WORLD HERITAGE SITE

GROUP OF MONUMENTS AT HAMPI A VILLAGE IN KARNATAKAby Ishita Arora

VII - E

Hampi - A SynopsisCountry India

State Karnataka

District Bellary

Founded by Harihara and Bukkaraya

Elevation 467 m (1,532 ft)

Official Language Kannada

Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)

Nearest city Hospet

Coordinates:  15.335°N 76.462°E

Hampi

Hampi is a village located near Hospet town in the Karnataka state, India. The name hampi can also mean "champion". It is located within the ruins of the city of Vijayanagara, the former capital of the Vijayanagara Empire. Vast stretches of stone-spread hills make the backdrop of Hampi unique. Dotted around the hills and valleys are 500 plus monuments.

Criterion for inclusion as “World Heritage Site”

i "represents a masterpiece of human creative genius and cultural significance“

iii "to bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has disappeared“

iv "is an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural, or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates a significant stage in human history"

The landscape of Hampi is filled with unending array of carvings. Some may want to call it an open museum. The carvings of religious as well as secular theme are carved on boulders in its natural settings as well as in to the manmade structures.

History The emperor Ashoka's minor

rock edicts in Nittur & Udegolan lead one to believe that this region was within the Ashokan kingdom during the 3rd century BCE. A Brahmi inscription & a terracotta seal dating to the 2nd century CE were also discovered from the excavation site

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.

Historical Significance

Once it was the seat of the mighty Vijayanagara empire. Hampi's unique landscape and its religious association with great epic

Ramayana makes it an important destination for local and international tourists and pilgrims. According to Ramayana, Hampi (Vijayanagar ) was ruled by the monkey kings Vali and Sugriva. The granite boulders of varying tones of yellow-orange, grey and pink dominate the Hampi's landscape , distributed either as hills or as piles of rocks are said to be flung down by the armies of Vali and Sugriva in a show of strength.

Inscriptions

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.

Architecture

The extant monuments of Vijayanagara or Hampi can be divided into Religious, Civil & Military buildings. While most of the monuments at Hampi are from the Vijayanagara period, a small proportion may be assigned to pre-Vijayanagara times.

Main AttractionsReligious buildings

Krishna Temple Complex Narasimha Ganesa Hemakuta group of

temples Achyutaraya Temple Vittala Temple Complex Pattabhirama temple

complex

Civil buildings

Aqueducts and Canals Archaeological Museum

at Kamalapura Zanana enclosure Lotus Mahal complex

Military buildings

Elephant stable The Kings’ balance

Krishna Temple Complex

This temple was built by the king (Krishnadevaraya) in 1513 AD to celebrate the conquest of the eastern kingdom of Udayagiri or Utkala

Narasimha

This is the largest statue in Hampi. Narasimha is sitting on the coil of a giant seven-headed snake called Sesha. The heads of the snake acts as the hood above his head. The god sits in a cross-legged Yoga position with a belt supporting the knees. Sometimes this is referred as Ugra Narasimha or Narasimha in its terrifying form.

Ganesha

This giant statue of Ganesha was carved out of a huge boulder at the northeastern slope of the Hemakuta hill. The belly of this statue resembles a Bengal gram. Kadalekalu, in local language.

Hemakuta group of temples

Some times referred to as Jain Temples, these clusters of temples on the Hemakuta hill is one of the beautiful sites in Hampi. Most of them are dedicated to Lord Siva. These smart looking compact temples with pyramid-like roofs resemble that of the Jain temples.

Achyuta Rayas Temple

Constructed in 1534 AD, The temple dedicated to Lord Tiruvengalanatha, a form of Lord

Vishnu.

Vittala Temple Complex

Vittala, after whom the temple is known, is a form of lord Vishnu. As the epicenter of Hampi’s attractions, It is the most extravagant architectural showpiece of Hampi. The temple is built in the form of a sprawling campus with compound wall and gateway towers. There are many halls, pavilions and temples located inside this campus.

Pattabhirama temple complex

This temple a bit off from the main tourist trail is notable for its size and completeness. The Pattabhirama Temple is as large as Vittala Temple. township around the Pattabhirama Temple was known as the Varadadevi Ammana pette. the queen of the Tuluva dynasty king Achyuta Raya.

Aqueducts and Canals

The whole of Hampi is crisscrossed with a network of irrigation canals of varying size. The major canals made by the Vijayanagar kings are the Raya Canal (King’s canal), Basavanna Canal (Nandi or Bull canal), Turthu Canal (Fast Canal) and the Kamalapura water tank.  

Archaeological Museum - Kamalapura

This is a tiny but worthwhile museum located at Kamalapura.  The museum has four sections. The first one exhibits the Hampi model. The second section is dedicated mainly to the sculptures and idols from the Hampi ruins. The third section displays an array of tools, arms, coinages and other objects that were in use during the Vijayanagara Empire . The fourth one is the oldest of all display objects. An array of antiquities from the prehistoric and proto historic period.

Zanana enclosure

The Zenana Enclosure was a fortified and secluded area reserved for the royal ladies of the Vijayanagara Empire. The Zenana Enclosure is located in the area approaching the Royal Enclosure and near the Ranga Temple. The enclosure is a sprawling compound that had tall walls surrounding it on all sides. Three watchtowers are located at the corners of the enclosed area.

Lotus Mahal Complex

Kamala (Lotus) Mahal is believed to have been used by female guards of Hampi and the architecture is based on South Indian and Mughal styles

Elephant stable

Elephant stable used to house the eleven royal elephants in King Krishnadeva Raya's army. The neighboring building housed the elephant riders of the royal elephants.

King’s Balance

King’s Balance in Hampi is an ancient and rare balance scale. This rare balance scale is also known as Tula Bhara or Tula Purushadana. The king used to weigh himself with gold, silver, gems, precious stones and jewelery and give away those things to the priests of the temples in charity.

Landscape

Landscape

Landscape

Landscape

Landscape

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