Category: Hampi

The city of Hampi, which is filled with ancient ruins, has been designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. This ancient gem can be found tucked away in the shady depths of hills and valleys in the Indian state of Karnataka. Hampi is a backpacker’s paradise because it is surrounded by 500 antique ruins, stunning temples, bustling street markets, bastions, a treasury building, and other enthralling vestiges of the Vijayanagar Empire. A popular approach to learning about the past of Hampi is through visiting the city’s many historical sites, of which there are more than a hundred.

There are claims that Hampi, the Vijayanagar capital about 1500 AD, was the second largest city in the world at the time. It lost prominence throughout the succeeding decades, leaving behind a wide landscape littered with the remnants of long-vanished temples and other buildings. Hampi’s surroundings are just as enigmatic as the ruins themselves: the city is surrounded by rocks of varying sizes, and with a little effort, you can climb to the summit of one of these boulders and be rewarded with a breathtaking panorama of the surrounding area. It sits along the Tungabhadra River’s banks.

The Virupaksha Temple, dedicated to the empire’s patron deity, is notably well-known for its vast size and intricate carvings. Aqueducts, canals, and even military barracks and stables from centuries past can still be seen here. Many efforts have been made to restore Hampi to its former splendour since it was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1986; nonetheless, few contemporary buildings are permitted in the central area to maintain the site’s unique atmosphere.