HampiHampi, the historic capital of theVijayanagar empire in the 14thcentury, is now a city of ruins and avery important historic place inSouthern India. Here you can havea glimpse of the majestic era, whenthe emperors were in power. Thecity was established by Hariharaand Ukka in the year 1336 AD andis a UNESCO world heritage sitenow.

This Pdf and its contents are copyright ©2013,ixigo.com, all rights reserved. ixigo logo, thecharacter and all other marks displayed herein areregistered and/or common law trademarks ofixigo.com and/or third parties.

Famous For : City

The ruins of the ancient city ofHampi are strikingly, unexpectedly, eveneerily beautiful. This 16th century capital ofthe Vijayanagara Kingdom lies on the banksof the Tungabhadra River, surrounded bystark rocky ridges and mammoth bouldersseemingly precariously balanced on eachother. The vast spaces are silent, but theruins are eloquent.

Hampi is a popular tourist destination that isthe home to around 500 marvelous historicmonuments. Imperial palaces, temples andforts can be seen standing in pride holdingtales of the past in every brick. It is said thatduring the rule of the Vijayanagar empire,diamonds were sold on the streets, morespecifically in a street named Pan SupaariStreet. The street is now marked by theArchaeological Survey of India  fortourists to see. The 'Hampi Utsav' that takesplace in the first week of November is wortha visit. It is a cultural extravaganza of musicand dance and to increase visual delight,when the monuments and the ruins are lit

Hampi Travel Guide - http://www.ixigo.com/travel-guide/hampi page 1

up.

When To

VISIThttp://www.ixigo.com/weather-in-hampi-lp-1138174

JanPleasant weather. Carry Light woollen.Max:30.299999237060547°C

Min:21.299999237060547°C

Rain: 0.0mm

FebPleasant weather. Carry Light woollen.Max: 31.0°C Min: 15.0°C Rain: 6.0mm

MarPleasant weather. Carry Light woollen.Max:26.200000762939453°C

Min:16.700000762939453°C

Rain: 0.0mm

AprPleasant weather. Carry Light woollen.Max:26.200000762939453°C

Min:17.299999237060547°C

Rain: 3.0mm

MayPleasant weather. Carry Light woollen.Max:25.399999618530273°C

Min:19.100000381469727°C

Rain: 30.0mm

JunCold weather. Carry Heavy woollen.Max:20.799999237060547°C

Min:19.700000762939453°C

Rain: 39.0mm

Jul

Cold weather. Carry Heavy woollen.Max: 20.0°C Min: 20.5°C Rain: 30.0mm

AugPleasant weather. Carry Light woollen.Max:25.700000762939453°C

Min: 20.5°C Rain: 27.0mm

SepCold weather. Carry Heavy woollen,umbrella.Max:22.299999237060547°C

Min:16.200000762939453°C

Rain: 111.0mm

OctPleasant weather. Carry Light woollen.Max:28.200000762939453°C

Min:22.299999237060547°C

Rain: 3.0mm

NovPleasant weather. Carry Light woollen,umbrella.Max: 25.0°C Min: 19.5°C Rain: 57.0mm

DecCold weather. Carry Heavy woollen.Max:24.700000762939453°C

Min:16.299999237060547°C

Rain: 0.0mm

What To

SEE5 Sights

http://www.ixigo.com/places-to-visit-see-in-hampi-lp-1138174

1 Vijaya Vittala Temple

Hampi Travel Guide - http://www.ixigo.com/travel-guide/hampi page 2

Near Kalyan Mantapa, Hampi,Bellary, Karnataka 583239, India

Archaeologists, historians, curators andexplorers scramble to describe thesplendour, grandeur and elegance ofVijaya Vittala Temple. A sprawling spectaclewith pillared pavilions within pillaredpavilions and shrines within temples, thetemple appears more like a town. Back inthe 15th and 16th century, before Hampiwas invaded, a small township was settledaround its complex, remains of which canstill be seen.

