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 Hampi is a village in northern Karnataka state, India. Situated on the banks of the Tungabhadra River, it is 353 km from Bangalore and 74 km away from Bellary. It was the capital of Vijayanagar Empire, the last great Hindu Kingdom. Under the Vijayanagar rulers Hampi grew marvellously.
The princes of Vijayanagar built numerous Dravidian temples and palaces. The records of foreign travellers between 14th and 16th century bear testimony to the grandeur of the place. However the magnificent capital of Vijayanagar was destroyed by the Deccan Muslim league in 1565.
It continues to be an important religious centre, housing the Virupaksha Temple, along with several other monuments that belong to the city. The ruins are also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, listed as the ‘Group of Monuments at Hampi’.
Architecture:
The ruins and Hampi monuments bear testimony to the patronage of the Vijayanagar rulers to art and architecture. Excavations at Hampi have unearthed beautiful temples and the ruins of once grand gateways and palaces. The buildings in the city are mostly built in the original native traditions of southern India, associated with the Hindu religion. Some of them show a certain amount of Islamic influence due to the interaction with Islamic kingdoms.
Temples of this city are noted for their large dimensions, elaborate ornamentation, delicate carvings, magnificent pavilions and a great wealth of iconographic and traditional depictions which include subjects from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata.
The Vitthala temple is an excellent example of Vijayanagara style. The monolithic statues of Lakshmi, Narasimha and Ganesa are noted for their massiveness and grace. The Krishna temple, Pattabhirama temple, Hazara Ramachandra and Chandrasekhara temple are other examples.
A large number of royal buildings were raised by Krishnadeva Raya (AD 1509-30), one of India’s greatest rulers of the dynasty. The period witnessed resurrection of Hindu religion, art and architecture in an extraordinary scale. The various religious and secular structures which include Hindu and Jain temples, audience hall of the king, the magnificent throne platform to witness the festivals and other events, the king's tulabhara are breathtaking.
Recent excavations at the site have brought to light a large number of palatial complexes and basements of several platforms. Interesting finds include a large number of stone images, both in round and relief, beautiful terracotta objects and stucco figures that once embellished the palaces. In addition many gold and copper coins, household utensils, a square stepped-tank at the south-west of Mahanavami Dibba and a large number of ceramics including the important variety of porcelain and inscribed Buddhist sculptures of 2nd -3rd century AD have also been unearthed.
The corner towers of arresting elevation, the Dhananayaka's treasury, the Mahanavami Dibba carrying beautifully sculptured panels, variety of ponds and tanks, mandapas and the elephant's stables are some of the important architectural remains of this city.
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