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Hampi - Here Stones Speaks in Volumes

By: Aparna


Posted Thursday, September 13, 2007

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Hampi is the historical site famous for its scattered ruins belonging to the erstwhile medieval Hindu kingdom of Vijynagra. The ruins are spread over a 26 sq km and there are around 500 monuments. It was once considered greater than Rome and was one of the richest cities of the world. Hampi is located in the central part of the state of Karnataka, in the Southern part of India. The temples and monuments of Hampi attract the tourists because of their excellent architecture and marvelous workmanship. The ruins of the stone temples, elephant stables, barracks and planes offer the fascinating view of the bygone era.

Hampi has been declared as the World Heritage Site. Some of the must sightseeing places at Hampi include Virupaksha Temple, dedicated to the Lord Vishnu. Overlooking the Virupaksha Temple is the Hemakuta Hill famous for the Jain temples and Monolithic structure of Narasimha. To the east of Hampi bazaar you can visit the well preserved Vithala Temple that provides the fine example of the Vijaynagar art. This temple displays an beautifully carved stone chariot containing the image of Garuda. You can also visit the Lotus Mahal located in the Zenana enclosure. It provides the magnificent view of the Hindu and Islamic style of architecture. Elephant stables, Queen's Bath, Noblemen's Palace and Hazara Rama Temple are the added attractions of this place.

Sightseeing in Hampi

Carry good pair of your walking shoes to explore the ruins of Hampi on foot. Witness the monkeys climbing over the hill top. Climb up the cliff to get the delightful view of the ruins. You can venture through the rice fields and banana plantations. You cal also store all these precious moments in the camera to be kept as the memory.

Bicycle/ Bike ride at Hampi

You can also hire the bicycle or bike to rode around the sites at Hampi. On the bike you can explore those parts also where the rickshaws want take you. You can ride through the nearby village of Kamalapuram and encant with the local people about their lifestyle.

Visiting Hampi with a guide

You can also hire the local guides while making a visit to the local temples in Hampi. They can very well converse in English and gives you the better insight of the place. On the way they entertain you with the various stories related to the rulers. They very well know about the history of ruins and about all the famous tourists attractions in Hampi.

Shopping at Hampi Bazaar

Along with the sightseeing you can explore the Hampi bazaar famous for the Handicrafts work. You can shop for the carpets, gemstones, silver jewellery and bangles from this place. Do-not forget to explore the exclusive Kasmiri shops.

Boating at Hampi

While at Hampi you can enjoy boating through the enchanting river. Inhale deeply to get the best of fresh scented air. Enjoy the magnificent view of nearby areas and the mountains of huge granite stones.

Fairs and Festivals

If you get the chance to visit this place in the month of January or February, you can enjoy the celebrations of the famous Purandara Festival. This annual festival is held in the Vittal temple to celebrate the birth anniversary of the medieval poet-composer, Purandar. The whole night you can stay at the temple and enjoy the traditional dance and music.

References

http://www.cultural-heritage-india.com/world_heritage_sites/hampi.html

I am an Indian and this makes me responsible enough to write about the places which have always fascinated me. Hampi is one of them...

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