Hampi – The Capital of Vijayanagara Empire

Hampi, the capital city of Vijayanagara Empire, was founded by two brothers Harihara and Bukkaraya (more popularly known as Hakka and Bukka), under the guidance of their Guru Saint Vidyaranya. It was not just the largest Hindu empire of its time but was also one of the largest trading centres of the world. The markets in Hampi were always crowded with merchants from all over the world to barter their goods in exchange of spices and cotton, grown abundantly in the area.

The existence of Hampi pre-dates the establishment of the Vijayanagara Empire itself but it gained prominence only after Vijayanagara Empire came into existence. The Empire established in the year 1336 flourished and Hampi had a population of over half a million. The city was important not just for the traders but also for devotees and poets. There were temples built in hundreds, which stand as evidence to the religious and cultural inclination of Hampi. Public ceremonies and festivals were celebrated in their true meaning. It was a seat for power, knowledge and bhakti. Names like Saint Vyasaraya, Shri Purandhara Dasa and Tenali Rama can be linked with Hampi. Kishkindha near Hampi is also believed to be the place where Lord Rama met Hanumantha and killed Vali in exchange for help from Sugreeva to find Sita.

 As the saying goes, everything that goes up must come down. It was true in case of Hampi also. After seeing its golden reign during King Krishna Deva Raya (AD 1509 – 1529), Hampi fell down to the attacks of the five Sultans of Deccan – Bidar, Bijapur, Golconda, Ahmednagar and Berar in the year1565. The city was looted for a period of 6 months. The temples were destroyed, and the markets were plundered. The golden empire had come to an end.

UNESCO World Heritage Committee declared Group Monuments of Hampi a World Heritage Site in the year 1986. Today, Hampi is a tourist attraction in the southern state of Karnataka. Situated in central Karnataka, Hampi was included as Top #2 destination in the list of New York Times for the year 2020.

Hampi by Road

There are very few direct buses to Hampi. However, it is easy to get buses from Hospet to Hampi as the frequency is good. Hospet is only about 12km from Hampi and has good connectivity from many places all over Karnataka. The National Highways NH50 and NH67 intersect at Hospet and provide good connectivity from Bengaluru, Goa and other major cities of South India. With the increase in tourist interest, there are several overnight buses that ply directly from Goa to Hampi.

Trains to Hampi

Hospet is the nearest railway station again with overnight trains from Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Goa including several day-time trains from different parts of India. These would be either the passenger or express trains.

Special mention should be made of The Golden Chariot – a special train operated by collaboration between Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation and the Indian Railways. The train gets its name from the Stone Chariot situated in the Vitthala Temple complex at Hampi. For those who are familiar with, it is on the lines of “Palace on Wheels”.

Flights to Hampi

The nearby private Jindal Vijayanagar Airport (Airport Code: VDY) airport is an option with flight from Bangalore and Hyderabad once a day. However, the best option would be to fly either to Goa (Airport Code: GOI), Bengaluru (Airport Code: BLR) or Hyderabad (Airport Code: HYD) that have national and international connectivity.

Hampi Local Transportation

Mass public transportation to roam around the ruins of Hampi is absent except for the tours organized by Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation and some private tour operators. However, there are plenty of options for individual travellers and small groups. Autorickshaws and taxies are available at a reasonable price. Since the metered taxi concept is missing, it is strongly advised to negotiate a rate and agree on a price before boarding the vehicle. For more adventurous ones, bicycles, motorbikes and scooters are available on rent for a day basis. Please check driving license requirements, especially for foreign tourists before renting one.

There are over 500 different small & large tourist attractions in Hampi. These are categorized broadly as Temples, Royal Monuments, Museums, Sunrise/Sunset points, Zoos and other Tourist Attractions.

The most notable temples are: Virupaksha Temple, Vitthala Temple, Balakrishna Temple, Achyuta Raya Temple, Hazara Rama Temple, Malyavantha Raghunatha Temple, Pattabhirama Temple, Kodanda Rama Temple, Yantroddharaka Anjaneya Temple, Anjanadri Hill & Temple (Birthplace of Hanuman), Badavi Linga, Ugra Narasimha Temple, Sasivekalu Ganesha, Kadalekalu Ganesha, Underground Virupaksha Temple, Uddana Veerabhadra Temple and many more.

The most notable Royal Monuments are: Lotus Mahal, Mahanavami Dibba, Elephant Stables, Queen’s Bath, Water Ducts, Octagonal Bath, The Mint, Nobleman’s Quarters, Stepped Tank, Bhima’s Gateway and many more.

Other Tourist Attractions include: Atal Bihari Vajpayee Zoo, Kamalapura Museum, Tungabhadra Dam & Musical Fountains, Daroji Bear Sanctuary, Hills with views – Malyavantha Hill, Anjanadri Hill, Hemakuta Hill, Matanga Hill, Rishimukha Hill and many more.