Hampi the lost city situated in Karnataka

INTRODUCTION
• Hampi, a village and a temple town in Karnataka
is one of the most historically rich places.
• Listed under the UNESCO World Heritage Site as
the Group of monuments at Hampi, this city was
also at one point one of the richest cities in the
world when it was at its peak.
• Located inside the Vijayanagara city, This has
been one of the most significant tourist places of
attraction.
Vijaya Vittala temple

LOCATION
• Built in the later half of the 14th Century Hampi is in
Bellary district of Karnataka.
• It is a significant historical site in India which conveys
message about the well-planned ancient cities and talks
about one of the greatest Hindu kingdoms of Indian
history.
• The closeness of Hampi to the river Tungabhadra adds
to the magnificence of its natural setting. The property
mainly covers an area of around 26 sq. km guarded by
seven lines of fortifications.
• Despite being ruined by the passing time, the destination
encompasses more than 1500 remains of artistic works
including forts, royal and sacred complexes, riverside
features, shrines, temples, pillared halls, Mandapas,
memorial structures, defense check posts, gateways,
stables, water structures, etc.

• In 1986, Hampi was declared a World Heritage site by
UNESCO.
• Hampi comes under cultural and built heritage which
holds a significant value in the history.
• Hampi is the 14th century capital of the Vijayanagar
Empire, located in the Tungabhadra basin in Bellary
District, Central Karnataka.
• Vittal Temple Complex is the finest example of
Vijaynagar Temple Architecture.
• A large number of royal buildings were raised by
Krishnadeva Raya (A.D. 1509-30) and Vittal Temple
Complex is one of them.
• Temples of Hampi are noted for their large dimensions,
florid ornamentation, bold and delicate carvings and
stately pillars which include subjects from the
Ramayana and the Mahabharata.
• Majority of these temples in Hampi were provided with
widespread bazaars flanked on either side by storied
Mandapas.
WORLD HERITAGE SITE
Elephant Stable

• Hampi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, owing to the ancient temples, forts
and other monuments here.
• Hampi was the capital of the Vijayanagar Empire around 1500 AD, and by
some accounts, the second largest city in the world at that time.
• The terrain around Hampi is as mysterious as the ruins itself - the city is
surrounded by boulders of different sizes, and you can climb to the top of
them with a little effort to get a stunning view of the entire city and the
geography.
• It is located on the banks of the Tungabhadra River.
• Famous for its massive, beautifully carved temples, Hampi tells the stories of
its existing structures. Many a visitor climb atop the Matangaparvata and get
a glimpse of Hampi and its environs.
• The way the city was built with temples and bazaars is exemplary in itself.
• On the North banks of the river Tungabhadra is the first capital of the
Vijayanagar Empire, Anegundi, the temples and stories abound, which will
help one to get a better understanding of the local heritage.
ARCHITECTURAL DELIGHT
Virupaksha temple

HAMPI CULTURE
• Being a World Heritage Site, Hampi beckons thousands of tourists every year, due to which tourism industry turns out to be
a chief support of the economy of Hampi.
• Other than that, opulent manganese and iron ores of Hampi and its sound agriculture comprise the major factors of its
providence.
• The culture of Hampi is chiefly marked by the cultural and religious festivals celebrated here. Other than the traditional
festivals celebrated in India, Hampi is noteworthy for its unique celebrations which include Vijaya Utsav, Purandara Festival
and Virupaksha Car Festival.
• Vijaya Utsav, widely known as Hampi Festival is the most important event commemorated here against the backdrop of the
sublime mementos of ostentatious yore. Organized by the Government of Karnataka, this annual cultural carnival is
celebrated in the first week of November for three days.
• The premier attractions of this festival include puppetry shows, dance, drama and musical concerts, fireworks and topping
all the fun, a grand procession. Vijaya Utsav certainly recreates the legacy of the royal heritage of Hampi..
• Through their festivals, cuisine, artforms, rituals, folklore & oral tradition they are still connected to their past. This is why
Hampi is often referred to as a living heritage site.

