Hampi temple

World Heritage partnerships for conservation Ensuring that World Heritage sites sustain their outstanding universal value is an increasingly challenging mission in today’s complex world, where sites are vulnerable to the effects of uncontrolled urban development, unsustainable tourism practices, neglect, natural calamities, pollution, political instability, and conflict. Group of Monuments at Hampi The austere, grandiose site of Hampi was the last capital of the last great Hindu Kingdom of Vijayanagar. Its fabulously rich princes built Dravidian temples and palaces which won the admiration of travellers between the 14th and 16th centuries. Conquered by the Deccan Muslim confederacy in 1565, the city was pillaged over a period of six months before being abandoned. Description is available under license Ensemble monumental de Hampi Hampi est le site, austère et grandiose, de la dernière capitale du dernier grand royaume hindou de Vijayanagar, dont les princes extrêmement riches firent édifier des temples dravidiens et des palais qui firent l'admiration des voyageurs entre le XIV e et le XVI e siècle. Conquise par la Confédération islamique du Deccan en 1565, la ville fut livrée au pillage pendant six mois, puis abandonnée. Description is available under license مجمّع النصب في هامبي هامبي هو الموقع المُهيب والفخم لآخر عاصمة للمملكة الهندوسية الكبيرة الأخيرة فيجايانجار التي شيّد فيها الأمراء الأثرياء معابد دراويدية وقصوراً كانت محطّ إعجاب المسافرين بين القرن الرابع عشر والقرن ...

Hampi was naturally fortified by hills that protected it from invaders approaching from the north and south. However, its glory finally came to an end in 1565 when the five allied Deccan Sultanates of Bijapur, Bidar, Berar, Golconda and Ahmednagar succeeded in defeating ruler Rama Raya (the son-in-law of Krishna Deva Raya) in the Battle of Talikota. Six months of subsequent plundering reduced Hampi to ruins. Sadly, its grandeur was never able to be reinstated. Hampi's ruins were discovered in 1800 by Colin Mackenzie, who became the first Surveyor General of India under the British East India Company. Extensive excavations followed, and are still being carried out by the Archeological Survey of India. In 1986, Hampi was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. If you enjoy local color and culture, make sure you go during the three-day Hampi Festival (also known as the Vijaya Utsav).Dance, drama, music, fireworks, and puppet shows all take place with the ruins of Hampi as a backdrop. This popular (and crowded) festival usually happens in November but has been moved to January in the last couple of years, so it's wise to check the dates with The main group of monuments (including the Vittala Temple, Elephant Stables, and Royal Center) requires an entry ticket. The cost is 600 rupees for foreigners and 40 rupees for Indians. The ticket also provides entry into the Archeological Museum. The Vittala Temple is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily. The Elephant Stables, which once...

Some stranger suggested it—swore by it. He seemed like a credible source. And so I didn’t bother to google it. Instead I blindly bought a bus ticket and hopped aboard for one rickety 10-hour journey from Arambol, Goa, in the south of India to Hampi, Karnataka, just about 200 miles east. Eventually, I felt the overnight bus roll to a stop and I reluctantly peeled open my heavy eyes. Every time we’d pulled over throughout the night, a man would hop on touting a steaming canteen of chai or stale peanuts or warm fruit flecked with flies. Their shouting voices had woken me up from my sorry semblance of sleep one too many times along the way. This time, however, I woke up to pleasantly surprising sherbet skies. My jaw, agape in a yawn, dropped further to the floor congested with the scattered bodies of somnolent bus riders who didn’t get seats. I’d made it to Hampi, and I was stunned. Travel is transcending space. Though it often feels like transcending time—decades or centuries rather than zones. But, suddenly, I’d been transported to a whole other unmapped planet. A planet where it rains boulders that build mountains no man could mold. Mountains that defy gravity. Mountains that fortify derelict stone structures and ruined temples and dilapidated dens luring the leopards and the bears. Mountains that overlook undulating fields of foliage so fresh with bananas, the monkeys abound. And rule. V. Muthuraman/IndiaPictures/Universal Images Group via Getty Hampi, an ancient village o...