Inside the temple complex, is the famousstone chariot which is Hampi's most iconicstructure. It was actually a shrine housingGaruda, the Eagle God, and a vehicle of LordVishnu. The entire body is carved with battlescenes. Given the temple is dedicated toLord Vishnu and the stone chariot faces theinner sanctum where Lord Vishnu's idol washoused, its presence and placement issymbolic.

The main hall has a series of balustradescarved with elephants andyalis, opening out to themaha mandapam where one of Vijay VittalaTemple's most popular and fascinatingaspect is present--the musical pillars. Eachmassive pillar has been carved out of asingle rock and the outermost pillars emitdifferent musical tones. Unfortunately, dueto unmindful tapping of the pillars over theyears, they have sustained considerable

damage and today tapping on them isprohibited. The entire complex is repletewith fascinating and mesmerizingsculptures, carvings and stuccoornamentation.

2 King's Balance

Near Vittala Temple, Nimbapura,Hampi, Karnataka, 583239, India

Remember all those fanciful tales of Kingsweighing themselves with gems, rubies andgold? Well, it's at Hampi where they seem totake on life with King's Balance being onesuch pleasant affirmation.

5 meters tall and carved out of stone, King'sBalance appears like a lonesome archwayleft standing, but peer closely and you canspot the three loops on the beam where thebalance must have hung. Legends have itthat the Kings would weigh themselves withgold, precious stones and jewellery anddistribute it to the temple priests on thespecial occasions of Dusshera, solar and

lunar eclipses.

However, the balance was also used for thepurpose of weighing grains and pulses.While images of pillars themselves arecarved on the columns of the structure, peerclosely towards the square stone platformof one of the pillars and you can spot theimage of the king with his two queenschiseled into the stone."

3 Virupaksha Temple

Hampi, Bellary, Karnataka 583239,India

While the medieval metropolis of Hampi ispractically synonymous with the formidableand one of India's most illustrious empires,Vijayanagara, its crowning glory, theVirupaksha Temple, actually pre-dates thesettlement of Vijayanagara and was possiblybuilt between 9th-10th century. One of themost widely revered temples of southernIndia, Virupaksha Temple is dedicated toLord Virupaksha, an avatar of Lord Shivaand the patron deity of Vijayanagra empire,and Goddess Pampa, Goddess of River

Tungabhadra from whom Hampi gets itsname.

Originally a small, humble shrine it wasexpanded to its present magnificenceduring the reign of the Vijayanagra kings,though additions to its complex andstructure were also made by the Chalukyanand Hoysala eras.

In 1565, when Hampi fell to the hands of thefive Deccan sultans there was rampantdestruction and much of the temple'sexquisite carvings, decorations andsculptures were destroyed. While Hampinever gained its glory and grandeur,Virupaksha Temple continued to be asignificant site of sacred sanctuary andpilgrimage. In early 19th century much of itsmissing chunks were replaced with artwork,ceiling paintings and other additionsincluding the gopurams' towers.

Tower of the main entrance don't justseem to be reaching up to the heavensabove, they are sky-high, measuring 50meters in height. The temple's complex isreplete with small shrines, gateways,courtyards, three ante chambers, pillaredpavilion, etc. Its central chamber was builtunder the patronage of KingKrishnadevaraya and is perhaps thetemple's most ornate structure. At variedpoints in the temple's complex you will find

Hampi Travel Guide - http://www.ixigo.com/travel-guide/hampi page 3

inscriptions dating to its origins, 9th-10thcentury, as well as its glorious years, the14th century.

A fascinating aspect of the temple is theinverted pinhole image of its tower cast onone of its inner walls. Don't forget to get theblessings of Lakshmi, the resident templeelephant, on your visit to the VirupakshaTemple. On most days, the temple is hometo hundreds of chattering monkeys.However, in December and February, whenthe temple festivals are celebrated, it comesalive with a different kind of chatter andresounds with festivities.