FOUNDATION OF CAPITAL CITY
• The site the Sangamas chose for their capital was on the banks of the Tungabhadra river,
a place of religious importance, with river goddess Pampa (from which it derived its
current name, Hampi) and Virupaksha.
• The folklore narrates a curious story as to why the Sangama brothers choose this
location. As per the story, Harihara & Bukka (eldest of the 5 Sangama brothers) came to
the foothills of Matanga Hill for a hunting expedition, where they met by a sage named
Vidyaranya on the foothills of Matanga.
• The sage explained that this land protected the weak & gave them courage due to a curse
laid by a Sage named Matanga.
• He then shared that he had a vision where lord Harihara appeared and tasked him with
giving guidance to the brothers to build a capital city at this location and that it would bring
great prosperity to the people and the land.
• It is said that it was Sage Vidyaranya that brought the brothers together at Sringeri and
helped lay the foundation of the Empire.
• Vidyaranya went on to serve as an advisor to the Sangama brothers for several decades.

LOGICAL REASONING – SITE CHOOSING
• First, it afforded them a great defensive position, with the Tungabhadra River
on the north, Sandhur hills on the south, and surrounded by ridgelines of
boulder hills.
• Second, the Sangama brothers had local connections here that they could
trust and rely on, they were related to the nobles of Kampli and Anegundi.
• Third, its geographical location on the northern edges of their territory allowed
them to keep a check on their biggest enemy – the Bahmani Sultanate.
• It was during the reign of Bukkaraya that a new citadel was completed,
located south of Hampi, what today we call as “Royal Center”, what was then
named as Vijayanagara – The City of Victory.
What led to the establishment of Vijayanagara Empire ?
• Continuous attacks by the Khilji dynasty of the North
• Political Instablity in the South
• Fear factor.
• Religious turmoil
• Need to protect the interests of the Hindus & Indian Culture

BACKGROUND
• The site of Hampi comprises mainly the remnants of the capital
city of the Vijayanagara Empire (14th-16th century CE), the last
great Hindu Kingdom.
• It encompasses an area of 4187.24 hectares, located in the
Tungabhadra basin in Bellary District, Central Karnataka.
• Hampi’s spectacular setting is dominated by river Tungabhadra,
craggy hill ranges and open plains with widespread physical
remains.
• One of the unique features of temples at Hampi is the wide chariot
streets flanked by the row of pillared mandapas.
• Its Famous places include Krishna temple complex, Narasimha,
Ganesa, Hemakuta group of temples, Achyutaraya temple
complex, Vitthala temple complex, Pattabhirama temple complex,
Lotus Mahal complex, etc.
• By 1500 CE, Hampi-Vijayanagara was the world’s second-largest
medieval-era city after Beijing, and probably India’s richest at that
time, attracting traders from Persia and Portugal.
• The Vijayanagara Empire was defeated by a coalition of
sultanates; its capital was conquered, pillaged and destroyed by
sultanate armies in 1565 (Battle of Talikota), after which Hampi
remained in ruins.

ORIGINS OF RESTORATION
From 1856, photographers began to record the monuments which enabled scholars to study
them.
As early as 1836 epigraphists began collecting several dozen inscriptions found at this and
other temples at Hampi.
In an effort to reconstruct the history of the city and the empire, historians collated information
from these sources with accounts of foreign travellers and other literature written in Telugu,
Kannada, Tamil and Sanskrit.
The site was preserved by the Archaeological Survey of India and the Karnataka Department
of Archaeology and Museums.
In 1976, Hampi was recognised as a site of national importance. Then, in the early 1980s, an
important project was launched to document the material remains at Vijayanagara in detail,
through extensive and intensive surveys, using a variety of recording techniques.

METHOD OF RESTORATION
• The first step was to divide the entire area into a set of 25 squares, each designated by a
letter of the alphabet.
• Then, each of the small squares was subdivided into a set of even smaller squares. Each
of these smaller squares was further subdivided into yet smaller units.
• These detailed surveys have recovered and documented traces of thousands of
structures from tiny shrines and residences to elaborate temples. They have also led to
the recovery of traces of roads, paths, bazaars, etc.
• The latter have been located through finds of pillars bases and platforms all that remain of
thriving markets.

