| Hampi Archaeological Area 24 to 30 January 2008 |
The Hampi archaeological area contains the ruins of the ancient city of Vijayanagar which
around 1500 was the capital of one of he largest Hindu empires. Today the area contains
the ruins of more than a hundred temples, palaces, towers, market streets and other
ancient monuments, many of them excellently preserved. We were truly amazed --- much
more wonderful than we had expected. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
around 1500 was the capital of one of he largest Hindu empires. Today the area contains
the ruins of more than a hundred temples, palaces, towers, market streets and other
ancient monuments, many of them excellently preserved. We were truly amazed --- much
more wonderful than we had expected. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The day after we arrived in Hampi we took a tour mainly of the Royal Center, using the same
autorickshaw-taxi we had used to get from the Hospet railway station to Hampi. We were
especially impressed by the Lotus Mahal, a beautifully designed building, also the Queen's
Bath and the Elephant Stables.
autorickshaw-taxi we had used to get from the Hospet railway station to Hampi. We were
especially impressed by the Lotus Mahal, a beautifully designed building, also the Queen's
Bath and the Elephant Stables.
While we had the taxi we then also visited the Vittala Temple (No. 12 on the map), a
beautiful well-preserved religious complex, an area we later visited again by walking from
Hampi Bazaar (on map the white dot marked "Hampi Bus Stand"). We also took daily walks
through different areas, coming to a different beautiful ancient structure every few
minutes. Below are photos of a few of the many temples and shrines we discovered..
beautiful well-preserved religious complex, an area we later visited again by walking from
Hampi Bazaar (on map the white dot marked "Hampi Bus Stand"). We also took daily walks
through different areas, coming to a different beautiful ancient structure every few
minutes. Below are photos of a few of the many temples and shrines we discovered..
Exterior of the Queen's Bath.
Interior of the Queen's Bath.
One of the buildings in the Royal Center.
The Hampi archaeological area occupies about ten square miles (25 square km) composed of
rocky hills and green valleys. Many ruins of ancient buildings an monuments can be found
almost everywhere in the area, just minutes apart, as shown by the red dots on the map
below. Wherever we wandered, we would constantly came to yet another amazing artistic
religious or civic site.
Although the ancient monuments are to be found almost everywhere, they tend to be
concentrated in two areas: In the north near the Thungabgadra River is the "Spiritual
Center" consisting mainly of temples, shrines and monuments; in the southern part is the
"Royal Center" a fortified enclosure containing the buildings and monuments used mainly by
the royal families.
rocky hills and green valleys. Many ruins of ancient buildings an monuments can be found
almost everywhere in the area, just minutes apart, as shown by the red dots on the map
below. Wherever we wandered, we would constantly came to yet another amazing artistic
religious or civic site.
Although the ancient monuments are to be found almost everywhere, they tend to be
concentrated in two areas: In the north near the Thungabgadra River is the "Spiritual
Center" consisting mainly of temples, shrines and monuments; in the southern part is the
"Royal Center" a fortified enclosure containing the buildings and monuments used mainly by
the royal families.
On our website we are focusing on our own experiences in the Hampi area. For
comprehensive archaeological explanations we suggest you view the excellent
www.hampi.in website, who have permitted us to copy their map below.
comprehensive archaeological explanations we suggest you view the excellent
www.hampi.in website, who have permitted us to copy their map below.
Our taxi driver and his rickshaw.
The Royal elephant stables.
The pictures above do not reveal the intricate sculptural details. Below are a few closeups.
The extent and variety of the artwork in the Hampi archaeological is overwhelming. It was
great to wander among the vast well-preserved wonders of ancient Vijayanagar. The total
effect is more than simply the sum of its parts.
great to wander among the vast well-preserved wonders of ancient Vijayanagar. The total
effect is more than simply the sum of its parts.