Hampi is a historical site scattered with ruins and excavations in Karnataka. As the capital of the Hindu kingdom of Vijayanagara and was a beautiful city in its prime. Entering the vicinity of Hampi, I saw massive boulders in the largely rocky landscape, balanced on or against seemingly precarious positions. Hampi is a weekend getaway from Bangalore. Its silence can settle into our soul and we can begin to feel its vibrations. I found places of great natural beauty in mountains, seaside’s, plains and deserts. The village of Hampi has one main street Hampi Bazaar, which is closed to all vehicular traffic. The bus stand is just off it on the eastern side. At the western extreme is the Virupaksha Temple and the eastern extreme of the street is the museum at the base of Matangi Hill, run by the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums. And a few meters from this are the steps that lead to the Achutaraya Temple, which bypasses the Matangi Hill. We hired cycles to ride as it was the best way to see the place. We carried sun creams, for protection from the sun, and carried a picnic lunch and water along. On our first day here and we boarded a car to get the overview of the ruins, however if you are not into affection for history then Hampi is not for you. As there are no pubs, no non veg restaurants, none of the ease of conversation
one can strike up. The sites were plenty and absolutely not to miss where the Virupaksha Temple, Vittala Temple, Queen’s bath, Loyus Mahal, Elephant Stable, Underground well, Mint and the Watch Tower, Hampi Bazaar, Sule Bazaar, Tungabhadra Dam, Hanuman Temple across the river at Anegundi. Then there was a photo exhibition at the museum situated at the bottom of Matangi Hill. It consists of 60 enlarged pictures of Hampi taken by a British photographer around 200 years ago.While other places boast boat rides across placid lakes and rubber dignity rides on fiery rapids, Hampi allows you to cross the nicely moving Tungabhadra River in what’s look like a coconut shell. This coracle not only depends entirely on the skills of boatman to move it along and prevent it from capsizing, it also requires you to squat on the sloped edges before it can move. There are many Hampi hotels that are starting from Rs. 100 – Rs. 600 per day all over the Hampi Bazaar.
Hampi, the soul amidst the ruins
August 14, 2007 by dusht
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Hampi is a historical site scattered with ruins and excavations in Karnataka.I found places of great natural beauty in mountains, seaside’s, plains and deserts. The village of Hampi has one main street Hampi Bazaar, which is closed to all vehicular traffic. One of the main beautiful thing is that the western extreme is the Virupaksha Temple and the eastern extreme of the street is the museum at the base of Matangi Hill, run by the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums.
Here one more important thigg which I have not found any where was, there is no pubs and no non veg restorent throughout the city.
The sites were plenty and absolutely not to miss where the Virupaksha Temple, Vittala Temple, Queen’s bath, Loyus Mahal, Elephant Stable, Underground well, Mint and the Watch Tower, Hampi Bazaar, Sule Bazaar, Tungabhadra Dam, Hanuman Temple across the river at Anegundi.
HAMPI, the name spells MAGIC, trying to engulf you in it’s charismatic aura even in it’s ruins. Truly it’s a different world in itself trying to soothe your soul, mind. People try to compare HAMPI with Rome, Greece and ancient Historical sites, but on the contrary HAMPI just can’t be compared, it always was, is and will remain at par with all the ancient sites.
It’s my sincere advise to all the travellers visiting Hampi that DON”T visit HAMPI just to see the ruins, please pour in your heart whilst your visit, coz you will surely realise that each stone, each street, every pillar that’s witnessed all the glory is trying desperately to narrate the past and you could feel the blood oozing out after they have seen the disaster HAMPI witnessed after the kingdom’s defeat in the battle of Talikota in the year 1565.
Even in it’s ruins HAMPI remains an architectural marvel that remains unconquired till today and stands testimony to the fact that none of the engineering skills match the architectural heights that our ancestors during the Vijayanagara Kingdom had achieved.
Anyone returning back from HAMPI will have tears in his eyes and never wishes to leave HAMPI. The fact that the daugter of a very famous politician of the country has adopted HAMPI has her home leaving all the riches of her father stands testimony to the fact.
PLEASE VISIT HAMPI AND SPREAD THE GLORY OF THE SITE TO ALL IN THE WORLD.
I have been in HOSPET for 22 years of my life and everytime i visited HAMPI, it was as though for the first time and the touch / feel and the warmth the monuments gave me, can be still felt , it’s been 15 years now i have been in Bangalore but i still have tears in my eyes when i think of HAMPI, just can’t wait to go there again and again and forever.
I only wish after my death my soul merges with eternity at HAMPI –
BEST REGARDS,
ARUN M N
+91 9916662751