VITTHALLA TEMPLE
This is the most artistically accomplished religious
monument in the sacred centre.
Vira Narasimha, the first ruler of the Tuluva dynasty, founded it
in the first decade of the 16th century with additions made by
his successors.
Krishnadevaraya added the hundred columned hall built up to
the southern enclosure wall, while two of his queens each
added a Gopura.
A third Gopura was an addition by Achyutaraya. In 1554,
during the reign of Sadashiva, a magnificent "swing-pavilion"
was added.
Vithala temple complex showing the bazaar streets. Vithala temple complex from Bazaar Street

STRONG ROLE OF GEOMETRY IN
INDIAN TEMPLE ARCHITECTURE
The Indian temple architecture inoculates high
level of geometric Proportions.
Different types of proportions can be analyzed from the
plan and the elevation of the temple complex in 1505 AD,
the main shrine was built and the prakara
around it such that the center of the Garbha
Griha (Sanctum Sanctorum) falls at the center of
a square.
Development of the Vithala temple complex
over the years showing the proportion
Vithala
temple
complex
showing
the 9 square
mandala

SPATIAL ORGANIZATION OF PARTS
OF
THE TEMPLE
The temple plan is an elongated plan with the
longer direction along principal axis .
The platform on which the deity is
installed is at the higher level than the
prakara/circumambulatory levels.
The other mantapas like kalyana mantapa, uyyala
mantapa, and 100 pillared hall are kept at a little lower
level than the sanctum sanctorum.
The ceiling height at the center of the mantapa is
raised and also the plinth at the center.
(a). Plan of South-East Kalyana Mandapa,
(b). Plan of North-East Utsava Mandapa,
(c). Plan of Utsava Mndapa at the end of Bazaar Street Section of the temple

Plans and
View of the
South-East
Kalyana
Manatapa
Mahamantapa along the axis of the main temple
has a pillared hall with three entrances. The
pillars are of four types .
In addition there are exceptionally beautiful musical
pillars which gives the sound of musical notes
and musical beats. Also the huge sculpture
panels depicting the story of Mahabharatha.

GRAMMAR OF COLUMNS AND DESIGN
ELEMENTS
Basically, we have four types of columns. One with Yali, other with
sculpture panels and yet another with miniature musical pillars etc.
The Yali column is a development from the 13th century Tamil
tradition temple architecture. Basically, the Vijayanagara columns have
two parts. One is the core shaft and the other is the figural column.
Development of composite columns
Column types (a).Yali, (b). Sculpture, (c). Sculpture core And Miniature
(d). Core and Miniature.

VIRUPAKSHA TEMPLE
The oldest shrine still in active worship within the
Vijayanagara site is consecrated to Shiva as the consort of
Pampa.
Inscriptions referring to the 9th-10th centuries indicate that
the temple existed before the foundation of the Vijayanagara
capital.
The Sangamas transformed the shrine into a major religious
monument and the Tuluvas extended it.
The hall with piers with delicately carved columns and
fantastic yalis ridden by warriors reveal the shift in sculpture.
Krishnadevaraya erected the grand Gopuram giving a
monumental scale dominating the whole context.
The broad colonnaded street served as
the main bazaar of Hampi.

A plan of the Virupaksha
temple
Most of the square
structures are shrines.
The two major gateways
are shaded in black.
Each tiny dot represents
a pillar. Rows of pillars
arranged in lines
within a square or
rectangular frame appear
to demarcate major halls,
pavilions and corridors.

Delicately carved pillars built
by Krishnadeva Raya to mark
his accession.

