A rustic, rugged landscape strewn with boulders and dotted with majestic ruins from a bygone era, contrasted with azure blue skies make picturesque Hampi a must-visit for every photographer and traveller. From temples, a stone chariot, sculptures and stables, harems and courtesans’ streets to bazaars and royal baths. All these monuments and attractions instill curiosity and awe in the tourists to visit Hampi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Hampi or Vijayanagar, as known earlier, is situated on the banks of Tungabhadra river in Hospet taluka. It is spread over a large area covering hills and planes.
KSTDC Property at Kamlapur
Our journey began at Bengaluru from where we drove down to Kamlapur. We then checked into the KSTDC property late in the evening. Since it is difficult to see all of Hampi in one day, we had planned our itinerary and made a list of all that we wanted to see. The next morning was Diwali. We had a simple breakfast of idli sambar, eggs and filter coffee. Our tour guide Prasad was a middle-aged man. He helped us plan our route so that we could cover the major attractions and see as much as possible.
Vithala Temple Complex
A lot of people hire bicycles, mopeds or rickshaws and explore Hampi at their own pace. We chose to drive down in a cab from our hotel to the Vithala Temple Complex. Vithala Temple, constructed in 15th Century AD, is dedicated to Lord Vithala, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Within large courtyard were several shrines, halls and pavilions.
The Stone Chariot
The most extraordinary structure of Hampi is the Stone Chariot pulled by two elephants. You must have seen it on Hampi Tourism posters. It is believed to be inspired by the Sun Temple of Konark. The Chariot had engravings of soldiers, hunters, Arabs, Persians and Portuguese. Trade in silk and precious gems was done. Years ago, the Chariot was mobile. But because of tourists trying to drive the Chariot, one of its wheels got damaged. It is now set on a stable platform.
Musical Columns
The Mahamantapa (major hall) with its 56 musical columns is well-known for its exceptional craftsmanship. When tapped the columns play the seven musical notes. Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Dha Ni or Do Re Me Fa So La Ti. Above every group of columns, were engravings of the musical instrument that the notes sounded like. The entry to this structure was out of bounds for the public. Because over-enthusiastic tourists over the years had damaged the musical columns by indiscriminate banging.
Purandara Mantapa
After exiting from the temple, we then proceeded to see the King’s Balance which is a tall archway structure. Legend has it that the kings were weighed in gold, diamonds and other precious stones. These were distributed among the poor. Moving further we reached the banks of the Tungabhadra river. We saw the Purandara Mantapa, an open pillared pavilion. It gets its name from the poet, Purandara Dasa who lived in Hampi. We spent some time here and dipped our feet in the water. We let the simplicity and serenity of this place soak in.
Coracle Crossings
On the opposite banks was Angeondi village. We could see ruins of the old bridge, the Hanuman Temple on Anjaneya Hill. Locals believe that Hanuman, the monkey god, was born here. Near the Purandara Mantapa were the Coracle Crossings. Coracles or circular shaped boats are about six feet in diameter. In earlier times people and sheep were ferried across on it. One can even see them today.
After exiting the Vithala Temple Complex, we drove to the Malyavanta Hill. It is the only hill in Hampi where vehicles can go till the top so one doesn’t need to trek. The Malyavanta Ragunath Temple on this hill is dedicated to Lord Rama. It is the lone temple where one gets to see Rama in a sitting posture while in all others he is standing, explained our guide.
The Royal Queen’s Bath
The Queen’s Bath or royal bathing chamber is a fusion of Hindu and Islamic architecture styles. In the centre was a sunken bath with a ceiling open to the sky. There was an inlet from which water entered the bath. After the relaxing baths, wooden columns were raised to release the water. It is an excellent example of exquisite craftsmanship and design for its time which modern-day spas can’t match.
Royal Enclosure
After the Queen’s Bath, while proceeding to the Royal Enclosure, we saw the Stone Doors lying on the floor. These two massive structures once guarded the entrance of some royal building or fortress. The Royal enclosure’s highlight was the Mahanavmi Dibba, a rectangular raised platform. It was from here that the king watched the military parades and royal processions during Dassera.
Carvings on Mahanavami Dibba
The engravings on the walls of the Mahanavami Dibba of mythological stories, hunting scenes, dance postures provide a glimpse into its fascinating past. Women could be seen hunting, indicating they enjoyed an equal status to men. The fact that the Kings traded with the Persians, Arabs and other foreigners could be made out by their distinctive features.
Stepwell
Located close by was the Pushkarni, a square stepped structure, where water was collected. The Underground secret chamber is where the kings had confidential discussions, and future course of action planned.
