On the historical trail…..

Out of the hundreds of ruins and a few preserved historical locations of India none is as grand and as beautiful as Hampi, the former capital of the ancient Vijaynagar Empire one of the greatest and most prosperous empires to be built by man and sadly sacked plundered and destroyed by man.
Hampi is identified with the historical Kishkindha, the Vanara (monkey) kingdom which finds mention in the Ramayana. The first historical settlements in Hampi date back to 1 Common era.
Hampi formed one of the cores of the capital of the Vijayanagara empire from 1336 to 1565. It was destroyed by Muslim sultans. Hampi was chosen because of its strategic location, bounded by the torrential Tungabhadra River on one side and surrounded by defensible hills on the other three sides.
The site is of great importance in terms of architecture and historical significance. The demography is abundant with large stones which have been utilized to make larger than life statues of Hindu deities. One can see a structure of historic importance every quarter of a mile.The city is now in ruins due to invading Islamic aggressions who treat idol worship as blasphemy. Many statues have been destroyed or damaged and successive governments have not been able to keep the place free from treasure seekers who cause further damage.
Recently the Archaeological Survey of India has been conducting continuous excavations in the area to discover more artifacts and temples. Hampi, seeming “as large as ancient Rome” and the capital of Vijayanagara(CITY OF ViCTORY), the largest empire in post-Mughal India (14th century), is today aesthetical joy to experience. The Vijayanagara Empire famous for bringing great work of renovation and construction of temples and architectural complex left its very capital, Hampi, of no exception. The city frozen in time is still brimmed with sculptural and architectural beauty boasting its magnificence. Every stone here tells a story. An interesting legend of how Hampi got her name goes thus: Pampa, the daughter of Brahma meditated atop the Hemakuta Hill to get Lord Shiva as her husband. Shiva granted her the boon and she married Virupaksha, Shiva manifestation, hence he got the name Pampapati. From Pampa came the name Pampe or (in Kannada) Hampe, hence the name. Vast stretches of boulder-strewn hills make the backdrop of Hampi unique. Dotted around the hills and valleys are 500 plus monuments. Among them are beautiful temples, basement of palaces, remains of aquatic structures, ancient market streets, royal pavilions, bastions, royal platforms, treasury buildings.., the list is practically endless. Hampi is a backpackers paradise, the same way the pilgrims delight. In Hampi at every turn there is a surprise. Every monument hides more than what they reveal. As an open museum, Hampi has numerous popular (100 plus!) locations visitors throng.
Hampi is set in the huge valley spanning the banks of the Tungabhadra River and is undoubtedly home to one of the largest temple complexes. As you stand amidst its ruins, you can almost imagine the precious stones that must have once fitted these structures.
The austere, grandiose site of Hampi was the last capital of the last great Hindu Kingdom of Vijayanagar. Its fabulously rich princes built Dravidian temples and palaces which won the admiration of travelers between the 14th and 16th centuries. Conquered by the Deccan Muslim confederacy in 1565, the city was pillaged over a period of six months before being abandoned. And then it does not come as a surprise why Hampi was then declared by the UNESCO a ‘World Heritage in Danger’

"Vijayanagara is such that the pupil of the eye has never seen a place like it ..." so eulogized Abdul Razaq, a Muslim envoy, who visited Hampi. 343 km from Bangalore and 74 km from Bellary, Hampi - a world heritage center - is the most beautiful and evocative of all the ruins in Karnataka. The Tungabhadra river flows through Hampi, on the banks of which, it is said, the Goddess Hampi (Parvati) attained Lord Shiva. This city was praised by historians like, Nuniz and Paes, as being greater than Rome, its palaces plated with jewel-encrusted gold, simply the best provided city in the world'.
The erstwhile capital of the Vijayanagar kingdom, Hampi is full of delightful surprises. In the 13th century, the markets here overflowed with luxuriant silks, brilliant diamonds, rubies and emeralds. Today, the Market Place with its ancient, roofless stalls is a riot of colour on festive nights, when the Virupaksha Temple is all ablaze with lamps.
Vijayanagar, meaning (meaning "City of Victory" in Sanskrit), now Hampi, was once the capital of the last of the great southern (and perhaps the largest ever) Hindu empires. Founded in 1336 by five princes, Vijayanagar united the Deccan, restored Hinduism to its early glory as the primary religious force, and remained a force until the early 17th century. At its height, it may have had a population of 500,000 people over and above a million-man mercenary army. Today, the site of the city, on the banks of the Tungabhadra River, is an arid, 33-square-mile spread of majestic ruins, also partly occupied by the scrappy modern village of Hampi towered over by its ornate 15th-century Virupaksha Temple.
Vijayanagar financial and political strength stemmed from its control of spice and cotton production and trade. Great international markets existed within its frontiers and intellectual exchange was encouraged. As a result, literature and the arts flourished, and peace and prosperity spread throughout the realm as it never had before. Contact even with the northern Muslims was common and expected, bringing with it new thought and creative productivity. Despite this stability, petty squabbles and shifting alliances led to a fatal battle in 1565 at which the forces of Vijayanagar were defeated by an alliance of lesser kingdoms. Vijayanagar was destroyed and despite moving the capital to another city, by 1614 the empire had collapsed.

LOCATION
Hampi is located in the central part of the state of Karnataka, in the southern part of India. It is 353 km from Bangalore, and 13 km from Hospet. It is located on top of a rugged terrain and is 467 m above sea level. Tungabhadra River flows through Hampi. It has a tropical climate with hot summers (April–June), and cool winters (October–February). It experiences the southwestern monsoon rains from June to August.

CLIMATE
SummerMarch - late June, Hot and humid Temperatures - 22°C - 38°C
MonsoonsJune - late August, Moderate rainfall Annual rainfall - 75 cms
WinterNovember – February, Nights are especially chilly Temperatures - 12.2°C - 25°C
Local Languages: Kannada & English
Best Time to Visit: September – March
Clothing: Light tropical in summer, Heavy woolen in winter