Hampi

Hampi ಹಂಪೆ
Town
Virupaksha Temple, Hampi, Karnataka
Country	India
State	Karnataka
District	Bellary
Founded by	Harihara and Bukkaraya
Languages
• Official	Kannada
Time zone	UTC+5:30 (IST)
Nearest city	Hospet

Group of Monuments at Hampi

UNESCO World Heritage Site
Criteria	Cultural: (i)(iii)(iv)
Reference	241
Inscription	1986 (10th Session)
Endangered	1999–2006

Hampi (Kannada: ಹಂಪೆ Hampe) is a village in northern Karnataka state, India. It is located within the ruins of Vijayanagara, the former capital of the Vijayanagara Empire. Predating the city of Vijayanagara, it continues to be an important religious centre, housing the Virupaksha Temple, as well as several other monuments belonging to the old city. The ruins are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, listed as the Group of Monuments at Hampi.

Etymology

Hampi traditionally known as Pampa-kshetra, kishkinda-kshetra or Bhaskara-kshetra is derived from Pampa, which is the old name of the Tungabhadra River on whose southern banks the city is built. The name "Hampi" is an anglicized version of the Kannada Hampe (derived from Pampa). Over the years, it has also been referred to as Vijayanagara and Virupakshapura (from Virupaksha, the patron deity of the Vijayanagara rulers).

History

Discovery of emperor Ashoka's minor rock edicts in Nittur & Udegolan (both in Bellary district) leads one to believe that this region was within the Ashokan kingdom during the 3^rd century BC. A Brahmi inscription & a terracotta seal dating to the 2^nd century AD were also discovered from the excavation site.

The first historical settlements in Hampi date back to 1 CE.

Immediately before the rise of the Vijaynagar kings, the region was probably in the hands of chiefs of Kampili, now a small town, 19 Kms east of Hampi.

Hampi formed one of the core areas of the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire from 1343 to 1565, when it was finally laid siege to by the Deccan Muslim confederacy. Hampi was chosen because of its strategic location, bounded by the torrential Tungabhadra river on one side and surrounded by defensible hills on the other three sides.

The site is significant historically and architecturally. The topography abounds with large stones which have been used to make statues of Hindu deities. The Archaeological Survey of India continues to conduct excavations in the area, to discover additional artifacts and temples.

Geography

Hampi is situated on the banks of the Tungabhadra river. It is 353 km from Bangalore and 74 km away from Bellary. Hosapete (Hospet), 13 km away, is the nearest railway head. Mantralayam, which is also on the banks of Tunghabhadra, in AP is some 150 km away.The principal industries of the village are agriculture, the support of the Virupaksha temple and some other local holy places in the vicinity, and tourism. The annual Vijayanagar Festival is organized by the Government of Karnataka in November.

Due to the presence of several mineral deposits in this region (iron-ore, manganese), mining has been going on for many years now. But a recent boom for the supply of iron-ore in the international market has led to increased levels of mining in this district. The World Heritage Site at Hampi as well as the Tungabhadra Dam is now under threat.

Important sites at and near Hampi

File:Schematic map of Hampi.png

Schematic map of Hampi with major tourist spots and areas of mythological significance

• Hemakuta group of temples
• Achyutaraya Temple/Tiruvengalanatha Temple
• preksha temple and groups
• Anegondi
• Anjeyanadri Hill
• Aqueducts and Canals
• Archaeological Museum at Kamalapura
• Badava Linga
• Chandramauleshwar Temple
• The Kings’ balance
• The Underground Shiva Temple
• Tungabhadra River
• Uddana Veerabhadra temple
• Sri Lakshmi Narasimha
• Virupaksha Temple
• Vittala temple
• Yeduru Basavanna
• Yantrodharaka Anjaneya temple
• Zenana enclosure
• Virupapura
• Sasivekalu Ganesha
• Kadalekalu Ganesha
• Elephant stables
• Lotus temple
• Hazara Rama Temple
• Lake (Near sanapur)
• Muslim Sunni masjid

Temples

Hampi has various notable Hindu with some vedanta mythology inside the temples, some of which are still active places of worship. Among the most notable are:

