Hampi is located beside the Tungabhadra River at the heart of Karnataka and is about 50 kms from Bellary and 13 km from Hospet. The capital of famous Hindu kingdom of Vijaynagar Empire during 14th century to middle of 16th century, Hukka and Bukka, Hampi is an integral part of the well known Vijayanagar Empire. Around the 16th century, Hampi faced many political and social threats. It was ransacked and burnt in 1565. However the archeological remains of the Vijayanagar Dynasty stands till date.  Hampi is regarded as one of the important historical cities of India. Famous as the magnificent city of ruins, probably this is the only ruined city of any significance to be seen in India. Declared as a World Heritage Center, Hampi is the most beautiful and wonderful of all the ruins in India.

Touris Activities & attractions
In Hampi the prime activity of the tourists is to visit and explore Hampi ruins, a kind of its own in the world. The ruins in Hampi are stretched over an area of about 33 km and the surviving structures are sufficient to describe the glorious past of the famous Vijayanagar Empire. The area here is completely barren surrounded by huge boulders; all balanced on a rocky and undulating terrain. You can also visit the Museum situated at the bottom of Matangi Hill. Here you can see the photo exhibition consisting of 60 enlarged pictures of Hampi taken in 1853 by a British photographer and a matching set of the same place taken 130 years later by an Australian. You can also enjoy the unique Coracle ride (coracle looks like half a large coconut shell) in the calm water of Tungabhadra River. Other important tourist adventure in Hampi includes climbing on Matangi Hills.

This erstwhile capital of the Vijayanagar Empire boasts of some exquisite examples of temple architecture of that period. The Virupaksha Temple, Achutaraya Temple, Hazara Rama Temple and the Vithala Temple are worth visiting here. Queen's bath, monolithic Ganesha, Ugra Narasimha, the watch towers are some of the other relics worth visiting in Hampi representing the history and culture of the Great Vijaynagar Empire.

Virupaksha Temple
The main attraction in these ruins is the famous Virupaksha temple dedicated to Shiva also known as Virupaksha or Pampapathi. The columns are carved with figures of animals. This temple is functional even today and the street leading to the temple is used to organize chariot ceremonies held every year in February.

Vithala Temple
This beautiful peace of architecture is situated on southern banks of the Tungabhadra River, and is a great example of Vijayanagar art. The main pavilion consists of 56 pillars elaborately carved producing different musical notes when stuck by an object. In its quadrangle stands a magnificent stone chariot, perfectly proportioned with an engineering technology so superb that the stone wheels can rotate.

Hazara Rama Temple
Located in the royal center of the town. Hazara Rama Temple, ornate with intricate carvings depicts scenes from the Ramayana. The walls of the temple are carved both on the exterior and the interior with stories from the epics, dancers and troops. On the walls of the sanctum are two rare depictions of Vishnu as the Buddha. Other important tourist attractions are Tungabhadra Dam, Mahanavami Dibba or the royal seat, a platform used by the kings to view the Dassehra festivities. The Lotus Mahal, a graceful two-storey palace is a photographer's delight and is an attractive synthesis of Hindu and Islamic architecture.

How To Reach There
To visit Hampi, reaching Hospet can be the best option as it provides all the basic facilities to tourists.

 Buses are available from Hampi and regularly ply between Hampi and Bangalore and many other destinations.

Shree saara tourisme offers tourism  to Hampi, a memorable journey in the history of the Vijayanagar Empire. For more information or to book a Hampi tour please enter your query in the form below.

Tourist Attractions
Some of the prime tourist attractions of Hampi are
Virupaksha Temple, Ugra Narasimha ,Vithala Temple, Lotus Mahal, Virupaksha Bazaar, Queen's Bath, Singaradu Hebbagilu, Hazara Rama Temple, Achuta Raya Temple

Gett there by
Hampi has no bus stations. The nearest transport centre is Hospet. Local transport is easily available.

HOSPET TOURISM
About 340 kilometers from Bangalore, Hospet is a historical location in Karnataka which is also popular for the dam. The Tungabhadra Dam on the Tungabhadra River is important for the water resources of the region.

Tourist Attractions
Some of the tourist attractions around Hospet are
Stone Chariot ,Virupaksha Temple,Lotus Mahal,Ugra Narasimha, Bath
King's Balance ,Chitradurga

links

the magazineBali Hotel Bookings - Your one stop Bali hotels and accommodation reservation center.WebLink24 - SEO Web DirectoryWeb Design Firms