 km. You don't need to hire a cab or rickshaw on this day. As one alights the bus, the magnificent tower of a temple is visible to the west, Virupaksha temple.
Virupaksha Temple :
It is the most ancient temple in Hampi and it is a treat to the eyes for people who love history and religion.The inscriptions that you will find on the structure dates back to the 9th and 10th century. Built in dedication to Shiva, this site is one of the most important and visited pilgrim sites.The most fascinating part about this temple is the stunning three gopuras and also a big high tower that stands tall at 160 feet . The temple also has an elephant called Lakshmi.Sri Virupaksha is aslo called Pampapathi. It is said that pampadevi did tapasya for lord Shiva in this holy place. Shiva appeared before her and took the shape of Shivalingam promising to stay there forever. The idol of Shivalingam is Virupaksha.Don't forget to see the inverted shadow of the outer entrance(Bistappa tower) projected on the wall. Also do not miss to visit the sacred pond beside the temple. It is called Lokpavana. Water to the pond is fed by a pipe system which connects the nearby Tungabhadra river.
Move ahead and visit the 2 Ganesha temples (Kadalekalu and Saasivekaalu). Kadalekalu Ganapathi is 18 feet tall and has a big inner sanctum.Get out from the exit gate on the other side and walk straight 300 m towards Sri Krishna Temple.
You can also see Pushkarini opposite to it.
Next visit the Monolithic bull and Mathanga hill. It is at a distance of 1km from Hampi Bazar.
Once done walk towards Achutaraya Temple. It is the most beautiful ruin in Hampi. It is worth the effort of walking 850m from Monolithic Bull
Achutaraya Temple: This temple was built by Sri Krishna Devaraya's brother Achutaraya between 1513 and 1539.Apparently it was here that the trade of precious stones and diamonds was carried on. This is also called “Sule Bazaar”.
Return back to Virupaksha temple and enter the gate of Hemkuta group of temples and move towards the right hand side which you had skipped in the morning. Spend some time enjoying the sunset at sunset point. This ends your adventure of day 1.
Day-2
Following is a summary Of Places to be covered on Day-2
You can visit the Vitthala Temple directly. You will find the marvelous Stone chariot in the temple compound. The temple campus is huge and beautiful too.
Spend some time exploring the ruins.
Vijaya Vittala temple is one of the most breathtaking pieces of architecture. Built in dedication to Vittala who is a form of Vishnu. The Vittala temple was built in the 15th century. The highlight about the Vittala temple is the stone chariot. It is considered as an iconic structure. It also has musical pillars that are as iconic as the stone chariot. Each pillar of this temple depicts a musical instrument and also serves as the main support to the whole structure. This has been arranged around the main pillar of the temple which when struck gives out the 7 notes from each of the instrument that it represents. This temple is also a venue to the famous festival Purandaradasa festival that is held here annually.
On the temple outskirts you should be able to locate Stupendous Vishnu Temple and King's balance. These two are the important attractions in this part of Hampi.
King's Balance: The King’s balance is just five meters tall and forms an archway like structure. The structure has been carved from stone and it is believed by many that during lunar and solar eclipse and also during Dussehra, the King was weighed with gold and many other precious stones. These jewels were then given away to the priests of the temple.
Following sites attract the tourists to a greater extent.
- Queen's Bath
- Lotus Mahal
- Elephant stable
- Octagonal Bath
- Hazara Rama Temple
- Royal Enclosure
- Stepped Tank
- Mahanavami Dibba
You can optionally visit Chandrasekhara Temple and Saraswati Temple
Day -3 :
If you aren't still bored try and visit Hampi Island which includes the following tourist attractions. You can enjoy the magnificent boat ride from Hampi river side to Hampi island.
- Sanapur Lake
- Anegundi (north-east of Hampi Bazaar). Crossing the river to the north and heading east, one can reach Anegundi whose history goes back, according to local legends, to the Ramayana (the Hindu epic)
You can also spend half a day exploring the Tungabhadra Dam and the beautiful park which is just 6 Km from Hosapet Bus stop. You can hire Auto rickshaw which charge 70-80 INR
We thoroughly enjoyed our trip. Hope this blog helps you plan your vacation!!
I can HA[m]PPIly conclude
“Our happiest moments as tourists always seem to come when we stumble upon one thing while in pursuit of something else.” — Lawrence Block
Additional Info:
Recommended Places to Stay at Hampi:
- Hotel Mayura Bhubaneswari (KSTDC Hotel) - Very Good
- Kishkinda Heritage Resort in Hampi Island
- Krishna Palace in Hosapete
- Hampi International in Hosapete
- You can also call and book a guest house in Hampi riverside owned by Mr.Nagaraju (9449667641)
Signing off
Thx for detailed post, will surely refer while planning
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