ಹಂಪೆ hampe

ಹಂಪೆ (Hampi ) - If dreams were made out of stone.

Hampi is an ancient site that once used to be the royal capital of the Vijayanagar Empire. Known as the 'city of ruins', Hampi is a small village in the northern part of Karnataka (From Bangalore it is only 348.9km). Hampi is regarded as one of the most beautiful towns in Karnataka. Located near Hospet, Hampi is easily accessible by regular tourist buses from the major cities and towns of Karnataka. Hampi, the village is upkeeping the religious roots that were sown by the Vijayanagar rulers in the form of its temples.

In the 14th century, Hampi used to make the royal capital and major religious center of the Vijayanagar Empire, one of the greatest empires of the world. Being the carrier of exceptional architectural ruins, Hampi has been listed as the World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Hampi allures myriad number of tourists, owing to its temples, monolithic sculptures and remarkable monuments. The excellent structure of the temples reflects the tint of Hindu style of architecture. Sprawled in the area of about 26 kms, Hampi is akin to an open-air museum of temples. The hoary ambience of this site gets enhanced with its rugged setting. Hampi is also an important pilgrimage center for both the Hindus and the Jains. It is believed that it was the place known as 'Kishkindha' (stated in Ramayana), where Lord Hanuman was born. Situated on the banks of Tungabhadra River, Hampi houses the renowned Virupaksha and Vitthala Temples of India.

Virupaksha TempleVirupaksha Temple is the most famous shrine at Hampi. Also known as Pampapathi Temple, the shrine is completely untouched by the destruction that was seen by many monuments in the 16th century.

Virupaksha Temple has three towers, where the eastern tower rises to 160 feet with nine tiers. The temple traces its origin in the first half of the fifteenth century; however it was refurbished by Krishnadevaraya in the 16th century. The temple is dedicated to Virupaksheshwara (Pampapathi - a form of Lord Shiva). Pampa, who is believed to be the daughter of Brahma, is the divine consort of Virupaksha. There is an ornamented shrine that is dedicated to Bhuvaneswari. There is also a shrine presiding Vidyaranya, the spiritual founder of Vijayanagar. In the inner prakaram, there are shrines and pillars that date back to the 12th century. The temple walls are adorned with manifested images of Shiva and Vishnu.