HAMPI

Hampi is an ancient village in the south Indian state of Karnataka. It’s dotted with numerous ruined temple complexes from the Vijayanagara Empire. On the south bank of the River Tungabhadra is the 7th-century Hindu Virupaksha Temple near the revived Hampi Bazaar. A carved stone chariot stands in front of the huge Vittala Temple site. Southeast of Hampi, Daroji Bear Sanctuary is home to the Indian sloth bear. Hampi is situated on the banks of the Tungabhadra River, midst rocky hills. It is 348 kilometres (216 mi) from Bangalore, 385 kilometres (239 mi) from Hyderabad and 266 kilometres (165 mi) from Belgaum. The closest railway station is in the city of (Hospet), 13 km away, and the closest airport is 32 kilometres (20 mi) Jindal Vijaynagar Airport in Toranagallu, which has connections to Bengaluru.[citation needed] Overnight buses and trains also connect Hampi with Goa and Bengaluru.The principal economic activities in and around the town include agriculture, tourism and industrial activity related to iron ore, manganese and other minerals mining. The average rainfall around Hampi town is about 660 . The major crops grown are paddy, maize, jowar, bajra, groundnut, sunflower, sugarcane and cotton. Some of the Hampi farmlands are irrigated and there is a large dam nearby.Hampi hosts, in part, a group of monuments that UNESCO has declared a world heritage site.In and after the 1960’s, the town became an attraction for motorbikers and a site for offbeat tourism when its infrastructure was in poor condition. Groups of tourists would gather on its hills and amidst its ruins to hold parties and spiritual retreats. These have been called “Hampi Hippies” and Hampi has been referred to as the “lost city” in some publications.Hampi was the capital of the Vijayanagar empire around 1500 AD, and by some accounts, the second largest city in the world at that time. Over the next centuries it fell out of important, and now you can explore the ruins of a lot of temples and other structures spread out over a vast area. The terrain around Hampi is as mysterious as the ruins itself – the city is surrounded by boulders of different sizes, and you can climb to the top of them with a little effort to get a stunning view of the entire city and the geography. It is located on the banks of the Tungabhadra River. Famous for its massive, beautifully carved temples, especially the Virupaksha Temple, dedicated to the patron deity of the empire. You can also find remains of the old aqueducts, canals and military barracks and stables here. Hampi was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1986 and many efforts have been taken to restore the lost glory of the place – very limited (if )modern establishments are allowed in the main area, which gives an authentic feel to the ruins.The Enchanting Ruins
Covering an area of 30 square kms, Hampi has a large number of monuments which are preserved in excellent condition. The Virupaksha and Vitthala temples are the most famous and do-not-miss monuments, but take a walk (or cycle) through the city for hours, and you’ll be happy to see a lot of less popular temples//palaces and other buildings which are equally as fascinating. Most of the ruins are located in the northern part of the city, just south of Tungabhadra river, and the rest of them are scattered all across the city.
The first settlements in Hampi date back to 1 CE. The Emperor Ashoka’s Rock Edicts indicate that the region was once under Mauryan influence. A terracotta sealing and a Brahmi inscription have been recovered from the excavation site. Both belong to the 2nd century CE. The historically and architecturally dominated site has also been besieged by the Deccan Muslim Sultanate. The Vijayanagara Empire had a heavy flow of trade with Hampi being the main centre. Due to this many Hindu and Muslim rulers were attracted towards the small town. Different rules and different empires have resulted in the vibrant culture of people of Hampi. The ancient town has its fame for its archaeological importance. The ruins, concert halls, bazaars, and boulders speak of the greatness of Vijayanagara Empire.Pilgrims delight and backpackers holidaying spot is rich in culture which remains unaffected by westernization in the modern-day. The culture has been restored and preserved by UNESCO as the small town has been declared as the world heritage site. The culture is a