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Hampi / ಹಂಪೆ
—  town  —
Virupaksha Temple, Hampi, Karnataka
Hampi / ಹಂಪೆ Location of Hampi / ಹಂಪೆ in Karnataka and India
Coordinates	15°20′06″N 76°27′43″E / 15.335°N 76.462°E / 15.335; 76.462Coordinates: 15°20′06″N 76°27′43″E / 15.335°N 76.462°E / 15.335; 76.462
Country	India
State	Karnataka
District(s)	Bellary
Nearest city	Hospet
Time zone	IST (UTC+05:30)

Group of Monuments at Hampi *
UNESCO World Heritage Site
Country	India
Type	Cultural
Criteria	(i)(iii)(iv)
Reference	241
Region **	Asia-Pacific
Inscription history
Inscription	1986 (10th Session)
Endangered	1999–2006
* Name as inscribed on World Heritage List ** Region as classified by UNESCO

Hampi (Kannada: ಹಂಪೆ Hampe) is a village in northern Karnataka state, India. It is located within the ruins of Vijayanagara, the former capital of the Vijayanagara Empire. Predating the city of Vijayanagara, it continues to be an important religious centre, housing the Virupaksha Temple, as well as several other monuments belonging to the old city. The ruins are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, listed as the Group of Monuments at Hampi.^[1]

Etymology[link]

The name is derived from Pampa, which is the old name of the Tungabhadra River on whose banks the city is built. The name "Hampi" is an anglicized version of the Kannada Hampe (derived from Pampa). Over the years, it has also been referred to as Vijayanagara and Virupakshapura (from Virupaksha, the patron deity of the Vijayanagara rulers).

History[link]

A Hindu temple Kāliya-Mardan decoration at Hampi.

Hampi is identified with the historical Kishkindha, the Vanara (monkey) kingdom mentioned in the Ramayana.^[2] The first historical settlements in Hampi date back to 1 CE.

Hampi formed one of the core areas of the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire from 1336 to 1565, when it was finally laid siege to by the Deccan Muslim confederacy.^[1] Hampi was chosen because of its strategic location, bounded by the torrential Tungabhadra river on one side and surrounded by defensible hills on the other three sides.

The site is significant historically and architecturally. The topography abounds with large stones which have been used to make statues of Hindu deities. The Archaeological Survey of India continues to conduct excavations in the area, to discover additional artifacts and temples.

Geography[link]

Aerial view

Zanana Enclosure

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.The principal industries of the village are agriculture, the support of the Virupaksha temple and some other local holy places in the vicinity, and tourism. The annual Vijayanagar Festival is organized by the Government of Karnataka in November.

Due to the presence of several mineral deposits in this region (iron-ore, manganese), mining has been going on for many years now. But a recent boom for the supply of iron-ore in the international market has led to increased levels of mining in this district. The World Heritage Site at Hampi as well as the Tungabhadra Dam is now under threat.

Important sites at and near Hampi[link]

Vitthala temple with musical pillars, Hoysala style multigonal base Hampi

Thungabhadra River in Hampi

• Achyutaraya Temple/Tiruvengalanatha Temple
• Virupapur Gudda
• Anegondi
• Anjeyanadri Hill
• Aqueducts and Canals
• Archaeological Museum at Kamalapura
• Badava Linga
• Chandramauleshwar Temple
• The Kings’ balance
• The Underground Temple
• Tungabhadra River
• Uddana Veerabhadra temple
• Sri Lakshmi Narasimha
• Virupaksha Temple
• Vittala temple
• Yeduru Basavanna
• Yantrodharaka Anjaneya temple
• Zenana enclosure
• Virupapura
• Sasivekalu Ganesha
• Elephant stables
• Lotus temple
• Hazara Rama Temple

Temples[link]

templs around Hampi

Hampi has various notable Hindu temples, some of which are still active places of worship. Among the most notable are:

• Virupaksha Temple known as the Pampapathi temple, it is a Shiva temple situated in the Hampi Bazaar. It predates the founding of the Vijayanagar empire. The temple has a 160-foot (49 m) high tower at its entrance. Apart from Shiva, the temple complex also contains shrines of the Hindu goddesses Bhuvaneshwari and Pampa.
• Hazara Rama Temple Complex : This ruined temple complex is well known for elaborate frescoes from Hindu Mythologies and a sprawling courtyard well-laid with gardens. It is well known for more than many thousand carvings & inscriptions on & in the temple depicting the mighty story of Ramayana. It has about 1000 carvings & inscriptions depicting the story of Ramayana.
• Krishna Temple Complex : This temple complex has been recently excavated through the last decade, and restoration work is still in progress.
• Vittala Temple Complex : This is perhaps the most famous and well-known among the ruins of Hampi. The iconic stone chariot in the vicinity of this temple complex is a symbol of Karnataka Tourism. Off late, floodlights have been installed in the temple complex that provide illumination at dusk, thereby adding to the grandeur of the architecture.

Global Heritage Fund efforts[link]

Non-profit organization Global Heritage Fund (GHF), in partnership with the Hampi Foundation, Cornell University, and the State of Karnataka, has been actively involved in the conservation of Hampi's unique cultural heritage. After producing a master conservation plan for the site of Chandramouleshwara Temple, GHF's efforts have moved to "stabilization of the temple and its associated structural features."^[3]

Gallery[link]

• 

  Virupraksha Temple tower

• 

  Farms as seen from Anjeyanadri Hill

• 

  Hemakuta complex

• 

  Remains of Old City

• 

  Lotus Mahal at the Zenana Enclosure

• 

  Stepped Tank near the Underground Temple

• 

  Elephant stables

• 

  The stone chariot at Vittala complex

• 

  Stray Temples

• 

  The remains of a giant Bukka's Aqueduct located near Anegondi

• 

  Old man in front of Vittala temple in Hampi

• 

  Sunset at Hampi

• 

  Hampi temples

• 

  Hampi evening

• 

  Hampi landscape

• 

  Hampi rocky landscape

• 

  Hampi rocky landscape, evening

• 

  Hampi, Mathanga hill

• 

  View from Mathanga hill

Scenery[link]

Hampi Scenery, 360° Panorama Shot from Matanga Hill

Hampi Scenery, 360° Panorama Shot from Matanga Hill

See also[link]

• Vijayanagar Architecture
• Krishna Deva Raya
• Vidyaranya
• Kanakagiri
• Bukka

Notes[link]

1. ^ ^{a b} "Group of Monuments at Hampi". World Heritage. http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/241. Retrieved 2006-12-20. 
2. ^ "Master Plan for Hampi Local Planning Area". http://www.bellary.nic.in/HMP/REPORT%20PDFs/CHAPTER-2.pdf. 
3. ^ Global Heritage Fund - Where We Work - Hampi, India Accessed on 2009-04-24.

References[link]

• T.S. Satyan, Hampi: The fabled capital of the Vijayanagara Empire, (Directorate of Archaeology and Museums), Govt. of Karnataka, 1995
• J.M. Fritz et al., New Light on Hampi: Recent Research at Vijayanagara, (Performing Arts Mumbai, 2001) ISBN 81-85026-53-X
• A.N. Longhurst, Hampi Ruins Described and Illustrated, (Laurier Books Ltd., 1998) ISBN 81-206-0159-9
• The Ruins of Hampi:Travel Guide ISBN 81-7525-766-0

Karnataka State Gazetteer 1983.

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Group of monuments at Hampi

• www.hampi.in
• Vijayanagara Architecture at Hampi
• Hampi on UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Hampi preservation project summary at Global Heritage Fund
• Explore Hampi with Google Earth on Global Heritage Network
• Karnataka.com - Hampi
• Hampi travel guide on Wikitravel
• A Guide to History and Tourism at Hampi
• 3D virtual views for Hampi siate from UNESCO

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