Hampi – The UNESCO World Heritage Site

Hampi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is an ancient village situated in the eastern side of the Indian state of Karnataka. It was the center of the Hindu dynasty of Vijayanagara and dates to the 14th century. Hampi was one of the most prosperous, grand, and wealthy cities near the Tungabhadra river. During its time, the Hampi-Vijayanagara was the 2nd largest city after Beijing in the medieval era. It attracted traders from Persia and Portugal and was probably India’s richest cities of those times.

Hampi’s ruins spread over a massive area of over 42 square kilometers and have been described as an “austere, grandiose site” by UNESCO. It comprises over 1,600 surviving remains of the last Hindu dynasty of South India including several forts, temples, shrines, memorial structures, mandapas, pillared halls, sacred complexes, water structures, and others. Described as Pampaa Devi Tirtha Kshetra in the Ramayana and the Hindu Puranas, Hampi predates the Vijayanagara Kingdom and displays the evidence of the Ashokan epigraphy.

It continues to be one of the most important religious destinations housing the majestic Sri Virupaksha temple (Adi-Shankara-linked monastery) among other key monuments. Some of the key places to visit in Hampi include:

1. Stone Chariot Hampi
2. Sri Virupaksha Temple
3. Vijaya Vittala Temple
4. Queen’s Bath
5. Sasivekalu Ganesha Temple
6. Hampi Bazaar
7. Matanga Hill
8. Lakshmi Narasimha Temple

Hampi tourism has boomed over the years. Millions of tourists throng the area during the peak seasons of October to March which is the best time to visit Hampi. Several places to stay in Hampi have cropped up which provide an array of staying options right from economical accommodations to grand Hampi resorts.

How to Get There:

Hampi can be visited by road and there are state government buses which run overnight buses from Bengaluru, Goa, Hyderabad, and other major cities of South India. The nearest railway station is Hospete and the nearest airport in the Bellary Airport, also known as the Jindal Vijayanagar Airport.

Nearby Places:

1. Hospete
2. Tungabhadra Dam, Zoo, & Park
3. Huligemma Devi Temple
4. Daroji Bear Sanctuary