• Malyavanta Raghunathaswamy temple was constructed in the anicent style of architecture, the temple of Malyavanta Raghunathaswamy stands three km down the road. Its inner walls flaunt peculiar and interesting motifs of fish and marine creatures.
• Virupaksha Temple known as the Pampavathi temple, it is an ancient temple situated in the Hampi Bazaar. It predates the founding of the Vijayanagar empire. The temple has a 160-foot (49 m) high tower at its entrance. Apart from Shiva, the temple complex also contains shrines of the erotica statues Bhuvaneshwari and Pampa.
• Hazara Rama Temple Complex: This ruined temple complex is well known for elaborate frescoes from the Hindu religion and a sprawling courtyard well-laid with gardens. It is well known for more than many thousand carvings & inscriptions on & in the temple depicting the mighty story of Ramayana. It has about 1000 carvings & inscriptions depicting the story of Ramayana.
• Krishna Temple Complex: This temple complex has been recently excavated through the last decade, and restoration work is still in progress.
• Vittala Temple Complex: This is perhaps the most famous and well-known among the ruins of Hampi. The iconic stone chariot in the vicinity of this temple complex is a symbol of Karnataka Tourism. Off late, floodlights have been installed in the temple complex that provide illumination at dusk, thereby adding to the grandeur of the architecture.

The temple houses the famous musical pillars. The British wanted to check the reason behind this wonder and so they had cut two pillars to check anything was there inside the pillars that was producing the sound. They had found nothing but hollow pillars. Even today we can see those pillars cut by the British.

The road leading to the temple was once a market where the horses were traded. Even today we can see the ruins of the market on both the sides of the road. The temple contains the images of foreigners like Persians selling horses.

Global Heritage Fund efforts

Non-profit organization Global Heritage Fund (GHF), in partnership with the Hampi Foundation, Cornell University, and the State of Karnataka, has been actively involved in the conservation of Hampi's unique cultural heritage. After producing a master conservation plan for the site of Chandramouleshwara Temple, GHF's efforts have moved to "stabilization of the temple and its associated structural features."

Scenery

Hampi Scenery, 360° Panorama Shot from Matanga Hill

Hampi Gallery

• 
  The sacred pushkarani or tank located on the eastern side of Krishna temple in Hampi, India
• 
  Farms as seen from Anjaneyadri Hill
• 
  Lotus Mahal at the Zenana Enclosure
• 
  Stepped Tank near the Underground Temple
• 
  The stone chariot at Vittala complex
• 
  Stray Temples
• 
  The remains of a giant Bukka's Aqueduct located near Anegondi
• 
  Watch tower
• 
  Elephant Stable
• 
  Narasimha Vigrah
• 
  Zanana Enclosure
• 
  Stone Monolithic Nandi Bull statue - craved out of a single boulder at the Main Market
• 
  Thungabhadra River in Hampi
• 
  Tall Carved pillars of the Sasivekalu Ganesha Temple at Hemakuta Hill
• 
  Monolithic Ganesha at the Hemakuta Hill, Hampi Bazaar
• 
  The mandapas of vittala temple

See also

• Anegundi
• Bukka
• Kanakagiri
• Krishna Deva Raya
• Vidyaranya
• Vijayanagar Empire
• Vijayanagar Architecture

References

• T.S. Satyan, Hampi: The fabled capital of the Vijayanagara Empire, (Directorate of Archaeology and Museums), Govt. of Karnataka, 1995
• J.M. Fritz et al., New Light on Hampi: Recent Research at Vijayanagara, (Performing Arts Mumbai, 2001) ISBN 81-85026-53-X
• A.N. Longhurst, Hampi Ruins Described and Illustrated, (Laurier Books Ltd., 1998) ISBN 81-206-0159-9
• The Ruins of Hampi:Travel Guide ISBN 81-7525-766-0

Karnataka State Gazetteer 1983.

External links

• www.hampi.in
• Hampi : Tenali's Wonderful Town
• expertbulletin
• Vijayanagara Architecture at Hampi
• Hampi on UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Hampi preservation project summary at Global Heritage Fund
• Explore Hampi with Google Earth on Global Heritage Network
• Karnataka.com - Hampi
• A Guide to History and Tourism at Hampi
• Computer generated simulation of queens bath of Hampi
• 3D virtual views for Hampi siate from UNESCO
• http://asi.nic.in/asi_museums_hampi.asp
• Hampi: accommodation and restaurants, Bazaar, Elephant stables, Bukkas aqueduct, Monkey temple spherical panoramas 360°, Underground temple spherical panorama 360°.
• Hampi map(pdf)
• Train travel to UNESCO world heritage sites in India