One of the striking features of the Virupaksha temple, the most
important living religious establishments in Hampi village (Hospet
taluk, Bellary District), is the painted ceiling of the open pillared hall
(maharanga-mandapa) abutting the main sanctuary.
This hall was built in 1509/1510 by the order of Krishnadeva Raya
(SII, IV, No. 258) and the general consensus among scholars is
that these paintings are roughly contemporary with the building.
However, after a careful examination of these frescos and the study
of murals at eighteenth and nineteenth century sites in Andhra and
Karnataka, it is necessary to re-assess their date.
Ceiling Paintings in the Virupaksha Temple,
Hampi

Achyutaraya temple and market complex
The Achyutaraya temple, also called the Tiruvengalanatha temple, is about 1
kilometre (0.62 mi) east of Virupaksha temple and a part of its sacred centre is
close to the Tungabhadra River.
It is referred to be in Achyutapura in inscriptions and is dated to 1534 CE. It is
one of the four largest complexes in Hampi. The temple is unusual because it
faced north.
It is dedicated to Vishnu. In Vijayanagara times, the temple was traditionally
approached from the river, first past a ceremonial tank then along the market
street with a broad road.
The temple had an outer gopuram leading into a courtyard with a 100-column
hall and an inner gopuram leading to the Vishnu temple.
On each side of each pillar in the 100-column hall are reliefs of avatars of
Vishnu; other deities such as Shiva, Surya, Durga; scenes of daily life—rishi,
amorous couples, jokers; people in yoga asanas; people in namaste poses; and
Vijayanagara emblems.
The temple gateway shows the Vijayanagara dynastic emblems; a boar from
Varaha, a sword, the sun and the moon. The temple and the market street are
ruined but their layout suggests it was a major market with streets provided for
chariot traffic.
Unfortunately, this elegant and striking temple is in ruins as a consequence of the
attacks by the monarchs of the Bahamani kingdom. It is greatly affected by
the forces of nature over several centuries

Architecture of Achyutaraya temple
The temple is built in Vijayanagara style of temple architecture.
The principal shrine of the temple is located in the centre of a pair of rectangular
concentric enclosures.
There are pillared verandas on the interior flanks of the two courtyard walls. The outer
walkways are in a state of decay, collapse, and disintegration.
The temple is distinctly visible from the top of the Matanga Hill. It is at the end of the
abandoned Courtesan Street.
On entering the inner court one can spot a chamber that is facing the porch leading to the
central hall. There is a small shrine chamber which once sanctified an image of Garuda.
The accessible hall has few extremely lauded sculpted pillars in Hampi. The carvings are
done on monolithic blocks of rocks. The statues and sculptures on the pillars reveal
themes like lord Vishnu blessing an elephant, lord Krishna practising his flute while the
calves are watching this scene with interest and infant Krishna dancing with a snake and
holding it by the tail.
There is a Mandapa which is a marriage hall of the Gods and the Goddesses for the yearly
nuptials.
1.Gateways 2.Kalyanamantapa (Ceremonial Hall) 3.Colonnade 4.Open Hall 5. Main
Shrine(Sanctum) 6. Shrine of Goddess 7. Shrine for Garuda 8.Veerabhadra Temple
(atop Matanga Hill) 9.Durga Shrine 10. Courtesan's Street

Hemakuta hill monuments
The Hemakuta hill lies between the Virupaksha temple complex to the north and
the Krishna temple to the south.
It is a collection of modestly sized monuments that are the best-preserved
examples of pre-Vijayanagara and early-Vijayanagara temples and construction.
The site has several important inscriptions, is easily accessible and provides views
of the some parts of Hampi and the fertile, agricultural valley that separates the
sacred centre from the urban core with its royal centre.
The hill has more than thirty small-to-moderate-sized temples, together with
water cisterns, gateways, and secular pavilions. The latest examples are dated to
the early 14th century.
Some of the structures are differently-sized prototypes of temples or mandapas,
assembled from blocks of stones. Others are completed monuments of different
designs, such as the Phamsana style.
Two temple groups in this style look similar; each has a triple vimana consisting
of square sanctums with each set connected to its own shared square mandapa.
The towers (shikaras) on these are pyramidal granite structures consisting of eleven
stacked, shrinking squares and a top in the Deccan-style square kalasha finial.
Some of the temples in the northern side of the hill are TRIKUTACHALA STYLE of
architecture, in which three shirnes are placed in a perpendicular position to each
other face a common central hall, with outer plain walls except for the horizontal
chain of floral motifs that provide ornamentation.

