Hampi, the city of ruins, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Situated in the shadowed depth of hills and valleys in the state of Karnataka, this place is a historical delight for travellers. Surrounded by 500 ancient monuments, beautiful temples, bustling street markets, bastions, treasury building and captivating remains of Vijayanagar Empire, Hampi is a backpacker’s delight. Hampi is an open museum with 100+ locations to explore and a favourite way to see the city from the perspective of its history.

Hampi was the capital of the Vijayanagar empire around 1500 AD, and by some accounts, the second largest city in the world at that time. Over the next centuries it fell out of importance, and now you can explore the ruins of a lot of temples and other structures spread out over a vast area. The terrain around Hampi is as mysterious as the ruins itself – the city is surrounded by boulders of different sizes, and you can climb to the top of them with a little effort to get a stunning view of the entire city and the geography. It is located on the banks of the Tungabhadra River. Famous for its massive, beautifully carved temples, especially the Virupaksha Temple, dedicated to the patron deity of the empire. You can also find remains of the old aqueducts, canals and military barracks and stables here. Hampi was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1986 and many efforts have been taken to restore the lost glory of the place – very limited (if any) modern establishments are allowed in the main area, which gives an authentic feel to the ruins.

Virupaksha Temple

The Virupaksha temple (or Prasanna Virupaksha temple) is located on the banks of the Tungabhadra river at Hampi. Built during the 7th century, the beautiful architecture and history of the temple have made it a UNESCO World Heritage site. The temple is abode to one of the forms of Lord Shiva called Lord Virupaksha. While it is located at present-day Hampi, it was once a smaller shrine in the middle of the ancient and majestic Vijayanagara empire. You will find beautiful stone inscriptions dating back to the 7th century on the walls of the temple as proof of its rich heritage. Architecture-lovers and history-buffs, do visit the temple when you are in Hampi!

The temple has tall towers or gopurams acting as gateways to the inner sanctums, as is usually seen in temples of south Indian style architecture. The gopurams lead to many inner corridors and halls, all decorated with ornate stone-work. The sculptures depict mythological stories of numerous Gods and Goddesses. The main deity of the temple is Lord Virupaksha, but it is also abode to few other Hindu deities too. While many devotees visit the temple during festival seasons like the Car Festival, it is otherwise less crowded.

Vithala Temple

The most impressive structure in Hampi, the Vithala Temple dates back to the 16th century and is a truly splendid example of rich architecture. The famous stone chariot, which has become an iconic symbol of the architecture of Hampi, is located inside the premises of this temple.

The temple complex is spread over a huge area. The main gate has an impressive arch with carvings, and opens in a large courtyard which has the famous stone chariot in the center. The main temple is located just behind the chariot and has beautiful carvings. There are also several other smaller temples inside the courtyard, all of which are definitely worth a visit. The carvings on the walls/pillars of these structures depict various gods in different forms.

Lotus Palace

The Lotus Palace in Hampi is one of the most iconic landmarks in the town. Named so for the way the structure looks like a lotus in bloom, this palace was the designated area for the royal women of the Vijayanagara Empire and is found within the Zenana Enclosure. Known widely as one of the few edifices in Hampi that was not lost either to the Mughal raids of the town or to the ravages of time, the Lotus Mahal stands tall in its courtyard.

Yantrodharaka Hanuman Temple

On top of the Anjaneya Hill, at a distance of 2 kilometres from the Virupaksha Temple, the beautiful Yantradharaka Hanuman Temple also known as the Monkey Temple is present inside a cave. The temple being 500 years old is dedicated to Lord Hanuman. Sri Vyasaraja, who was the Rajaguru of the Vijayanagara Kingdom and a Dwaita philosopher, was the one to install the idol of Lord Hanuman in the temple. Being one of the most famous attractions of the Anjeyanadri Hill, the Monkey Temple is considered as a sacred spot for Hindus.

One has to climb 570 steps to reach the temple since it is located on top of the hill. Though the climb is steep, the beautiful views and the pleasant air make up for the climbing. One is also likely to come across aged people climbing up with energy and devotion. There is a small temple just 5 minutes away from the Yantrodharaka Temple which is dedicated to an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, i.e. Lord Srinivasa. His idol has been carved out by Sri Vyasaraja. Below a fig tree in front of the Hanuman Temple lie some snakestones, and they are worshipped as well. It is one of the must-visit spots for all the nature as well as religious lovers.

Hampi Bazaar

Also known as the Virupaksha Bazaar, the Hampi Bazaar is the place to go to pick up knick-knacks, souvenirs, cheap clothes and trinkets to remember your trip to Hampi by. Situated right in front of Virupaksha temple, hence its alternate name, this bazaar which stretches for over a kilometre long is one of the main landmarks of Hampi. From embroidered shawls, fibre handicrafts, to stone carvings, this is the place to pick up anything Hampi-related. The Hampi Utsav which happens every November is also a big tourist draw and should be noted.

Hippie Island

While most tourists stay to the south of Tungabhadra where most of the ruins are located, some prefer the north banks which have a vibrant hippie culture. Virapapur Gadde or Hippie Island is a small island situated across the Tungabhadra river. It takes 5 minutes to travel to the island via coracle or boat. The last boat for the island leaves at 5.30 pm. The backpacker’s delight, Hippie Island (Virupapur Gadde) is an epitome of scenic beauty and is known for laidback ambient and lodges.

It has shacks and cafes which operate from October end to mid-March. They serve awesome food along with chilled beer, and most of these have a great view of either the river or the beautiful rice fields. A lot of these cafes also serve as guest houses and you can get simple rooms here at cheap rates. Away from the luxurious life, living in small huts, savouring the taste both Indian and Western cuisine and lying on the banks of the river you will definitely develop affection for the place. The shacks and cafes are a joint venture by Indians and Foreigners. Virupapur Gadde is full of backpackers who are on their way of exploring the remains of ancient times in the modern age. Therefore, you would find many for your company.

During the peak, season backpackers storm this area. It has small tourist huts which are offered at quite reasonable prices. The island has small cafes which are a joint venture of Indians and foreigners who stayed back to the place after it mesmerized them. A coracle ferry is needed to reach this side of the river. During the monsoon season, it is advisable to take a taxi to another end which is 40 km away.

Source: Holidify