5/5 Shivansh M. 2 years ago on Google
The
magnificent
city
of
ruins,
Hampi,
is
not
far
from
Bangalore.
A
World
Heritage
Center,
Hampi
is
the
most
beautiful
and
evocative
of
all
the
ruins
in
Karnataka.
This
erstwhile
capital
of
the
Vijayanagar
Empire
boasts
some
exquisite
examples
of
temple
architecture
of
that
period.
One
can
still
glimpse
the
splendor
of
Vijayanagara
-
one
of
the
largest
empires
in
the
history
of
India
-
in
its
ruins.
The
Vijayanagar
Kings
were
great
patrons
of
Art
&
Architecture
as
evident
by
the
vast
ruins
of
Hampi.
Hampi,
the
land
of
surprises
was
founded
in
the
middle
of
14th
Century
by
two
local
princes,
Hakka
&
Bukka.
The
Vijayanagar
Empire
came
to
be
celebrated
for
its
might
and
wealth
and
as
a
show
piece
of
imperial
magnificence.
Although
in
ruins
today,
this
capital
city
once
boasted
riches
known
far
beyond
the
shores
of
India.
The
ruins
of
Hampi
of
the
14th
Century
lie
scattered
in
about
a
26
sq.
km
area,
amidst
giant
boulders
and
vegetation.
Protected
by
the
tempestuous
river
Tungabhadra
in
the
north
and
rocky
granite
ridges
on
the
other
three
sides,
the
ruins
silently
narrate
the
story
of
grandeur
splendor
and
fabulous
wealth.
The
splendid
remains
of
palaces
and
the
gateways
of
the
broken
city
tell
a
tale
of
men
with
infinite
talent
and
the
power
of
creativity
together
with
their
capacity
for
senseless
destruction.
The
Vijayanagar
Festival
organized
by
the
Government
of
Karnataka
in
December
recreates
the
grandeur
of
the
bygone
era.
Hampi
is
the
former
capital
of
the
Vijayanagara
Empire
in
northern
Karnataka.
The
site,
located
near
Hospet,
was
originally
a
religious
center
that
may
have
predated
the
establishment
of
the
city.
The
village
contains
several
of
the
monuments
of
the
old
city
and
extends
into
one
of
the
old
ceremonial
streets
of
the
ruins.
On
a
commanding
site,
stands
the
temple
of
Malyavanta
Raghunathaswamy.
It
is
built
in
the
Dravidian
style.
Strange-looking
fishes
and
marine
monsters
carved
along
its
outer
walls
are
worth
noticing.
The
Hampi
Bazaar
is
a
broad,
dusty
boulevard
lined
with
stalls
and
restaurants.
It
leads
to
a
vast
temple
complex
consisting
of
the
Virupaksha
Temple
and
the
spectacular
Vitthala
Temple,
dedicated
to
an
incarnation
of
Vishnu,
and
is
one
of
the
most
fabulous
and
famous
of
Hampi's
monuments.
One
of
Hinduism's
most
enduring
images,
an
ornate
stone
chariot,
is
found
here.
With
solid
stone
wheels
that
can
turn
on
their
axles,
the
chariot
faces
a
shaded
dance
hall
where
ancient
musical
dramas
were
once
played
out
and
from
where
you
can
now
enjoy
panoramic
views
of
Vijayanagara.
The
pillars
of
the
temple
are
commonly
referred
to
as
"musical
pillars,"
each
one
producing
a
different
note
when
tapped.
The
royal
enclosure
incorporates
the
ruined
palaces
where
the
Vijayanagara
kings
lived
and
held
court.
There
is
the
Hazara
Rama
temple
where
the
royals
went
to
worship,
a
small
stepped
tank,
and
the
Mahanavami
Dibba,
a
platform
where
performances
and
entertainments
were
held.
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