Quick Facts • Timing: From morning to dusk on all days of the week • Entry Fee: No entry fee required • Photography: Allowed • Visit Duration: About 3 to 4 hours • Best time to visit: From November to February History of Hemakuta group of Temples, Hampi The Hemakuta hill is sprinkled with ancient temples that belong to both, pre-Vijayanagara as well as Vijayanagara periods. A large number of these temples dates back to 9 th to 14 th century and hence, belong to the era before the Vijayanagara Empire was founded. The Hemakuta Hill can be described as a canvas of stones. In the ancient times the whole hill was fortified with tall stone walls. Traces of the ruined fortification can be seen even today. The top of the hill is a stretch of rocky sheet that is almost flat. All the temples dotting the face of the hill are hundreds of years old and represent a historical era of art and culture. Mythology Associated with Hemakuta group of Temples, Hampi Most of the Hemakuta group of temples are dedicated to Lord Shiva. According to local folklore there is a mythological reason behind this. According to mythology, Lord Shiva performed penance on Hemakuta Hill before marrying a local girl named Pampa or Parvati. Lord Shiva was pleased with the dedication of the girl and consented to marry her. Due to this decision of Lord Shiva it rained gold on the hill. Since gold is known as Hema in Sanskrit, this hill came to be known as Hemakuta. Another legend has it that Hemakuta Hill was also ...

At a distance of 13 km from Hospet, 64 km from Bellary, 104 km from Gadag, 160 km from Hubli, 340 km from Bangalore & 377 km from Hyderabad, Hampi is an ancient village situated on the banks of the Tungabhadra River in northern Karnataka. A renowned UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is one of the best heritage The village of Hampi stands within the ruins of the city of Vijayanagara, the former capital of the Vijayanagara Empire. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations not to miss in your Hampi was the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire and was an extremely important part of the Empire from 1343 to 1565. It maintained a huge army to protect it from other kingdoms. As the capital of the Vijayanagar Empire, Hampi grew as a trade center for cotton, spices, and gemstones. It was one of the richest and largest cities in the world during the 15th and 16th centuries. After the death of Krishnadevaraya, the invading Deccan Sultanate forces destroyed Hampi and the rampage was continued for one year. The ruins of the Vijayanagara Empire in and around the village of Hampi are spread over an area of more than 26 Sq.km. The place is a significant religious center of the Vijayanagara Empire due to the presence of the historic Virupaksha Temple along with many other monuments of the old city. The main Hubli Airport is the nearest airport at a distance of 166 km from Hampi, India. Hospet Railway Station, 13 km from Hampi is the nearest railhead. Hospet is well connected to Bangalor...

The Virupaksha Temple in Hampi is dedicated to lord Shiva. The distance from Bangalore to Hampi is about 350 km. Hampi is a temple town in South India and is acknowledged as one of the World Heritage Sites of UNESCO. Virupaksha Temple is dedicated to lord Shiva. This temple was constructed in Lakkana Dandesha’s assistance who was a commander under King Deva Raya II. Hampi is on the embankment of River Tungabhadra. The predominant centre of pilgrimage in Hampi is this esteemed temple. It is the holiest and sacred retreat. The Virupaksha temple has survived through the years and never ceases to prosper. It is still pristine amidst the ruins that surround it. It attracts large groups of people in the month of December. The yearly chariot festival is conducted in the month of February. History of Virupaksha Temple The Virupaksha temple’s chronicle is unremitting from around the seventh century. Virupaksha-Pampa retreat was existent since a long time here. There are several inscriptions about Lord Shiva which were engraved in the 9th century. It started off as a little shrine and later developed into a huge complex during the Vijayanagara rule. There is evidence that indicates additions were made to Virupaksha temple during the later years of the Hoysala and Chalukyan sovereignty. Native art, craft, and culture flourished during the fourteenth century during the reign of the dynasty. But these beautiful architectures and creations were destroyed when the Vijayanagara rulers wer...

This temple is located on the south bank of the river Tungabadra, just next to where the local bus drops you. This area in general has been an important pilgrimage centre for the worshipers of lord Shiva. Virupaksha temple is equally sort after by the tourists and pilgrims. The annual festivals attract huge crowds of both the types. The very origin of Hampis history as a sacred place revolves around the myths associated with this temple. It believed that this temple has been functioning uninterruptedly ever since its inception in the 7th century AD.That makes this one of the oldest functioning temples in India. The original worship place was only a few separate humble shrines (believed to be as old as 7th century) housing the image of the god and the goddesses. Over the centuries the temple gradually expanded into a sprawling complex with many sub shrines, pillared halls, flag posts, lamp posts, towered gateways and even a large temple kitchen. You access the temples main entrance tower through the chariot street in front now popularly called the Hampi Bazaar. This east facing giant tower (Gopura) leads you the first courtyard of the temple complex. This pastel painted 9 storied tower with a pair of cow horn like projections on top is the most prominent landmark in Hampi. The lower two tiers of the tower is made of decorated stone work. The progressively diminishing superstructure is made with brick and mortar. All around the exterior of the first tier spots many interesti...

