Hampi Travel Guide
¤ The Glorious Temple Site
Virupaksha Temple
Located amidst famous Hampi Bazaar, the Virupaksha Temple houses a 120
feet elevated minaret at the gateway. Dating back to the 11th or 12th
century the temple contains the shrines of Shiva, Pampa and
Bhuvaneswari.
Ugra Narasimha is another travel attraction nearby. It is the 6.7m
high obelisk chiseled out of a single stone in 1528 at the time of
Krishnadeva Raya reign.
Vithala Temple
Travel to the most splendid monument of Hampi, it is undoubtedly the
Vithala Temple Complex with its 56 musical pillars. The entire temple
is in chariot form with stone wheels that actually revolve. Colossal
pillars about 15 feet in height, carved out of granite rock uphold the
ceiling of the temple. Nearby is the 'Purandra Dasara Mantapa', which
has, been also declared a protected monument.
House of Victory
House of Victory was the seat of Vijayanagar ruler. It was
constructed in honor of Krishnadeva Raya who conquer the King of
Orissa in a battle. He use to sit on a grand throne in the House of
Victory and witness the nine-day Dasara festival.
Hazara Ramaswami Temple
Near the House of Victory, two ancient gateways lead to the Hazara
Ramaswami temple. The legacy of the royal family, the temple
sculptures showcases the scenes from the epic Ramayana, chiseled on
the inner temple walls.
¤ Other Attractions of the Town
Hampi is a land of that generates awe in its visitors. Another travel
attraction of King's Balance- an amazing instrument where kings were
weighed against gold, money or grain and then, that amount was
distributed among the poors, is just mesmerizing. There is a
magnificent Queen's Bath- a grand swimming pool about 50ft.in length
and 6ft in depth. Amidst the pool there is exquisite lotus shaped
fountain that use to splash out scented water.
Daroji Bear Sanctuary
The geographical location of Hampi as well as the weather conditions
of the city are just suitable for wild life. The sanctuary was
constructed in 1994 in the eastern plains of Karnataka that has proved
to be an ideal habitat for the Indian Sloth Bears.
Lotus Mahal
 The
two-storied palace shaped like a lotus flower at its parapet is an
amazing site. It was also a summer palace of the erstwhile rulers.
Elephant Stables
It is a vast complex and ideal specimen of Hindu-Muslim style of
architecture. The stable had the capacity to hold 11 elephants at a
time in their respective chambers.
Mustard Ganesh
It is a massive structure of Lord Ganesh also known as Sasivikalu
Ganesha. It is a 9 feet tall statue carved out a single stone, a
masterpiece in itself.
Noblemen's Palace
The palace was considered as a dwelling place for nobles and
aristocrats. It has been a recent discovery.
Museum
There is an Archaeological Survey of India Museum in Kamalapur that
house the sculptures and other artifacts discovered in the region.
Timings: 1030-1800 hrs. Closes on Friday. |
