A UNESCO world heritage site, Hampi was the capital of the Vijayanagar Empire. It is situated on the banks of river Tungabhadra in Karnataka. The ruins of the palaces in Hampi , the temples and the royal buildings stand testimony to the wealth and grandeur of the Vijayanagar Emperors. The name Hampi is derived from the ancient name of Tungabhadra river, Pampa, the daughter of Lord Brahma. The town is locally known as the town of Pampa. ALSO READ This video captures the beauty of the ruins of Hampi like no other!
The capital of the Vijyanagar Empire from 1336 to 1565, the city was ruled by four dynasties — Sangama, Saluva, Tuluva and Aravidu dynasty. The princes of these dynasties built more than 500 monuments. As a capital of the Vijayanagar Empire, Hampi grew as a trade center for cotton, spices, horse and gem stones. Rubies and diamonds were believed to have been sold on the streets and gold and silver were used currency.
The main street selling diamonds was called Pan Supari street and the temples and palaces were admired by Arab, Portuguese and Italian travelers. Hampi’s heydays came to an end when a combined army of Muslim kingdoms laid siege to the town in 1565. The town was looted for six months before it was abandoned. ALSO SEE 10 pictures of places you must visit in Hampi
Hampi sunset point
The Virupaksha temple is the most prominent building in Hampi.It is believed that Lord Shiva married Parvati in this temple. Other attractions of Hampi are the Lotus Palace, Hazara Rama temple and Lakshmi Narasimha temple built in Vijayanagar style of architecture. The Hampi Utsav, also known as Vijaya Utsav, is a cultural event organized by the Karnataka government in January each year. The festival of Purandaradasa Aradhana conducted at the Vithala temple is also famous. It is celebrated to honor the poet-composer Purandaradasa.
BEST PLACES TO STAY IN HAMPI
There are many accommodation options in the city. Visitors can find many budget, mid-range hotels and cottage with modern amenities. Karnataka State Tourism Department Corporation hotel is also a good option.
BEST PLACES TO EAT IN HAMPI
There are many multi-cuisine restaurants in Hampi. Most of the restaurants serve only vegetarian food.
BEST TIME TO VISIT HAMPI
The average minimum and maximum temperature of Hampi is as given below. The best time to visit Hampi is also specified.
