Hampi is a place where ruins are still alive through its charm. Architectures of this rocky terrain are so magical that it can take you to centuries back. UNESCO has recognised the Group of Monuments at Hampi as world heritage site.
Once this city was the capital of Vijayanagara, a 14th-century empire. Its Kings then built many temples, palaces, and markets in Dravidian architecture. That time, it won the admiration of visitors who travelled between the 14th and 16th centuries, and today it is gaining much more appreciation of tourists from all over the world.
It is about four hours of journey from Bangalore to witness the architectural beauty of Vijayanagara Empire. There are many historical attractions, and one would need to consider ample time to explore all of them. There are more than two hundred temples that spread across the Hampi ruins.
Vijaya Vittala Temple
One of the iconic landmarks is the Vittala Temple and the most famous Stone Chariot. While approaching the main entrance gate of Vittla Temple at Hampi, you can see the remains of a township called ‘Vittalapura’ that existed around the temple complex.
Inside this temple, you can see many ruined architectures. Kalyana Mantapa (marriage hall), Musical pillars, and the famous Stone Chariot are inside this temple complex.
King Krishnadevaraya of the Vijayanagara Empire got fascinated with the Konark Sun temple chariot while fighting a battle in Odissa, India, and built this chariot during the 16th century. This iconic architecture represents the beauty and artistic perfection of the Vijayanagar Empire. Below are some photos of the stone chariot and Vittala temple complex.
From the closeup shot of ornate undercarriage behind the wheels of the ‘Stone Chariot,’ you can notice the remains of the painting on the carvings because it was relatively protected from the natural weather elements.
Vijayanagara Architecture
Lotus Mahal, Zanana Enclosure, Queens Bath, Elephant Stable, Hazara Rama Temple, Saasivekaalu Ganesha, Royal Enclosure, Kings Balance, Ugra Narasimha Temple, Pushkarni, Virupaksha Temple, Achyutaraya Temple, Pampa Sarovar, Badavilinga Temple and so on. The list continues, and I could explore only some of them. Here are some random pictures that were taken during my trip.
Matanga Hills
Another popular tourist attraction of Hampi is Matanga Hill. Do a small trek up the rocks, and that will give you a panoramic view over the whole of the landscape around Hampi.
While this summit offers a bird’s eye view of Hampi and its surroundings, it is also the favourite location for bird-photographers, and the famous sunset viewpoint. Here are some pictures I could shot from Matanga hills during golden hours.
That is all about my Hampi travel dairy. Let me conclude this photoblog with some of the selected closeup shots.
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