4 Achyutaraya Temple

Sacred Centre foot of Matanga Hill,Hampi, Bellary, Karnataka 583239,India

Nestled between Gandhamadana and

Matanga Hills is one of the last gloriouscreations of Vijayanagara dynasty rightbefore its fateful fall, the Achutya Rayastemple. Established in 1534 AD by AchyutaDeva Raya, theAchyutaraya Temple was originally namedTiruvengalanatha but gradually came to becalled after the king.

Dedicated to Lord Venkateshwara, thetemple is laid out in the classic Vijayanagaraarchitectural style. There are two concentricrectangular walls within which the mainshrine is situated. While much of the templeand its surrounding structures are in ruins ithas still managed to withstand much of theravages of time, colonisation and weather,and even today its grandiosity andmagnificence is undeniable. The temple'spillars, walls, towers are replete with finecarved ornamentation. Entering through itstwo stately, though ruined, towers you willfind yourself entering the portal to the lostland of Vijayanagara empire. The inner smallshrine once housed the idol of Garuda,mythical bird.

Guarding the inner sanctum are two clubholding gigantic guard deities. Though nowdark and filled with bats, the inner sanctumonce housed the idol of the temple'spresiding deity. The temple's complex opensout to a wide street called the Courtesan'sstreet. The entire temple is a magnificentnarrative on the myths, legends andfolklores that are still an integral part of the

region's socio-cultural fabric.

5 Royal Enclosure

Hampi, Bellary, Karnataka, 583239,India

The actual residing site of the Vijayanagaraempire, Royal Enclosure, though acrumbling ruin now, whisks you away to thetime when Vijayanagara empire was at itszenith, its reign spreading from IndianOcean to the Arabian Sea. Within its nowfragmented stone walls you will find manyof Hampi's most fascinating relics.

As you walk in you can spot theMahanavami Dibba towering over theother structures, and don't besurprised if it invokes images of KingKrishnadevaraya surrounded by hisentourage and queens, enjoying royalprocessions and festivals. Then there is theQueen's bath, a gorgeous bathing complex.Next up is the Stepped tank, calledPushkarini, a beautiful, geometrically carved

water tank usually flooded with water fromriver Tungabhadra via an aqueduct.

Royal Enclosure's crowning glory, LotusMahal, is yet another magnificent structurebuilt in a surreal blend of Indo-Islamicarchitectural pattern. A few hundred feetaway is the Hazara Rama temple, its wallsnarrating the epic saga of Ramayana.Underground Shiva temple and the ElephantStables are the two other splendorouscreations within the Royal Enclosure.

Where To

Eat5 Places

http://www.ixigo.com/foods-in-of-hampi-lp-1138174

1 Mango Tree Restaurant

Hampi Travel Guide - http://www.ixigo.com/travel-guide/hampi page 4

Near Temple, Janata Plot, Hampi,Karnataka 583239, India

+91-94487-65213

When it comes to dining out in the ancient,surreal capital of the once mightyVijayanagra empire you will not be too faroff the mark if it invokes images of sittingunderneath an ancient tree on the banks ofriver Tungabhadra indulging in deliciouslocal dishes, just as once the natives musthave. Mango Tree Restaurant brings youclose to Hampi's sublimity, with its rusticand earthy set up and then sets you afloat inthe undeniable romanticism of Hampi.

Past a dense banana plantation, right intothe backyard of Krishna's family home is astately mango tree where the restaurant isset. With seating on terraced concrete levelswhere straw mats and wooden tables arelaid out, you will have an incredible view ofthe landscape stretching in front of youreyes. River Tungabhadra will stream right byyou in its soothing cadence and birds fill theair with their fluttering and twitters. AtMango Tree, while their special Thali andMango curry is a must try, do indulge in thedelicious coconut lassi and tangy samosa.

2 Golden Paradise

Hampi Bazaar, Bellary, Hampi,Karnataka 583239, India

As you walk into the new age vibe radiatingfrom Golden Paradise restaurant, you willfeel that you have entered a different erareplete with metaphysical hangings andtrance music. One of the best places in townfor a sampling of Indian and Italian, GoldenParadise is located in the middle of HampiBazaar on the banks of Tungabhadra river,directly across Mango Tree restaurant onthe opposite banks.

