Hampi Group of Monuments is situated on the Southern banks of the river Tungabhadra at Hampi, in Karnataka State, India. It is one of the best Karnataka sites in terms of archaeological value. The moment you see the ruins at Hampi, you will be spellbound. The temple complex is known as Hampi Vittala Temple. It is partially ruined after the The Battle of Talikota in 1565, that resulted in a decisive defeat for Vijayanagara, against a coalition of four Deccan Sultanates.

The Jain temple at Pattadakal (Hampi) is a UNESCO world heritage site.

This group of monuments consists of ten temples that are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Within the heritage site, you can find eight temples dedicated to Lord Shiva; the ninth one is a Shaivite sanctuary known as the Papanatha Temple, and the tenth temple is a Jain Temple. Four temples were built in the Chalukya Dravida style of architecture, while four other temples were built in the Northern Indian Nagara style. The Shaivite sanctuary, Papanatha Temple, shown below, is a fusion of the Chalukya Dravida and Nagara styles of architecture.

Hampi was once the seat of the Chalukya and Vijayanagar Empires, which ruled northern Karnataka centuries back.

UNESCO declared a group of temples consisting of the Virupaksha Temple and other nearby temples as a world heritage site. Virupaksha Temple was built in the year CE 740, which is considered one of the most outstanding architectural marvels in India. There is daily worksip (pooja) at the Virupaksha Temple.

These World Heritage temples at Hampi are a remarkable combination of temples built by the Chalukya Dynasty, which ruled the areas of Aihole, Badami, and Pattadakal during the 6th and 8th centuries.

Vittala Temple Complex has an iconic stone chariot, which the Karnataka State Tourism Department adopts as its emblem. Vitthala Temple alias Shri Vijaya Vitthala Temple has got some amazing stone structures. It includes musical pillars of the Ranga Mantapa, which was carved out of huge single pieces of resonant stone. This temple was built during the reign of King Devaraya II (1422 – 1446 A.D.) It is in the Dravidian style of architecture. This temple has three towering gateways, with a high compound wall. It is the most visited and photographed monument at Hampi. Temple opens at 8:30 AM and closes at 5:00 PM. Photography and video are allowed in this temple complex.

The Yantrodharaka Hanuman Temple alias Pranadeva Temple on Anjanadri Hill across the Tungabhadra River from Hampi is a popular nearby temple. Its a Lord Humunam temple, often depicted as a monkey-faced god. Lord Humunam is a central figure in the Great Epic Ramayana.

Lotus Mahal, Pushkarani step wells (where royal family used to bath in olden days), Elephant Stable, Bali cave, Tungabhadra dam, etc, are some of the other tourist places near Hampi.

Achyutaraya Temple

Achyutaraya Temple is another nearby ancient temple at Hampi.

How Do I Go to the Hampi Group of Monuments?

Hospet is the nearest railway station, at 13 kilometers distance.

The nearest Airport is Bellary, a domestic airport 60 kilometers away. Bengaluru Alias Bangalore is the nearest international airport, located 350 kilometers away.

There are good roads, that connect Hampi to other parts of the country.

Gangavathi is a nearby city around 27 kilometers from the temple town on the other side of the river, Tungabhadra. A lot of cottages and resorts are there. Tourists patronize Gangavathi to Hampi, especially foreign tourists.

Matanga Hill in Hampi is a popular trekking destination, at 1726 feet elevation.

Conclusion

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