Discovering the Beauty and Heritage of Hampi: A Personal Journey
Hampi, located in the state of Karnataka, India, is a truly
unique destination that blends history, culture, and natural beauty in a way
that is truly unforgettable. For those who are interested in history, Hampi is
a treasure trove of monuments and artifacts that date back to the Vijayanagar
Empire, which ruled over South India from the 14th to the 17th centuries.
The Hampi World Heritage Site, which covers an area of over 26 square kilometers, is a group of monuments and structures that offer a fascinating glimpse into the past. From the imposing Vittala Temple, with its ornate pillars and stone chariot, to the elegant Virupaksha Temple, which is still used for religious ceremonies today, there is something for everyone in Hampi.
As a Telugu Literature buff, I was particularly drawn to King Krishnadevaraya, who ruled the Vijayanagar Empire from 1509 to 1529. King Krishnadevaraya was known for his patronage of the arts and literature, and he was a great champion of the Telugu language and culture. During his reign, he surrounded himself with a court of Ashtadigga (eight elephants) poets, who produced many literary gems that are still revered and celebrated today.
Walking through the ruins of Hampi, I was struck by the level of detail and craftsmanship that went into the construction of the structures. From the intricate carvings on the temple walls to the stone pavements in the Hampi Bazaar, it was clear that the people of the Vijayanagar Empire were masters of their craft.
In addition to its rich cultural heritage, Hampi is also known for its natural beauty. The city is surrounded by rolling hills, boulders, and rivers, and the landscape is dotted with paddy fields and coconut groves. Whether you are a history buff, a culture lover, or simply looking for a beautiful and peaceful place to visit, Hampi has something to offer everyone.
One of the most unique aspects of Hampi is the way that it combines history, culture, and nature in a seamless and harmonious way. Whether you are exploring the ruins of a temple, admiring the intricate carvings of a palace, or simply taking in the breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape, you will feel a deep sense of connection to the past.
For me, my visit to Hampi was a deeply personal and nostalgic experience. The city's beauty, history, and cultural heritage evoked a strong sense of connection to the past, and I felt a deep appreciation for the rich cultural heritage of southern India. Whether you are a history buff, a culture lover, or simply looking for a beautiful and peaceful place to visit, Hampi is a must-see destination that is sure to leave a lasting impression.
In conclusion, Hampi is a truly unique destination that offers something for everyone. From its rich cultural heritage to its natural beauty, this city is sure to leave a lasting impression on visitors. So if you are planning a trip to southern India, make sure to put Hampi on your list of must-see destinations.
Reaching Hampi from Hyderabad is quite convenient and there are several options to choose from.
By Air: The nearest airport to Hampi is the Bellary Airport, which is approximately 40 kilometers away. From the airport, you can hire a taxi or take a bus to Hampi.
By Train: The nearest railway station to Hampi is Hospet, which is well-connected to several major cities in India, including Hyderabad. From Hospet, you can hire a taxi or take a bus to Hampi.
By Bus: There are several state-run and private buses that run daily between Hyderabad and Hampi. The journey takes approximately 8-9 hours and is a convenient and affordable option for those who prefer to travel by road.
No matter how you choose to reach Hampi, the city is sure to leave a lasting impression on you. Whether you are exploring its rich cultural heritage, admiring its natural beauty, or simply soaking up the local atmosphere, you are sure to have an unforgettable experience.
Hampi visit notes 11/20/2019
Hampi was always in our bucket list and finally we were glad and happy we could visit .
It took us 40 minutes to reach the dam from Hotel, the dam was spectacular with all the lights in the evening.
Vidyanagar itself is a beautiful township worth visiting surrounded by lot of greenery and well maintained gardens.
Hampi is not complete without a visit to Kaladham right next to the Hyatt place.
Kaladham is a unique piece of art, culture center, built and designed by KARU group of architects . We were glad to meet the chief architect Sanjeev Chatterjee on our tour at Kaladham. When we inquired about how they could come up with such an unique creative blend of beautiful, aesthetic and yet practical design , he explained passionately it was Mrs. Sanjita Jindal’s dream, they were able to materialize into reality.
It has a small souvenir shop to buy items which are reasonable. We took lot of pictures in the Kaladham.
The next day morning we started early to Vitthala temple, an hour drive from the Hotel.
We are there by 7:30 am, on our way to Vittala temple we were lucky to spot some peacocks on surrounding hills and a beautiful sunrise.
We were advised by the Hyatt Hotel Staff to start as early as possible since the ruins are amidst open space with little shade , and need to walk from one spot to another in the sun, and to have lot of water and umbrellas.
The Vittala temple area is serene and beautiful in the early morning with no crowd at all and we could easily walk to the temple and Hampi Bazaar ruins from the parking lot.
The main attractions are the stone chariot, the King’s balance and the musical pillars.
Any movie goer from the 60's would definitely recollect and picture the song from movie Manchi Manasulu
అహో ఆంధ్రభోజా! శ్రీకృష్ణదేవరాయా!
విజయనగర సామ్రాజ్య నిర్మాణ తేజోవిరాజా!
ఈ శిధిలాలలో చిరంజీవివైనావయా...
శిలలపై శిల్పాలు చెక్కినారు
శిలలపై శిల్పాలు చెక్కినారు
మనవాళ్ళు సృష్టికే అందాలు
ఓరచూపులదేవి ఊరేగి రాగా
ఏకశిల రథముపై లోకేశు వడిలోన
ఓరచూపులదేవి ఊరేగి రాగా.........
రాతి స్థంభాలకే చేతనత్వము కలిగి
సరిగమా పదనిసా స్వరములే పాడగా..
However visitors now are not allowed to tap on the pillars to listen the music owing to lot of damage already done to the remains.
After spending an hour in the Vittala temple area we drove to Virupaksha temple.
Here first we visited the Sasivekula Ganapati in open Mandapa outside and the Kadalekula Ganapati, a huge 18 feet Monolithic statue of Lord Ganesa in a big inner Sanctum.
From there we walked down the hill to Virupaksha temple where the Lord Pampapathi with Hampamba and Bhuvaneswari Devi reside. We were warned about the monkeys in the temple as they grab if they spot any food items from the visitors.
We took the blessings from the majestic Temple Elephant in the Virupaksha temple by offering 10 rupees each.
It was lunch time by then, we were tired by the scorching heat and were looking for a nice place to get refreshed.
We agreed to try the Green Restaurant (https://www.facebook.com/greenrestauranthampi)suggested by our car driver who observed we haven't had any pit stops since we started, and understood our dire need for neat Toilets and fresh Vegetarian food
We had a very good hot tasty vegetarian Thali in the beautiful well maintained garden restaurant and thanked our driver for suggesting a very nice place to eat and relax.
After a sumptuous meal we covered the remaining part of Hampi, Kamala Mahal, Elephant Stable, Hajara Rama temple, and the Queen’s bath, Ugra Narasimha, Badavi Linga and the Pushkarini.
The sun was really hot, good that we had umbrellas, water to drink as the heat was direct and the ruins were in open without much shade to rest.
We were done by 6 PM in the evening and headed straight to the Hotel for a nice cold shower and hot dinner.
