Visiting Hampi: UNESCO World Heritage Site Of India

Google’s most searched historical place in Karnataka, a destination that will inspire your awe, make you wonder about the architectural and engineering marvels of first century India, Hampi, India’s UNESCO World Heritage Site must be part of your bucket list of things to see. Here, you will find information about Hampi, its wonders, and things to see and do.

Where Is Hampi?

Hampi is a temple town and village located in the Indian state of Karnataka.  The town is located on the banks of the River Tungabhadra and is 353 km away from the state’s capital city of Bangalore. 

History Of Hampi

 The first settlements in Hampi date from 1 CE when it was part of the Vijayanagara Empire. Prior to the occupation of Hampi by the Vijayanagara kings, chiefs of Kampili ruled the region. Hampi was one of the biggest, most prosperous, and advanced settlements of its time during the rule of the Vijayanagara Empire between 1343 and 1565 after which it was besieged by the Deccan Muslim confederacy. During the rule of Vijayanagara Empire, Hampi was part of the city of Vijayanagara, the capital city of the Empire. The empire boasted of a 2 million strong army and a population of 500,000 inhabitants in around 1,500 AD. After its decline, Hampi was forgotten and left in ruins till its rediscovery by Colonel Colin Mackenzie in 1800. Some evidence indicates that the region in and around Hampi was part of the Maurya Empire during the 3rd century.

Architecture Of Hampi

As mentioned before, Hampi is part of the Vijayanagara city that is associated with seven lines of fortifications. The inner fortification is the best preserved and has numerous gateways and bastions. Several ancient military, religious, and civil buildings dot the city. The several Hindu and Jain temples, the audience hall of the king, the king's balance are some of the most notable structures among them. Though most of the historical monuments were built during the rule of the Vijayanagara kings, two Devi shrines and some structures in the Virupaksha temple and the Hemakuta Hills Jain temples were built even earlier. 

Temples of Hampi are known for their massive size, delicate yet bold carvings, florid ornamentation, stately pillars and pavilions, and more. The place is of immense importance for historians and lovers of the subject and contains traditional and iconographic depictions of subjects related to ancient Indian mythology and customs. It also depicts the ancient Indian way of life, the people of the time and their belief systems. 

The temple complex of Hampi displays the praiseworthy aesthetic sense of the kings and architects of the time. It also reminds one of the prosperity of ancient India and the luxurious life led by Indian royals. 

Hampi As A UNESCO World Heritage Site

Thus, keeping in mind the high historical and cultural value of Hampi, the UNESCO declared Hampi as a World Heritage Site in 1986. Between 1999 and 2006, Hampi was declared as an endangered site and was in need of repair and resurrection. However, soon the Indian government took the help of international organizations like the  Global Heritage Fund (GHF) and  Cornell University which in collaboration with the Hampi Foundation undertook the difficult task of restoring Hampi to its full glory.

List Of Places To See In Hampi

Temples Of Hampi
Virupaksha Temple 
Vittala Temple Complex
Achyutaraya Temple
BadaviLinga 
Chandramauleshwara Temple
Malyavanta Raghunathaswamy temple
Hazara Rama Temple Complex
Jain Temple
Krishna Temple Complex
Prasanna Virupaksha Temple
Yantrodharaka Anjaneya 

Civil Buildings Of Hampi
Aqueducts and Canals
Lotus Mahal
Archaeological Museum at Kamalapura
Zanana enclosure

Military Buildings Of Hampi
Elephant stables
The Kings’ balance

Important Sites At And Near Hampi

Anegondi
Anjeyanadri Hill
Kadalekalu Ganesha
Lake (Near Sanapur)
Tungabhadra River
Uddana Veerabhadra temple
Sri Lakshmi Narasimha
Virupapura Gaddi
Yeduru Basavanna
Talarigatta Gate
Bhim'a Gate
Tenali Rama Pavilion

Best Time To Visit Hampi

August to March is the best time to visit Hampi. The summer months in Hampi are extremely hot and must be avoided, if possible. 

How To Reach Hampi

Hospet, at a distance of 13 km, is the nearest railhead from Hampi. Hospet is well connected to the major cities of Bangalore, Hyderabad, etc.