Imagine being a citizen of the capital city of a geographically vast kingdom which constitutes most of the Southern Indian peninsula and stretches itself further north to central India.Abundance is commonplace.The streets are streaming with merchants, both local and foreign, gaily exhibiting their wares to a wealthy clientele.The places of worship are as ornate as human hands can conjure up and so are the palaces and the other meticulously designed royal establishments.
The valor of the king’s army has been able to thwart numerous incursions by hostile northern vassals and the boundaries stand firm.Wide eyed explorers from distant corners of the world roam around taking in the sights in a state of absolute amazement and awe, well aware of the fact that nowhere else have they witnessed such riches, vibrancy and organization in their travails.That is exactly how Hampi, the capital of the erstwhile medieval Indian Vijayanagara empire was, at the acme of its existence.
Present day Hampi or Hampe’ is a small town in Karnataka, around 350 kms from Bangalore and 12 kms from the nearest railhead, Hospet.Scattered over an area of around 10 square miles, lie the numerous spectacular relics of a glorious bygone era.Declared as a world heritage site by UNESCO, it provides the visitors an experience which combines history, religion, architectural splendor and untouched natural surroundings.Easily accessible by rail and road, Hampi is frequented by hundreds and thousands of visitors from all around the world.The best time to visit obviously is the relatively pleasant winter months of December to February, yet if one is willing to put up with the elements, the summertime provides an excellent opportunity of experiencing Hampi in relative calm.
The first thing that struck me in Hampi as an enduring aspect is the amazing architectural intricacies of its temples.The Virupaksha Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, where regular Puja is offered to the deity even today, is a grand monument, testament to the skills and vision of its sculptors.Starting with a towering entrance, 9 storied tall, overlooking the fabled Hampi Bazar, it comprises scenes from the Ramayana, carved with immaculate detail.The interiors of the temple house several hallways with painted ceilings depicting Hindu mythology and the towers and walls carved from stone to depict not only mythological but also the contemporary life comprising of soldiers on prancing horses, merchants selling their wares and the royal ceremonies.The nearby Hemakunta temples sitting atop a small stony hill are a cluster of Shaiva religious prayer places.The highlight being, a monolithic Ganesh statue, uniquely depicted as sitting in the lap of his mother Sati.The Laxmi Narasimha statue is another giant awe inspiring sculpture which is a sight to behold.The Vittala temple, dedicated to Lord Vishnu is a masterpiece.Starting from the now ruined brick entrance tower to the famous stone chariot and the dance halls with musical towers, it is possible to lose the sense of time amidst this explosion of captivating artistry.It seems as if every square inch of this structure is bursting with timeless works of skillfully carved stone art.The Lotus Mahal, reserved for the queen is another breathtaking sight with its watchtowers built in disparate fashions.The elephant stables, which used to house the elephants, exclusively trained for religious purposes is an ode to the fusion of Dravidian and Islamic styles.The luxurious swimming pools and king’s quarters provide a glimpse of the aristocracy of the then royals.
But that’s not all.If one fancies a trek then the Matunga hill is the place to be.A short and steep trek in the company of the gushing streams of the nearby Tungabhadra river unveils an unparalleled view of giant stone boulders sitting atop one another interspersed with green vegetation and agricultural cultivations.A coracle ride in the placid waters of Tungabhadra will take you to the foot of the Anjaneya hill, on top which lies a Hanuman temple, believed by many to be the birthplace of the God himself.The nearby town of Kamalapura houses a museum which is a treasure trove of Hampi’s historic heritage and also a must visit place.
Invaded and mercilessly desiccated innumerable times by the northern marauders, Hampi of today is only a partial glimpse of its original splendid self.Hence the term ruins.But taking in the sights, one wonders, had it been left untouched by history, how spectacular, it would have been.