Hampi

Hampi (हम्पी)  

In northern Karnataka, Hampi  is a temple town was once the capital of the historical Vijayanagara Dynasty.

The former capital of the Vijayanagara Empire, Hampi remains an essential religious hub, housing the Virupaksha, Lakshmi Narasimha, Hemakuta Hill, Big Shivlinga and Vithala temples. The architectural ruins of Hampi are a UNESCO World Heritage Site . Rock-climbing enthusiasts will adore Hampi , considered the bouldering capital of India, and the city's  rocky landscape, dotted with ancient temple ruins, makes for a unique climbing experience .

There are innumerable boulders around Hampi that are easy to climb. One can get a stunning view of the ruins spread around Hampi by mounting one of the boulders. Located on the bank of the Tungabhadra River, Hampi has quite a number of tourist attractions like Virupaksha Temple, Vithala Temple and Nandi Statue. It is best to visit Hampi during the three day long Hampi festival held around October-November every year.

This quaint place, lying amidst striking ruins of the past, has been receiving tourists from far off for ages. The magnificence of the ruins of temples and other structures of Vijayanagar, dating back to 1500 AD, is the main attraction of this place. According to some accounts, Hampi used to be the second largest city of the world.

Dedicated to Lord Hanuman, the Yantrodharaka Hanuman Temple gets its name from the image of Hanuman placed inside an amulet. The position of Hanuman is different from any other image of Lord Hanuman that can be found in Hampi. This temple is the second most important shrine dedicated to Lord Hanuman in Hampi. Quick Facts Yantrodharaka.

✧ Highlights of Hampi Utsav 2020:

Light and sound show:

The light and sound show is one of the Hampi Utsav highlights that are sure to mesmerize you. The show involves special lighting of the monuments stretched across 15 km of Hampi ruins  on the banks of River Tungabadra. The colorful lightings bring alive the ancient monuments in a spectacular manner.

Traditional dance and music shows:

The festival brings to you a variety of traditional dance and drama shows. There will be a number of music shows by renowned artists. The colorful processions, puppet shows, and sparkling cracker shows are among the added attractions of the festival. All of them give the festival a vibrant feel.

Art and culture shows:

A major Hampi Utsav highlight is the art and culture shows. People from various parts of the country and beyond attend the festival to witness the art and culture shows. Such shows have performances by well-known classical Indian dancers. Carnatic singers add to the beauty of these shows.

Concert of folk dance and songs:

The folk dance and song concerts form one of the main Hampi Utsav highlights. Such concerts showcase the performance of folk artists from various corners of the state. Their skill and colourful presentation is a treat to the eyes of the visitors. You just can’t miss these concerts when you are at the festival.

Raja Marg decoration:

As part of the festival, the road leading to the Virupaksha temple is decorated in a colorful manner. This road is known as the Raja Marg. Once you visit the road during the festival, you will know why it is called so. The decorations are fit to welcome a king. So, if you are attending the festival, this is one Hampi Utsav highlight you shouldn’t miss out on.

✧ Explore the Beauty of Hampi by Night:

Hampi by Night is an awesome way to explore the beauty of the city. Hampi boasts of being one of the most visited tourist spots in India. The erstwhile seat of the Vijayanagar Empire, Hampi reflects the grandeur and magnificence of a bygone era through its numerous monuments. The ruins and the rugged landscape of this ancient city are a delight to explore at any time of the year.

The majestic ruins of Hampi have always attracted people from far and wide. The architectural splendour of the temples and monuments has been witnessed by countless people during the day. But the Hampi Utsav provides you an opportunity to see them by moonlight.

Whether you are a connoisseur of music, art, and dance, or a history enthusiast, you cannot let go of this unique prospect. Hampi gets a vibrant look during the festival. Being illuminated with bright lights, the monuments can transport you to a different era altogether.

✧ The Jewel of Hampi-The Stone Chariot 

Quick Facts about the Stone Chariot 

• Timing: 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM on all days of the week
• Entry Fee: No entry fee required
• Photography: Allowed
• Video camera: Allowed
• Visit Duration: About 3 hours
• Best time to visit: From November to February

Inspired by the Dravidian style of architecture, the chariot is a colossal structure which shows the skill of the earlier craftsmen and architects. The beauty of the chariot lies in the fact that it looks like one solid structure but in fact, has been built by slabs of granite whose linkages have been cleverly hidden with artistic designs.

The base on which the chariot rests depicts beautiful mythical battle scenes in intricate details. There were sculptures of horses where presently elephants are seated. Visitors can actually spot the hind legs and tails of the horses behind the elephants. There are also the remnants of the ladder in between the two elephants, using which priests used to climb up to the inner sanctum to pay homage to the sculpture of Garuda.

✧ Lotus Mahal in Hampi-of Grandeur and History:     

The Lotus Mahal is otherwise called the Kamal Mahal or Chitragani Mahal. It’s remarkable and unmistakable design is the main highlight of the palace. It is one of only a handful few astonishing building in Hampi that had not been damaged or destroyed amid the attack on the city.

Quick Facts about Lotus Mahal:

• Timing: Open on all days of the week from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm
• Entry fee for adults: INR. 10 for Indians and INR 250 for foreign tourists
• Entry fee for children: Entry is free for children under 15 years
• Photography: Allowed (no extra charges levied)
• Visit duration: 2 hours approximately
• Best time to visit: From November to February 

✧ Dasara Dibba-A wonderful Stone Platform:

Dasara Dibba or the Mahanavami Dibba is a beautiful stone platform located within the Royal Enclosure of Hampi. It was built during the Vijayanagara period by King Krishnadevaraya to commemorate his victory over Udaygiri. It was here where the King of Vijayanagar used to celebrate the festival of Dasara (Dussehra).

King Krishnadevaraya constructed this in 1513 AD in commemoration on the victory over Udaygiri (now in Orissa). According to historians, the Sagamas were the first ruling dynasty of the Vijayanagara kingdom in the 14th century.

Architecture and Sculpture:

The 12 meters high Dasara Dibba consist of a massive square granite faced base in three diminishing tiers, the lowest being 40 metre square and the topmost 24 metre square. The structure faces north. The stone stairs are little tough for climbing for elderly persons and kids as it is quite high to ascend.

The top can be reached by a couple of cases having carvings of elephants, horses, and others on the front while the back portion has twin staircase. This unique monument is one of the highest spots within this zone. The entry point for King to this point is different from that of the commoners. The walls are covered with auspicious carvings of horses, elephants, warriors, caravans, hunting games scenes, dancers, musicians and many other royal cultural scenes of the by-gone culture.

On the east side of the platform, is a chamber filled with animal and clown carvings narrating the stories of when the Chinese embassy used to visit the King Krishnadevaraya for business purpose and the Arab emirates came for horses and exotic animals trading.