UNESCO World Heritage Sites, India

[minisoji]

Group of Monuments at Hampi


The Vijaynagar city ruins near the village of Hampi, 353 km from Bangalore, are one of the most fascinating historical sites in South India. Hampi holds many a delightful surprises. The most famous is the King’s Balance where kings were weighed against gold or money which was then distributed to the poor.


Vitthala Temple

Also worth a visit are the Queen’s bath with its arched corridors, projecting balconies and lotus shaped fountains, the two storeyed Lotus stables, the splendid Vitthala Temple with its musical pillars and the Stone chariot, the Virupaksha Temple, Ugra Narasimha, the 6.7 meter tall monolith, the Pushkarini Tank, the Mahanavami Dibba, etc.

Temples of this city are notes for their large dimensions, florid ornamentation, bold and delicate carvings, stately pillars, magnificent pavilions and great wealth of iconographic which include subjects from the Ramayana and the Mahabharata.

The Pampapati temple is one of the largest temples at Hampi. The Vitthala temple is an excellent example of Vijayanagara style.

Also present are some monolithic statues of Lakshmi, Narasimha and Ganesa which are noted for their massiveness and grace. Other temples in the surroundings are the Krishna temple, Pattabhirama temple, Hazara Ramachandra, Chandrasekhara temple and the Jain Temple.

Tourist Information

Timings : Open on all weekdays from sunrise of sunset. Entry fee for those above 12 years. Rs 5 for Royal enclosure and Vitthala temple. Free entry on Fridays

Access : The nearest rail point is Hospet (or Guntakkal junction) from where one travels another 12 km by road to reach Hampi. Regular bus services from Bangalore to Hospet. The nearest Airport is Bellary (97 km). Other convenient airports are Belgaum (190 km) and Bangalore (353 km).

Best time to visit : September to February

Where to stay : Hampi power house, Tungabhadra dam – Vaikuntha guest house, inspection bungalow at Hospet-hotel Mayura Vijayanagar (KSTDC), Kamalapura –PWD inspection bungalow.