Near the Royal Enclosure was the Hazara Rama Temple. Scenes from all the three versions of the epic Ramayana are engraved on this wall. If one had to go through every scene, it would take 5 hours, explained Prasad!
Lotus Mahal
Zenana Enclosure as the name suggests was the harem of the royal women. The Lotus Mahal is the pièce de résistance here. Just like the Queen’s bath is a fusion of Hindu and Islamic architecture. It is a lotus-shaped ground plus one structure. The women bathed, got dressed and perhaps shared their most intimate secrets on the top floor. Watchtowers close by ensured no trespassers were allowed.
Elephant Stables
We then headed to the Elephant Stables that were meant for the royal elephants. It had eleven domes, in different styles representing diverse religious faiths. These structures are therefore a testimony of religious tolerance and multi-ethnicity that existed in earlier times. Near the Elephant Stables were the Guard’s Quarters which now have a Museum. After exiting the Elephant stables, it was now lunchtime, and we decided to head to a nearby restaurant.
There is so much to see in Hampi from an underground temple to watchtowers. Sculptures of Ganesh and Vishnu to boulders called Sisters Stones. They symbolise two sisters who spoke ill about Hampi. They were punished and turned into rocks.
Noteworthy Idols
Ugra Narasimha is the biggest idol in Hampi- 22 feet high. This idol that was damaged by invaders, has been restored. One can see the Lion Avtar of Vishnu with a serpent behind its head. In the original idol, one could see Goddess Laxmi too. The Sasivekalu Ganesha idol is located at the foothill of the Hemakuta Hill. The tale behind this idol is that Lord Ganesha is well known for his voracious appetite. One day, he ate so much food that his stomach was about to burst. So in desperation, Ganesha caught a snake and tied it around its waist.
Hemakutta Hill
After seeing the Ganesha, we climbed the Hemakutta Hill. It was close to sunset, and this is the place to be in the evenings. From the hill top, we could see the Virupaksha Temple complex and the Hampi main tower located at the entrance. After descending the Hemakuta Hill, we proceeded to the Virupaksha Temple. Pavilions lined both sides of the street, called Hampi Bazar, leading to Virupaksha temple. In past centuries all the trade and commerce happened here. It is the oldest temple and is still active. Thronged by worshippers as Puja happens even today. We were lucky to see the temple elephant Laxmi in its premises.
The sun had set, and we had managed to see some exceptional architecture in a matter of 8-9 hours! It was as if we had taken a journey back in time and witnessed a lost civilisation of royalty, power and a thriving culture. Tired we retired to our rooms. The following day, we checked out and proceeded to Badami. After staying overnight in Badami and exploring Pattadakal, Aihole and Badami we returned to Hampi and drove straight to Sloth Bear Sanctuary followed by the Tungabhadra Dam.
Sloth Bear Sanctuary
This Sanctuary is open between 2-6 pm. It was 5:30 in the evening, and with great persuasion, we managed to get entry. We drove down into the Sanctuary along mud tracks. We climbed up to the watchtower from where we could see the slot bears. They were licking honey spread on the boulders by the authorities to attract them.
Tungabharda Dam
The Tungabhadra Dam is very massive, and its complex has a deer park, gardens, boating facilities, etc. We knew that a musical light and sound show was the highlight of this place and it was best to visit in the evenings. Honestly, the show was below average with repetitive and predictable movements of the fountains as Bollywood, and Kannada songs played. If you have seen the laser shows abroad, this one will not live up to your expectations.
Archaelogical Museum
We stayed overnight in Kamplapur and next morning on the way to Bengaluru decided to see the museum and two temples. The Archaeological Museum’s highlight is a miniature model of Hampi with all its monuments. So, it’s best to start or end your tour from here as it will give you a fair idea of what you will be seeing or have seen.
We left Hampi overjoyed with all that we had managed to see. Yet with hope to return someday to see all that we had missed out. After this trip, we now know why travellers, including us, can’t get enough of Hampi and want to visit it several times. Wanderlust had smitten us!
| GETTING THERE: Nearest Airports: Bellary and Belgaum are closest but have limited flights. Bengaluru and Goa are better in terms of connectivity. Distances: Bengaluru Hampi: 350 km (6-7 hours by road) Hospet Hampi: 13 km (25-30 minutes by road) Kamlapur Hampi: 5km (10-15 minutes by road) Where to stay: KSTDC hotel is located in Kamplapur, which is closer to the monuments. Hospet has better accommodation options. |
This travelogue was first published in Corporate Tycoons magazine, March 2017.