Diveagar – Shrivardhan – Harihareshwar
March 8, 2009
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Hampi: A Treasure
July 18, 2008
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“Hampi in the Karnataka state of India is listed as one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites”
Introduction:
Hampi, the domain of the erstwhile Vijayanagara Empire, amidst boulder strewn landscape is charismatic even in its ruined state and attracts thousands of tourists and pilgrims every year.
How to Reach:
- Hospet, located about 12 kilometers from Hampi is the nearest railway station. This is the main gateway to Hampi. Hospet is connected by rail to other important towns like Bangalore, Bijapur, Hubli , Guntakal, Hyderabad and Vasco Da Gama (Goa).
- Hospet has a bus station too with frequent bus services. The local bus service to Hampi starts from here.
- The nearest airport to Hampi is Bellary (60km). Other airports are Belgaum (190 km) and Bangalore (350 km).
The Shila-Shilp (Stone Carvings) of the granite it bears are scattered everywhere in the vast expanse of Hampi, reminding of the richness and exquisite lineage of Vijaynagara Empire. It is very rightly said,
“If dreams were made out of stone, it would be Hampi”
The fragrance of Hampi’s richness was carried by the winds far beyond the shores of India and it was a very much coveted seat then. Now lying in ruins, the Vijaynagara dynasty of the 14th Century, seated at Hampi, spreads over 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, these granites have an epic engraved in their bodies and silently narrate the story of grandeur splendor and fabulous wealth. The splendid remains of palaces and gateways, crumbling plinths, dilapidated walls with the weeds and shrubs widening their cracks, the arches and the architectural grandeur of Hampi tell a tale of men infinite talent and power of creativity together with his capacity for senseless destruction. Every rock, every path and every monument at Hampi speak the same language; a language of glory and beauty.
Dotted around the hills and valleys are 500 plus monuments. Among them are beautiful temples, basement of palaces, remains of aquatic structures, ancient market streets, royal pavilions, bastions, royal platforms, treasury buildings. Hampi is a backpackers’ paradise, the same way the pilgrims’ delight.
In March 2002, the Government of India has announced that Hampi would be developed as an international destination centre. The State Govt. will constitute a Hampi World Heritage Area Management Authority for integrated development and conservation of Hampi.
Renowned historian and Kannada literary scholar M Chidananda Murthy had earlier this year demanded the Karnataka Government to take steps to confer special status to World Heritage centre Hampi on the lines of Vatican City. Dr Murthy, who had done extensive study on the Hampi ruins, alleged that the seat of power of the then Vijaynagara Empire, destroyed by a confederation of Muslim kings, still stood unprotected.
Karnataka state government has released Rs 20 crore for infrastructure development at the heritage site of Hampi. The tourism ministry has already taken steps like launching tongas for visitors to go around Hampi. Soon, battery-run vehicles will be introduced to minimise pollution. Earlier Hampi was listed under UNESCO’s endangered, but the removal of the name of world heritage site Hampi from the list of endangered monuments last year is recognition for the Hampi Development Authority which took up several works to develop it as the historic spot as per the guidelines of UNESCO. The Vijaynagara Festival organized by the Government of Karnataka in December recreates the grandeur of the bygone era.
An entire day, which the tourism packages offer to witness and experience the grandeur of Hampi, is very very limited. Imaginations, they say run wild, but even a lifetime is sometimes too short to imagine the richness that Hampi harboured in the Golden era. Still some of the significant monuments and major tourism attractions that can be witnessed give an insight of the glorious past.
The epicenter of Hampi tourism, Vitthala Temple complex and the Virupaksha Temple are the most extravagant architectural showpiece of Hampi.
Vitthala Temple:
The most splendid monument of Hampi is undoubtedly the Vitthala Temple Complex with its 56 musical pillars that resonates when tapped. This temple complex dedicated to Vitthala, a form of the Hindu god Vishnu is an architectural highlight of Hampi. This temple campus contains many halls and shrines. The halls are noted for its extraordinary pillars with the animated carvings on it.
The Maha-Mantapa contains four open halls within. The south, north and the east ones are still intact. The central western hall is collapsed, probably due to the arson that followed the fall of the capital.
