Group of Monuments at Hampi

Hampi, also known as Humpi or Hampe, is a small town in northern Karnataka, and is most famous for its group of monuments and temples which are of oh historical and religious importance to the country and its people. The town is also famous for being the capital of Vijayanagara, a Hindu empire which rules this part of India between 14th and 16th century. The ruins of Hampi are considered an enormous open museum storing some of India’s best archaeological and religious masterworks.

Expanding over an area of almost 25 square kilometers, the ruins of Hampi includes, ancient temples, beautiful rivers, bustling markets, intriguing fortifications and palaces, and many such mesmerizing structures. Together with all its historic and religious masterpieces, Hampi falls under the UNESCO World Heritage Sites and is labelled as Group of Monuments at Hampi.

Some of the most important and breath-taking sights in Hampi include:

• Vittala Temple : This temple is dedicated to Lord Vittala, who is an avatar of Hindu God Vishnu. The temple is famous for its religious as well as architectural importance. The temple complex consists of many shrines and halls. One of the most notable features in and round the temple are its pillars which display the brilliant artwork of craftsmen from that era. A pair of pillar, known as the musical pillars resonate when tapped. The entrance to the main temple houses an enormous stone chariot.

• Virupaksha Temple: This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, also known as the Hindu God of destruction, and is one of the oldest active temples in the country. This temple is very popular among tourists as well as believers. Come here if you want to observe some really interesting Hindu religious practices and rituals.

• Royal Enclosure: This is a fortified complex and is the seat of erstwhile kings. The complex comprises many ruins of stately structures. Its many palace bases, underground temple, and water bodies makes for an interesting experience.

• Lakshmi Narasimha – This gigantic statue of the Hindu half-man-half-lion god is the largest of its kind in Hampi. Lord Narsimha, one of the ten avatars of Lord Vishnu, is shown here sitting in a cross-legged posture. It is claimed that the original statue where his beloved, Goddess Laxmi, was sitting on his lap was destroyed during enemy invasions, and what remains now is only a single arm of the goddess which can be seen resting on his waist.

There are hundreds of other breath-taking sites sprawling the area and are totally worth your time. The best season to visit the ruins of Hampi is from October to February, the New Year Holidays being the supreme-most peak time.

Many festivals take place in Hampi throughout the year which are also worth visiting for. Some of the most popular ones are the Hampi Festival which is Hampi’s largest festival and is generally held in the first week of November. The festival continues for 3 days and is packed with music and dance shows, fireworks, and a grand procession exhibiting land’s cultural heritage as its spell-binding finale.

For more information on Hampi, visit the official website of Ballari District.