Ruins of HAMPI

HAMPI

Hampi ( హంపి ) is both a historic & relegious place in India. This was the capital of the Vijayanagar Empire. The ruins of Hampi, as it is popularly known today, is a vast open museum of history, architecture and religion . Spread over an area more than 25 square kilometers (10 square miles), Hampi ruins is packed with giant temples, palaces, market streets, aquatic structures , fortifications and an abundance of other ancient monuments.

The giant boulder strewn hills and the river that bisects make a bizarre landscape for this ancient metropolis. Together with its historic and mythological residues this rural area makes a perfect tourist spot. Hampi is in the list of UNESCO’s World Heritage sites.

PLACES OF INTEREST IN HAMPI :-

The main sites in Hampi, which one has to visit are listed below,

1) Virupaksha Temple (శ్రీ విరూపాక్ష దేవాలయము) -

Virupaksha temple is the oldest temple in Hampi. This temple is located on the south bank of the river Thungabadra.Historically this temple has an uninterrupted history from about the 7th century. The Virupaksha-Pampa sanctuary existed well before the Vijayanagar capital was located here. Inscriptions referring to Siva date back to the 9th and 10th centuries. The Vijayanagar Rulers improved this temple from a small Shrine to a large Complex.

2) RajahThulabharam (రాజతులాభారము):-

This Thulabharam is erected on two huge pillars. During the Dasara Festival which used to be celebrated with a lot of pomp and splendour during those days, on the day of Mahanavami (or also known as Maharnavami), the ruler used to sit on one thrasu (plate) of the Thulabharam and on the other plate he used to order to fill precious stones like diamond, rubies, etc., to match his weight. Then these precious stones used to be donated to the poor and needy people.

3) Hajara Ramaswami Temple (హజార రామ దేవాలయము) -

The temple got its name Hazara Rama (a thousand Rama) Temple owing to this multitude of these Ramayana panels on its walls. On important thing one has to know here is that thestories of Ramayanam are carved, in long array, on the walls of this temple.

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4) Aavaginja Ganapathi (ఆవగింజ గణపతి)

This is a famous Ganapati Statue found at Hampi. It is popularly known as

Aavaginja Ganapathi (ఆవగింజ గణపతి) which means Mustered Ganapati.

5) Ugra Narasimhudu (ఉగ్ర నరసింహుడు)

This is the famous Statue of Ugra Narasimhudu - Angry Lion God, found at Hampi. Some parts of this Beautiful statue was destroyed by the Bahumani kings. Now the government has retained what is left out only i.e. just the dilapidated statue only.

6) Stone Radham or Stone Chariot (రాతి రధము)

This is the most important monument in Hampi, that one cannot afford to miss. It is said that during those days it was belived that if the chariot moves even an inch forward, then that moment would be the end of the world. Even this monument was ruiend mercilessly by the Sultans, but it has still not lost its beauty. It is found in the premises of the Vitalaswamy Temple.