SCULPTURAL DETAILS
Most of the dynasties had definite preference regarding
sculptural themes in sacred and secular buildings. There
is a marked shift in the preferences of the patrons from
martial and courtly scenes to the depiction of
mythological and religious themes.
Narrative sculpture: Narrative granite friezes craved in
expressionist style in shallow relief on courtly non-sacred
themes of the royal imagery is seen on the compound
wall of Hazara Rama Temple.
Mythological ones had gradually replaced the
royal theme, example Ramayana sculptures craved on
outer walls of Ramachandra Temple in early fifteen
century.
Detail of an
arch of
the Lotus
Mahal
Swing pavilion from Gingee

The royal enclosure in Hampi was the Vijayanagara kingdom’s seat of power
occupying an area of 59,000 sq.m. In its prime, it housed as many as 45 buildings
including the durbar halls, platform, tanks, underground chambers, and temples.
There are three entrances to the Royal Enclosure; two in the north and one in the
west.
Sprawling over many hundreds square meters, Royal Enclosure is scattered with a
number of interesting relics of the bygone era.
The architectural style of this enclosure is symbolic of the Vijayanagara style of
architecture with traces of Mughal influence.
As with all the other features constructed by the Vijayanagara kings, the Royal
Enclosure makes ample use of granite and soapstone.
All the palaces face the east or the north and were built on raised granite platforms.
These platforms feature multiple tiers and are decorated with carved details of
flowers, geese, demon faces, elephants and human figures.

HAZARA RAMA TEMPLE
The main temple is approached through an open mandapa, actually an addition
of early 16th century, within which is the original entrance porch with finely
carved columns.
Side porches are seen on the north and south. The interior of the temple is
unadorned, except for four ornately sculpted columns in the middle.
An empty pedestal stands within the sanctuary; its three holes may have
secured images of Rama, Lakshmana and Sita, but these are lost.
The outside walls of the temple have the Ramayana sculptures already referred
to set between pilasters. The walls are raised on a basement with finely set
worked mouldings and overhung by curving eaves. A brick plaster tower rises
over the sanctuary, its original details obscured by modern restoration.
The temple is located near the core area between the residential and
ceremonial area.

Hazara rama temple mandapam Hazara Rama temple

PRASANNA VIRUPAKSHA Temple
The Prasanna Virupaksha temple is that it is located a few meters below the
ground level. The roof of the temple is at par with the present ground level while
the main structure of the temple stands on a low lying area.
The Prasanna Virupaksha temple has been constructed following the
Vijayanagara style of architecture. The temple is a simple and beautiful
structure that is located inside a large courtyard surrounded by an enclosure wall.
This Underground Shiva temple has a flat roofed main tower. There are steps
leading from the main tower to the main pillared hall of the temple.
The temple has a garbhagriha along with an antarala. The temple also has an
aradha mantapa and a maha mantapa.
The pillars of the temple are simple and austere in appearance, unlike the carved
and engraved pillars found in most temples of Hampi.

ZENANA ENCLOSURE
Northeast of the Royal Enclosure within the walled quarters is the Zenana enclosure .The enclosure is a sprawling compound that had tall walls
surrounding it on all sides and watch towers were built.
The fortified area has two entrances. The enclosure has 4 towers but now only 3 towers are standing.
The structures of the zenana enclosures are designed in Indo Islamic architectural style.
The Zenana enclosure houses the Lotus Mahal,Queen’s Palace,stepwells and watch towers.

LOTUS MAHAL
The Lotus Mahal also known as the Kamal Mahal or Chitragini Mahal as per the old
maps found during the discovery of Hampi.It is located within the Zenana Enclosure.
The structure is surrounded by trees and lawns.
The palace was specially designed for the Royal women of Vijayanagara empire for
recreational activities.
It was also used by the kings and ministers for meetings.
The building resembles a lotus. The domes which cover the passage and balcony
are similar to opened lotus bud. The central dome is carved as a lotus bud.
The curves of the palace are given Islamic touch while the multi layered roof
design is related to Indian style Architecture.
This is a two storey pavilion which has massive pillars with arches having stucco
molding.
There are 24 pillars and the interesting fact about the pillars is that they can be
filled with water to keep the palace cool during summer.

