World heritage site - Group of Monuments at Hampi (a village in Karnataka) Hampi is a village located near Hospet town in the Karnataka state, India. The name hampi can also mean "champion". It is located within the ruins of the city of Vijayanagara, the former capital of the Vijayanagara Empire. Vast stretches of stone-spread hills make the backdrop of Hampi unique. Dotted around the hills and valleys are 500 plus monuments.

1. by Ishita Arora
VII - E

2. Hampi - A Synopsis
Country India
State Karnataka
District Bellary
Founded by Harihara and Bukkaraya
Elevation 467 m (1,532 ft)
Official Language Kannada
Time zone IST (UTC+5:30)
Nearest city Hospet
Coordinates: 15.335°N 76.462°E

3. Hampi
Hampi is a village located near Hospet town in the
Karnataka state, India. The name hampi can also mean
"champion". It is located within the ruins of the city of
Vijayanagara, the former capital of the Vijayanagara
Empire. Vast stretches of stone-spread hills make the
backdrop of Hampi unique. Dotted around the hills and
valleys are 500 plus monuments.

4. Criterion for inclusion as
“World Heritage Site”
i "represents a masterpiece of human creative genius
and cultural significance“
iii "to bear a unique or at least exceptional testimony to a
cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or
which has disappeared“
iv "is an outstanding example of a type of building,
architectural, or technological ensemble or landscape
which illustrates a significant stage in human history"

5. The landscape of Hampi is filled with unending
array of carvings. Some may want to call it an
open museum. The carvings of religious as well
as secular theme are carved on boulders in its
natural settings as well as in to the manmade
structures.

6. History
 The emperor Ashoka's minor
rock edicts in Nittur & Udegolan
lead one to believe that this
region was within the Ashokan
kingdom during the 3rd century
BCE. A Brahmi inscription & a
terracotta seal dating to the 2nd
century CE were also
discovered from the excavation
site
 Hampi formed one of the core
areas of the capital of the
Vijayanagara Empire from 1343
to 1565, when it was finally laid
siege to by the Deccan Muslim
confederacy.

7. Historical Significance
 Once it was the seat of the mighty Vijayanagara empire.
 Hampi's unique landscape and its religious association with great epic
Ramayana makes it an important destination for local and international
tourists and pilgrims. According to Ramayana, Hampi (Vijayanagar ) was
ruled by the monkey kings Vali and Sugriva. The granite boulders of varying
tones of yellow-orange, grey and pink dominate the Hampi's landscape ,
distributed either as hills or as piles of rocks are said to be flung down by the
armies of Vali and Sugriva in a show of strength.

8. Inscriptions

9. Geography
Hampi is situated on the banks of the Tungabhadra river. It is 353 km from
Bangalore and 74 km away from Bellary. Hosapete (Hospet), 13 km away, is
the nearest railway head. Mantralayam, which is also on the banks of
Tunghabhadra, in AP is some 150 km away.

10. Architecture
The extant monuments of Vijayanagara or Hampi can be divided into Religious,
Civil & Military buildings. While most of the monuments at Hampi are from the
Vijayanagara period, a small proportion may be assigned to pre-Vijayanagara
times.

11. Main Attractions
Religious buildings
 Krishna Temple Complex
 Narasimha
 Ganesa
 Hemakuta group of
temples
 Achyutaraya Temple
 Vittala Temple Complex
 Pattabhirama temple
complex
Civil buildings
 Aqueducts and Canals
 Archaeological Museum
at Kamalapura
 Zanana enclosure
 Lotus Mahal complex
Military buildings
 Elephant stable
 The Kings’ balance

12. Krishna Temple Complex
This temple was built by the king (Krishnadevaraya) in 1513 AD to celebrate
the conquest of the eastern kingdom of Udayagiri or Utkala

13. Narasimha
This is the largest statue in Hampi. Narasimha is sitting on the coil of a giant
seven-headed snake called Sesha. The heads of the snake acts as the
hood above his head. The god sits in a cross-legged Yoga position with a
belt supporting the knees. Sometimes this is referred as Ugra Narasimha or
Narasimha in its terrifying form.

14. Ganesha
This giant statue of Ganesha was carved out of a huge boulder at the
northeastern slope of the Hemakuta hill. The belly of this statue resembles a
Bengal gram. Kadalekalu, in local language.

15. Hemakuta group of temples
Some times referred to as Jain Temples, these clusters of temples on the
Hemakuta hill is one of the beautiful sites in Hampi. Most of them are
dedicated to Lord Siva. These smart looking compact temples with pyramid-
like roofs resemble that of the Jain temples.

16. Achyuta Rayas Temple
Constructed in 1534 AD, The temple dedicated to Lord Tiruvengalanatha, a form of
Lord Vishnu.

17. Vittala Temple Complex
Vittala, after whom the temple is known, is a form of lord Vishnu. As the
epicenter of Hampi’s attractions, It is the most extravagant architectural
showpiece of Hampi. The temple is built in the form of a sprawling campus with
compound wall and gateway towers. There are many halls, pavilions and
temples located inside this campus.

18. Pattabhirama temple complex
This temple a bit off from the main tourist trail is notable for its size and
completeness. The Pattabhirama Temple is as large as Vittala Temple.
township around the Pattabhirama Temple was known as the Varadadevi
Ammana pette. the queen of the Tuluva dynasty king Achyuta Raya.

19. Aqueducts and Canals
The whole of Hampi is crisscrossed with a network of irrigation canals of
varying size. The major canals made by the Vijayanagar kings are the Raya
Canal (King’s canal), Basavanna Canal (Nandi or Bull canal), Turthu Canal
(Fast Canal) and the Kamalapura water tank.

20. Archaeological Museum -
Kamalapura
This is a tiny but worthwhile museum located at Kamalapura. The museum has
four sections. The first one exhibits the Hampi model. The second section is
dedicated mainly to the sculptures and idols from the Hampi ruins. The third
section displays an array of tools, arms, coinages and other objects that were in
use during the Vijayanagara Empire . The fourth one is the oldest of all display
objects. An array of antiquities from the prehistoric and proto historic period.

21. Zanana enclosure
The Zenana Enclosure was a fortified and secluded area reserved for the
royal ladies of the Vijayanagara Empire. The Zenana Enclosure is located in
the area approaching the Royal Enclosure and near the Ranga Temple.
The enclosure is a sprawling compound that had tall walls surrounding it on all
sides. Three watchtowers are located at the corners of the enclosed area.

22. Lotus Mahal Complex
Kamala (Lotus) Mahal is believed to have been used by female guards
of Hampi and the architecture is based on South Indian and Mughal
styles

23. Elephant stable
Elephant stable used to house the eleven royal elephants in King Krishnadeva
Raya's army. The neighboring building housed the elephant riders of the royal
elephants.

24. King’s Balance
King’s Balance in Hampi is an ancient and rare balance scale. This rare
balance scale is also known as Tula Bhara or Tula Purushadana. The king
used to weigh himself with gold, silver, gems, precious stones and jewelery
and give away those things to the priests of the temples in charity.

25. Landscape

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29. Landscape

30. Thank You