From steaming porridge and pancakes forbreakfast to spinach curries, pasta, sizzlerswith milky tea and frothy coffee for lunchand dinner, you have a range of deliciousculinary options at Golden Paradiserestaurant. A must try at Golden Paradiseare the wood-fired pizzas. Incrediblelocation, attentive staff and delicious food-what more could you ask? Do remember tofeed the restaurant's regular customer, thelocal market cow who comes callingeveryday at closing time. 

Returning visitors to Hampi searching forNew Shanthi restaurant need to headstraight to Golden Paradise- that's what therestaurant has renamed itself as.

3 Shesh Besh Restaurant

Virupapur Gadde, Sanapur Post,Hampi, Karnataka 5833234, India

+91-94805-03602|+91-94495-61814

The in-house restaurant of Sunny GuestHouse, Shesh Besh, is an excellent dining option inHampi that is sure to having you comingback for seconds. Set amidst the colourfulsplash of cottages and trees, Shesh Beshhas a smattering of dishes from Italian,Israeli and South Indian cuisines.

Pizzas with different crusts and toppings,

creamy pasta, falafel, schnitzel, shwarma tospicy dosas with tangy chutneys on the side,at Shesh Besh you can indulge in the cuisineyou are in mood for or go a little nutty andmix and match.

4 Geetha River ViewRestaurant

Near Monolith Bull, Hampi, Bellary,Karnataka 583234, India

Walking from Hampi Bazaar to Vitthalatemple along the King's Balance path or as itis called the Kama Bhuppa's path, there isyet another charming eating joint, GeetaRiver View Restaurant, that lures you with itsbeautiful surroundings and opportunity todine amidst Hampi's natural splendour.Ideal for breakfasts and brunches, GeetaRiver View Restaurant is set by the banks ofTungabhadra river with the seating in aopen courtyard.

Hampi Travel Guide - http://www.ixigo.com/travel-guide/hampi page 5

Serving a range of dishes from Indiancuisine, both South and North Indian, therestaurant's spellbinding location is realdraw. While the traditional perennialfavourites, idlis, dosas and thalis aredeliciously filling, their cashew nut curry is amust try.

5 All Tribes Cafe

East Side Road, Hampi, Karnataka583234, India

+91-94837-97775

A testament to Hampi's ever wideningpopularity in the tourist circuit, All TribesCafe is a cosmopolitan eating joint, bringingtogether people from across the world ontheir sojourn to the glorious adventure thatHampi is. A quaint and cosy one structureaffair, All Tribes Cafe is set up in a bamboohut with mattresses for seating and low risetables for laying out the simple, deliciousfare served out here.

While a smattering of Indian, European,Israeli and Continental dishes are available,its the french press coffee out here that isthe real lure. The cafe's owners are engagedin a number of community developmentprograms and the coffee beans sold outhere and prepared into hot, frothy drinksare fair trade marked, sourcedfrom local plantations. 

They also provide facilities for volunteeringin their community development programs.At 11 AM daily meditation classes are heldhere and frequently, from 2 to 4 PM, dreaminterpretation sessions.

Hampi Travel Guide - http://www.ixigo.com/travel-guide/hampi page 6

Quick

LOCATEhttp://www.ixigo.com/hotels-in-hampi-lp-1138174

SeeA: Vijaya Vittala TempleB: King's BalanceC: Virupaksha TempleD: Achyutaraya TempleE: Royal Enclosure

AccommodationF: Gowri Cottage StayG: Hotel Krishna PalaceH: Uma ShankarI: Gowri Cottage StayJ: Hotel Krishna PalaceK: Uma ShankarL: Gowri Cottage StayM: Hotel Krishna PalaceN: Uma Shankar

FoodO: Mango Tree RestaurantP: Golden ParadiseQ: Shesh Besh RestaurantR: Geetha River View RestaurantS: All Tribes Cafe