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Hampi is known for its ruins belonging to Vijaynagar ‘s former mediaeval Hindu empire and is declared a UNESCO World Heritage site . Hampi’s monolithic monuments & statues , temples attract the tourist due to their exceptional workmanship . Hampi ‘s Hindu style of architecture represents the splendor of the Kingdom of Vijaynagar. The rugged landscape contributes to this site ‘s historic ambience.
LOCATION :
In the southern part of India, Hampi is situated in the central part of Karnataka. It is about 353 km from Bangalore, and about 13 km from Hospet. The River Tungabhadra flows from Hampi. It has a hot summer tropical climate (April-June), and cold winters (October-February). From June to August it experiences the southwestern moonsoon rains.
HISTORY OF HAMPI :
Hampi’s first settlement dates back to the 1st century AD, and in the vicinity, many Buddhist sites belonging to that period were found.The capital of the mighty Kingdom of Vijaynagar was Hampi. One of India’s biggest Hindu empires was Vijaynagar. In 1336, two brothers, Harihar and Bukka, founded it. The greatest ruler was Krishnadevaraya (1509-1529) and he ruled almost all of peninsular India south of the Tungabhadra River. The 14th-century city of Hampi had a population of half a million. The town was secured by seven concentrated fortifications . It maintained a massive army to protect it from other kingdoms. Vijaynagar Empire was thriving, as it dominated Southern India’s cotton and spice trade routes. Medieval historians call Hampi an important trading centre. But Vijaynagar ‘s glory had been short-lived. With the death of Krishnadevaraya, this mighty power was defeated in 1565 by the united armies of the five Muslim kingdoms-Bidar, Bijapur, Golconda, Ahmednagar and Berar .
Hampi is home to some 500 temples and other attractions. In art and architecture, too, Hampi was rich. The leaders who dominated the region were huge lovers of religion and art, and hence most of the Kings have made a great effort to set up majestic empires using one of the finest architectural designs that you can experience now. Some of them have been identified below:-
1 . VIRUPAKSHA TEMPLE :
The central temple in Hampi is the Virupaksha Temple. It was built in the 7th century and is one of Hampi’s most popular sites, thronged by thousands of tourists every year. Virupaksha Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, is renowned for its intricate South-Indian style architecture with impressive stone inscriptions. Virupaksha Temple celebrates three very popular festivals – 1 . Shivaratri , 2 . the Betrothal of Lord Shiva and 3 . the Phalapuja Festival, which is the marriage of Lord Shiva to Pampa .
2 . HAMPI BAZAAR:
This bazaar street also is recognized as the bazaar of Virupaksha. It is situated near the Virupaksha, and once was a thriving marketplace. Nowadays, it is used as a residence for locals and there are stores within some of the old houses. Hampi bazaar is full of architecture and inscriptions on the walls.
3 . ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM :
This beautiful archaeological museum in Hampi is the very first museum that was established and set up by India’s Archeological Survey. The museum features ancient sculptures and many artefacts as well, and this is where you can get a glimpse of Hampi ‘s past. A journey to this museum is sure to bring you pleased and awestruck if you are a history lover. There is plenty of things to experience , from silver and gold coins to statues of so many deities . Various galleries show various precious stones and sculptures.
4 . VITTALA TEMPLE :
Vittala temple was built in the sixteenth century to worship Vittala, an incarnation of Vishnu, on the bank of the Tungabhadra river. Admire the elegant pillars, the massive stone chariot, and the deeply carved main hall.
5 . ACHYUTA RAYA’S TEMPLE :
This temple is famous for its architectural style in Vijayanagara , located in the sacred centre of Hampi . Before being overrun by rivals, it was one of the last constructions of the Vijayanagara Empire. It is situated between the slopes of Matanga and Gandhamadana. Interestingly, it’s much less noisy than the other Hampi tourist traps and a perfect place to visit for those who enjoy quietness.
AND THE END…………
Hampi surrendered to the attacks of five Deccan Sultans named Bidar, Bijapur, Ahmednagar, Golconda and Berar. They invaded Hampi in 1565 and ransacked them for a long time, about six months. The assault of six months was bound to bring such tremendous devastation that it would take them forever to rise again. The temples of Hampi had been destroyed and most of the markets had been looted. This was one of Hampi ‘s greatest attacks, and with this, their golden age came to an abrupt end. After those attacks, the empire was governed by various rulers; even so, no one can really bring back the lost pride.
The losses and deterioration of the attacks of 1565 can still be seen in many parts of the region, even today.