Hampi was naturally fortified by hills that protected it from invaders approaching from the north and south. However, its glory finally came to an end in 1565 when the five allied Deccan Sultanates of Bijapur, Bidar, Berar, Golconda and Ahmednagar succeeded in defeating ruler Rama Raya (the son-in-law of Krishna Deva Raya) in the Battle of Talikota. Six months of subsequent plundering reduced Hampi to ruins. Sadly, its grandeur was never able to be reinstated. Hampi's ruins were discovered in 1800 by Colin Mackenzie, who became the first Surveyor General of India under the British East India Company. Extensive excavations followed, and are still being carried out by the Archeological Survey of India. In 1986, Hampi was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. If you enjoy local color and culture, make sure you go during the three-day Hampi Festival (also known as the Vijaya Utsav).Dance, drama, music, fireworks, and puppet shows all take place with the ruins of Hampi as a backdrop. This popular (and crowded) festival usually happens in November but has been moved to January in the last couple of years, so it's wise to check the dates with The main group of monuments (including the Vittala Temple, Elephant Stables, and Royal Center) requires an entry ticket. The cost is 600 rupees for foreigners and 40 rupees for Indians. The ticket also provides entry into the Archeological Museum. The Vittala Temple is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily. The Elephant Stables, which once...

World Heritage partnerships for conservation Ensuring that World Heritage sites sustain their outstanding universal value is an increasingly challenging mission in today’s complex world, where sites are vulnerable to the effects of uncontrolled urban development, unsustainable tourism practices, neglect, natural calamities, pollution, political instability, and conflict. Group of Monuments at Hampi The austere, grandiose site of Hampi was the last capital of the last great Hindu Kingdom of Vijayanagar. Its fabulously rich princes built Dravidian temples and palaces which won the admiration of travellers between the 14th and 16th centuries. Conquered by the Deccan Muslim confederacy in 1565, the city was pillaged over a period of six months before being abandoned. Description is available under license Ensemble monumental de Hampi Hampi est le site, austère et grandiose, de la dernière capitale du dernier grand royaume hindou de Vijayanagar, dont les princes extrêmement riches firent édifier des temples dravidiens et des palais qui firent l'admiration des voyageurs entre le XIV e et le XVI e siècle. Conquise par la Confédération islamique du Deccan en 1565, la ville fut livrée au pillage pendant six mois, puis abandonnée. Description is available under license مجمّع النصب في هامبي هامبي هو الموقع المُهيب والفخم لآخر عاصمة للمملكة الهندوسية الكبيرة الأخيرة فيجايانجار التي شيّد فيها الأمراء الأثرياء معابد دراويدية وقصوراً كانت محطّ إعجاب المسافرين بين القرن الرابع عشر والقرن ...

This temple is located on the south bank of the river Tungabadra, just next to where the local bus drops you. This area in general has been an important pilgrimage centre for the worshipers of lord Shiva. Virupaksha temple is equally sort after by the tourists and pilgrims. The annual festivals attract huge crowds of both the types. The very origin of Hampis history as a sacred place revolves around the myths associated with this temple. It believed that this temple has been functioning uninterruptedly ever since its inception in the 7th century AD.That makes this one of the oldest functioning temples in India. The original worship place was only a few separate humble shrines (believed to be as old as 7th century) housing the image of the god and the goddesses. Over the centuries the temple gradually expanded into a sprawling complex with many sub shrines, pillared halls, flag posts, lamp posts, towered gateways and even a large temple kitchen. You access the temples main entrance tower through the chariot street in front now popularly called the Hampi Bazaar. This east facing giant tower (Gopura) leads you the first courtyard of the temple complex. This pastel painted 9 storied tower with a pair of cow horn like projections on top is the most prominent landmark in Hampi. The lower two tiers of the tower is made of decorated stone work. The progressively diminishing superstructure is made with brick and mortar. All around the exterior of the first tier spots many interesti...