29/Dec/2007
Humpi, Karnataka

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We have visited to Hampi in half day. Generally it will take 2 days to cover complete Hampi, its huge , But I went for some other India Sudar work, So in remaining times we had the changes to visit Hampi.

Hampi is 350 kms from Bangalore. The town of Hospet, which is 13 km from Hampi. Hospet is linked by rail/bus from Bangalore. We have direct buses to Humpi itself.

Visited Places:

Tungabhadra Dam: 49-m-high and 2-km-long Tungabhadra Dam, 6 km from Hospet.

Vithala Temple: The Vithala temple is a World Heritage monument with fantastic sculptural work from the time of Vijayanagar Empire. It features 56 ‘Musical Pillars’, which reverberate when tapped and an ornate stone chariot in the temple courtyard with an image of Garuda.

Lotus Mahal: A delightful blend of Hindu and Muslim style of architecture, this palace features two-storeyed elegant pavilion situated in the ‘ladies’ section’ of the palace.

Queen’s Bath: A 15m square structure, Queen’s Bath is 1.8m deep, has stark exteriors and highly ornate interiors and by delicate and elegantly ornamented arched corridors and projecting balconies.

Elephants Stable:

Virupaksha Temple: Virupaksha Temple is dedicated to Virupaksha, a form of Lord Vishnu. The temple houses shrines of Lord Shiva and Goddesses Pampa and Bhuvaneswari. Parts of the temple is said to belong to 11th or 12th century.

History: During 1336-1565, Hampi was one of the gratifying capitals of powerful Vijayanagara Empire, stretched from Deccan Plateau up to the Peninsula. The empire comprised three states – Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh. The rulers of this dynasty were great lovers of art and architecture that can easily be traced in the widespread ruins of Hampi. Hindu kingdom of Vijaynagar and it is declared a World Heritage site.

Udhaya Kumar.V