Also known as the city of ruins, Hampi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Hampi was once the capital of the mighty Vijayanagar Empire around 1500 AD. According to some historians, Hampi was the second-largest city in the world at that time. Hampi is an integral part of Karnataka’s tourism and a must-visit place for all. The lush green environment complements the architecture of the city perfectly. An open museum with 100+ locations to explore, Hampi is a dream come true for any tourist. The famous Stone Chariot of Hampi is present on the ₹50 note.
Located on the banks of the Tungabhadra River, Hampi is famous for its temples. It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986. To preserve the heritage of the place, very minimal modern construction has been allowed on the premises.
Built during the 7th century, The Virupaksha temple is located on the banks of the Tungabhadra River. Also known as the Prasanna Virupaksha temple, it is dedicated to one of Lord Shiva’s avatars Lord Virupaksha. The temple follows a very south Indian architectural style visible by the tall towers or gopurams acting as gateways to the inner sanctums
An important religious attraction in Hampi, The temple is located on Hemakuta Hill. it has a huge 15 feet monolithic statue of Lord Ganesha, one of the largest in the world. the belly of the deity is chiseled to look like Kadalekalu (Bengal gram), hence the name.
Also known as the Yeduru Basavanna, this is a huge monolithic sculpture of a bull. Legends say the bull was the mode of transport that Lord Shiva, Nandi. The sculpture is over 500 years old.
Situated on the southern side of Hampi, The Hemakunta Hill houses a temple complex. many of them dedicated to Lord Shiva. Many of these temples were constructed between the 9th and 14th Centuries, making them the oldest and most ancient. the Archaeological Survey of India is currently working on restoring them to their original glory.
Also known as the Virupaksha Bazaar, this is a great place for travelers to purchase souvenirs, trinkets, etc to commemorate their trip. The Hampi Utsav celebrated every November takes place here.
The stone chariot is a shrine dedicated to Lord Garuda, Lord Vishnu’s escort. Built by King Krishnadevaraya of the Vijayanagara Empire during the 16th century, the chariot is meant to represent the beauty and artistic perfection of the Empire.
Karnataka
Bellary Airport
Since Hampi is a temple town, non-vegetarian cuisine is prohibited on one side of the Tungabhadra River. Otherwise, the restaurants and cafes here offer various specialties like pita bread and hummus, South Indian delicacies, etc.
Kannada is widely spoken in Hampi but tourists can communicate with locals in English and Hindi.
ou can commute internally in Hampi by chartering a taxi or rickshaw.
Hampi can be visited throughout the year, but tourists can see it from October to February to avoid hot weather conditions.