ELEPHANT STABLES
This imposing building is the best preserved and largest in the Royal Centre.
The stables comprise a long line of eleven chambers, all with lofty arched
doorways opening onto a large open space.
The central (eleventh) chamber has a flat roof since above this sits an open
gallery probably once used by musicians and drummers. Its temple-like roof has
long ago collapsed.
The other chambers are roofed with plain or fluted domes that alternate with
twelve-sided pyramidal vaults.
Both domes and vaults are arranged symmetrically about the central gallery.
While the arched openings and domed chambers of the elephant stables are
obviously sultanate in origin, in accordance with the general features of the
Vijayanagara courtly style, the building as a whole is an original creation.

QUEEN’S BATH
The Queen’s bath is located close to the royal enclosure. It was a private
bathing area for the kings and queens. The 30 sq.m. building which is in a
rectangular shape has plain exteriors and extravagant interiors the building
speaks different architectural stories. The interiors of the buildings are in Indo
Saracenic Architecture.
The building is made with a veranda around facing a big open to sky pond in
the middle. The veranda consists of windows projecting into the pool. As the
city was connected by the water canals, the pond also consist of an inlet in the
center of the veranda.
The balconies are decorated with tiny windows and supported by lotus bud and
tipped brackets.
The domes in the buildings are also individually treated with different designs.
The building also has a staircase which leads to a passage on the top, it was
used by the guards for the look – out.

Also known as the House of Victory,is the most impressive structure in the
area as the processions for Navarathri festival were held.
The 3 tier structure stands tall at a height of 8 meters with a base measuring to
40 sq.m. and the topmost platform measuring to 24 sq.m.
The staircase hand rails are formed by elephants and Yaali’s trunk while the
friezes or the carvings on the exterior showcase the processions, animals and
hunting scenes.
MAHANAVAMI DIBBA
KING’S AUDIENCE HALL
Known as the Durbar Hall of the King of Vijayanagara, this ruined structure of the
building has vestiges of pillar sockets and bases. An interesting fact to note is
that it was a hall with a hundred pillars, as is proved by the number of pillar
sockets.
The sockets of the 100 pillars are arranged in an array of 10 x 10 on a platform of
the building. These are the remnants of the pillars that had once supported the
superstructure of the building.
The King’s Audience Hall was built with huge blocks of stone and wood. It is
believed that the two storey superstructure of the building was mostly made of
wood and the pillars were carved out of sandalwood trees.

STEPWELL
Among the most beautiful ruins of Hampi are the pushkarnis, ancient
water tanks. Like many Hindu temples in India, Hampi’s majestic temples
have accompanying stepped tanks or basins used for religious and
ceremonial purposes.
The pushkarnis all follow a similar architectural form, designed
symmetrically as either rectangles or squares.
Each generally has several large tiers which contain multiple steps in
semi-pyramidal form, leading down to the next level. These sacred
tanks were integral parts of each temple complex.
The pushkarnis were fed with the water of the nearby Tungabhadra River
through a series of canals and aqueducts. While some, like the tank at
the Krishna Temple, are no longer functional, others still receive some
water through the ancient water systems.

WATCH TOWERS
The other types are mostly located well within the royal area and other civil
localities. They are more decorated (with plastered walls, domed roof, arches
etc) than the military (made with rock slabs) ones located at the hilltops.
The watchtowers located in Danaik’s Enclosure and the one inside the Zenana
Enclosure are example of the fine watchtowers. Mohammadan Watch Tower
inside the Danaik’s Enclosure is the most ornate of all the surviving the
watchtowers in Hampi.
Along the riverside on top of the boulder hills, you can spot four-pillared tiny
rock pavilions in isolation. A number of these were used as military observatory
posts.

