Hampi – Heritage Destinations in Karnataka
“If dreams were made out of stone, it would be Hampi” – there goes a saying like that. Truly, Hampi was one of the places where you get to find the glance of the golden rule period in India. Hampi was the center seat of the Vijayanagar Empire and was a mark of the beauty and glory of the Vijayanagar dynasty. It was established by the Vidyaranya saint, with his two disciples Bukka and Hakka, in the beginning of the 14th century AD. It was a huge empire covering over the three states of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka. In fact, it was the largest empire in the post-Mogul era. And it was the center of the music, art and architecture. Temples were re-erected, musicians and scholars were patronized, and a boost was given to the Indian culture as a whole. The rich Indian heritage was being encouraged, the city was flourished and the welfare of the subjects was made the most important priority during the rule of the notable king, Krishnadevaraya.
But all of this ended when the Mogul raiders attacked the empire, ransacking and looting the innocent civilians and the riches of the empire. It was the mark of end of the golden rule of the Vijayanagar Empire. Everything was ruined and turned into dust. Every mark of glory was obliterated from the memory. Due to the sudden, shocking and brutal attack of the raiders, Vijayanagar Empire crumbled down to the savage massacre. The whole joyous city was reduced to rubble of stones, pebbles and vegetation. That’s how you will find the Hampi today. But behind that ruined carcass and wrecked remains, you will feel the sweet smell of the Indian glorious past.
With the turbulent Tungabhadra on one side and surrounded by a rocky granite terrain on the three other sides, this place though as ruined as it may be, it is still a prominent attestation of the splendor, the grandeur of the mighty empire that once reigned over here. The magnificent remains spark of the wealth and riches of what the place was once was. It is not only a matter of pride for the domestic people but also for the international counterparts as well. That’s why Hampi is being considered as a ‘World Heritage Center’ and is being taken proper care by the ‘Hampi World Heritage Area Management Authority’, established in the year 2002.
And you get a notice of that when you are travelling from Kamalapura to Hampi. Just three kilometers in, you will come across the Malyavanta Raghunathaswamy temple. Built on the Dravidian style of art, the weird marine monsters and animals carved on the outer walls are sure to mesmerize you. Then emerge the famous Hampi Bazaar. No dearth of beautiful colorful houses here!
Go a little west of the Hampi Bazaar and you find the Virupaksha temple. The style dates back to the 11-12th century and parts of this temple is well before the Vijayanagar rule even. One of the amazing parts of the temple is the over 100 feet tall tower near the east entrance. And then there’s the single boulder tower called the Ugra Narasimha. Built by the king Krishnadevaraya, it is a great piece of architecture.
Then, how can you miss the 56 musical pillared Vithala Temple Complexes? The stone chariot on the stone wheels…is something you just cannot miss. With some huge pillars cut from only one block of stone, these monument is a spectacle. Though it has been attacked brutally and much of its glory has been lost, it still happens to retain its wrecked beauty, and it is considered to be a protected heritage by the government.
Then there’s the beautiful Victory House that was built on the occasion of the victory of Krishnadevaraya over the Oriya King. He would sit on the throne and watch the Dasara festival. It is elegantly printed and carved along the walls, pillars and corners. On the west side, a path goes to the private royal worship place called the Hazara Ramaswamy temple. Decorated with scenes from the Ramayana, this temple brings back relation of the place to the Kishkindha monkey kingdom.
You will find the King’s Balance over here. He was weighed against gold, money and grain, which were to be distributed among the subjects. Then there’s the private Queen’s Bath. Well, you can peep in there! Do you think it is finished? You are so mistaken. You have the Lotus Mahal, the Elephant Stables (a great example of the mix of Hindu and Muslim style of architecture), the Pushkarini Tank, Mahanavami Dibba (a platform for the royal family during the Mahanadu festival), the figure of Mustard Ganesh, and the recently discovered Noblemen’s Palace.
If you are a great animal lover and you always thought what the Indian sloth bear would look like, the Daraji Bear Sanctuary is the place for you. Launched in 1994, it has been a great residence for the species since then.
The best part is that the government is thinking about introducing the night tourism scheme, whereby the tourists will be ushered into the illuminated remains of the past during the night. It creates a mystical and awesome atmosphere no doubt and some extreme experience for the tourists. You will also love the magic of the Vijayanagar festival as well. Do you think it’s finished now? It NEVER will. That’s Hampi for you.
One of the best heritage destinations in Karnataka, Hampi is the place to go if you want to explore India a bit better.