The main highlight of the Maha-Mantapa is its richly carved giant monolithic pillars. The outermost of the pillars are popularly called the musical pillars. These slender and short pilasters carved out of the giant pillars emit musical tones when tapped. Probably these do not belong to any of the standard musical notes, but the musical tone of the vibes earned it’s the name.
The eastern hall which is called the musicians hall is notable for sculptures of musicians on the pillars. Each of the pillars surrounding this hall is sculptured with musicians, drummers and dancers. The southern hall is dominated with the rampant mythical creatures called Yalis. The capitals of each of the pillars branches into heavily ornate corbels with terminating with lotus buds. The northern hall is surrounded with a series of pillars with the Narasimha (the man-lion incarnation of Vishnu) themes. The most notable ones are that of Narasimha slaying Hiranyakashipu on his lap. Prahlada is seen sitting at the base in a praying posture. The ceilings of the halls too are of interest with the lotus like carving at the centre.
Monolithic Stone Charriot:
The famous Stone Chariot with stone wheels that actually revolve, a feature of this complex stands in front of the main temple. Resting on a richly sculpted basement, its roof is supported by huge pillars of granite, about 15 feet in height, each consisting of a central pillar surrounded by detached shafts, all cut from one single block of stone.
Nearby is the ‘Purandra Dasara Mantapa’, which has also been declared a protected monument.
Virupaksha Temple:
The Virupaksha temple is located at the foot of the hill called Hemakuta Hill is the core of the village of Hampi. The temple, often called Pampapathi temple, is the most sacred of the temples of this place.
At present, the main temple consists of a Sanctum, three ante chambers, a pillared hall and a Mukha Mantapa also called Ranga Mantapa or an open pillared hall. A pillared cloister, entrance gateways, courtyards, attendant shrines and other mantapas surround the temple.
Starting at the entrance of the temple is Virupaksha Bazaar or market, largest of the many bazaars of Vijayanagara. Each major Temple complex had its own bazaar around which a township developed. This bazaar is flanked by the main gopura of Virupaksha temple called Bishtappa’s gopura on the one end and the monolithic Nandi at the other end. The 9 storied, 53 meters high gopura adds elegance to the 732 meters long and 28 meters wide Virupaksha Bazaar.
The other temple of significance in this complex is the shrine for Goddess Bhuvaneshwari. This shrine was rebuilt in the Vijayanagara days, over an 11th century temple. This temple is chiefly noted for it’s marvelously designed gopura.
Some other interesting places to see can be boxed up as:
- Pushkarini Tank
- Mahanavami Dibba
- Mustard Ganesh
- Noblemen’s Palace
- King’s Balance
- House of Victory
- Malyavanta Raghunathaswamy
- Krishna Temple
- Pattabhirama Temple
- Royal Enclosure
- Hazara Rama Temple
- Royal Pond
- Elephant stable
- Ugra Narasimha
- Lotus Mahal/Queen’s palace
Going back to yesteryears, Saint Vidyaranya established the seat of Vijayanagara empire in 1336 A.D, with the help of his devotee disciples Hakka and Bukka. The empire later became famous for its support towards renovation/reconstruction of temples through out India. It also became renowned for re-establishment of Indian culture, its support for music, art and literature. With the prime purpose of caring for the people and their welfare, this empire stretched physically covering Karnataka, Andhra and Maharashtra and became a by-word for golden rule.
Sri Krishnadevaraya ruled the Vijayanagara Empire for 21 years during the years, 1509 – 1529. The reign of Krishnadevaraya marks “the grand climax in the development of the empire, and the successful achievement of the objects for which it was actually founded”. He was the greatest ruler of Vijayanagara and one of the most famous kings in the history of India and is considered as the greatest Hindu kuruba king to have ever lived.
Founded in the mid-14th century, Vijayanagara became most powerful during the reigns of Krishnadevaraya and Achyutadevaraya. This was also the period of greatest architectural activity, as both these rulers commissioned several buildings in the royal capital and in other parts of their vast empire. Continuous conflict with the Bahmanis, then with Bidar, Bijapur and Golconda, ended in the Battle of Talikota, in which the Vijayanagara forces were defeated and the capital thoroughly sacked and burnt.
These ruins of palaces, temple-complexes, monoliths, royal baths, and mosques still lie mostly deserted and dilapidated. These are standing testimonials to the glorious past that Hampi was crowned with and are the citadels of history, at the sentinel of our historical heritage and richness.
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