Octagonal fountain Noblemen’s quarter Shiva temple
Palace Vira harihara Stone doors Royal centre

● Until the mid-19th century The Hampi site remained largely ignored
● 1856 Alexander Greenlaw visited and photographed the site. He created an archive of 60 calotype
photographs of temples and royal structures that were standing in 1856.
● 1980 photographs published which were held in a private collection in the United Kingdom 1885
Alexander Rea, an officer of the Archaeological Survey department of the Madras Presidency
within British India, published his survey of the site
● 1900 Robert Sewell published his scholarly treatise A Forgotten Empire bringing Hampi to the
widespread attention of scholars.The growing interest led Rea and his successor Longhurst to
clear and repair the Hampi group of monuments.
CHANGES OVER
TIME

● 1986 Hampi was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO
● 1999 hampi added to the list of endangered sites
● 2005 heritage manage plan
● 2007 the site is removed from danger list.
● 2009-2011 Chandramauleshwarar temple conservation first complex
● 2012 Award of merit for cultural heritage conservation from UNESCO- asia pacific
● 2015 Regular state of conservation reports submitted by state party
● The Archaeological Survey of India continues to conduct excavations in the area.

CHALLENGES – INTEGRITY
The area of the property is adequate to accommodate, represent and protect all the key attributes of the
site. Most of the monuments are in good state of preservation and conservation. Maintaining these conditions
of integrity poses significant challenges
•Mainly from pressures associated with development, planned and unplanned, which pose a threat to the
landscape of the property, as well as encroachments and changes in land use, increased agricultural activity of
commercial crops that might threaten the physical stability of the diverse monuments.
•Regulating residential constructions and potential development to accommodate visitor use, as well as
infrastructure to address communication needs attention particular bypass roads.
•Also addressing the visual impact of modern electrification fixtures, telephone poles and other elements, will
also be important to maintain the integrity of the property.

•The authenticity of the site has been maintained in terms of location and
setting, as the original setting comprising of river Tungabhadra and
boulders is fully retained.
• In terms of form and function, the integration of the geographic setting
with man-made features in the design and functional layout of the entire
capital can still be discerned and the form of the original city planning with
suburban pattern is evident.
•The largely untouched archaeological elements provide ample evidence
of authentic materials and construction and interventions have maintained
qualities when undertaken.
• The stages of evolution and perfection of the Vijayanagara Architecture
are evident in the monumental structures.
CHALLENGES – AUTHENTICITY

•As for traditions and techniques, the physical remains are a befitting tribute to the ingenuity of the builders in
shaping the metropolis of this grand scale by utilizing locally available material, traditional knowledge system and
skilled craftsmanship.
• Today there is a continuity of several religious rituals, associations, traditional skills, and occupations within the
society that have been maintained.
• The Virupaksha temple is in constant worship, this has led to many additions and alterations to different parts of
temple complex.
• Similarly, the haphazard growth of modern shops, restaurants in and around it and its bazaar that caters to
religious and social tourists has impacted adversely on its setting as has the asphalting of the roads over the
ancient pathway in front of the Virupaksha temple.
• The tensions between modern uses and protecting the fabric and setting of the ancient remains need to be
managed with the utmost sensitivity.
CHALLENGES – AUTHENTICITY

UNESCO criticises upkeep efforts in Hampi - The Hindu- May 8/2013
The World Heritage Committee, in a recent report, has severely criticised conservation
efforts in Hampi, 16th century capital City of the Vijayanagara empire. It has found the
finalisation of the heritage management plan, which began in 2005, slow and the modalities
of the implementation unclear.
Referring to recent eviction and demolition of habitation in front of Virupaksha temple, the
only religious structure under worship, the committee said “the setting of the temple needs
to be managed with utmost sensitivity” and the government should work “in close
cooperation with the local community.”
UNESCO inscribed Hampi in the list of World Heritage Sites in 1986 and has provided about
$100,000 for its so far. In 1999, following complaints of poor site management, lack of traffic
regulations and construction of two bridges, UNESCO placed the monuments in the list of
endangered sites. Since then, it has been periodically reviewing conservation efforts there.
Hampii on media

Hampi the lost city situated in Karnataka

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