My trip to Hampi karnataka

Tripoto
24th Sep 2020
Photo of My trip to Hampi karnataka by yashu kaur
Day 1

Stones, views, temples, more stones. That is what Hampi is! But these stones have a meaning. Some are ruins dating back to the Middle Ages, some created impressive hills of boulders, some are used for carvings and others to build temples. Hampi is not just another historical village, Hampi is a UNESCO World Heritage site and it should be in the bucket list of every indian

My travel from harihar karnataka to hampi (hospet)

Me and my friends took a local bus from harihar to hospet which is around 119 km and it took us 3 hours to reach from harihar to hospet which is around 12 km from humpi. We stayed to hospet overnight had some amazing stuffs from hospet and at the early morning we took the auto to reach to humpi from hospet

What is humpi?

Hampi is an ancient village in the south Indian state of Karnataka. It’s dotted with numerous ruined temple complexes from the Vijayanagara Empire. On the south bank of the River Tungabhadra is the 7th-century Hindu Virupaksha Temple, near the revived Hampi Bazaar. A carved stone chariot stands in front of the huge Vittala Temple site. Southeast of Hampi, Daroji Bear Sanctuary is home to the Indian sloth bear.
Actually humpi is not a village or a city center. Hampi consist of lots of different temple complexes scattered around a vast area dived by a river. Until a couple years ago locals were living in the temple complexes, but since it got declared a UNESCO World Heritag Site, locals had to move out. Now all there is left in Hampi are ruins, temples, boulders, hills and a handful local homes all over the area. 

History of humpi

Humpi was the capital of Vijayanagara empire in the 14th century.  By 1500 CE, Hampi-Vijayanagara was the world's second-largest mediaeval-era city after beijing and probably India's richest at that time, attracting traders from Persia and Portugal in 1565 conquered and destroyed by Muslims
The Vijayanagara  was defeated by a coalition of Muslim sultanates; its capital was conquered, pillaged and destroyed by sultanate armies in 1565, after which Hampi remained in ruins.
Located in Karnataka near the modern-era city of Hosapete, Hampi's ruins are spread over 4,100 hectares (16 sq mi) and it has been described by UNESCO as an "austere, grandiose site" of more than 1,600 surviving remains of the last great Hindu kingdom in South India that includes "forts, riverside features, royal and sacred complexes, temples, shrines, pillared halls, mandapas, memorial structures, water structures and others"Hampi continues to be an important religious centre, housing the Virupaksha Temple, an active Adi Shankara-linked monastery and various monuments belonging to the old city

Why humpi is famous for the travellers

Thanks to the popularity among backpackers traveling to Hampi is a popular thing to do in India. The tourism business is flourishing and now that I have been to. Humpi I can understand why. Hampi tourism has everything: nature, history, sightseeing, mythology, tours, spirituality, cheap accommodation, great food and an incredibly laid-back vibe, beauty,views,natures it's a whole package. This is one of those sleepy places where you can escape the hustle and bustle of India. No honking cars, no street vendors , no tricycles that hassle you. When you travel to Hampi be prepared to fall in love with the place and leaving this place is going to be hard a very hard thing.

Places to visit in humpi

1) Sree Virupaksha Temple

Also known as the Pampapathi temple, it is the most famous temple in Hampi and dates back to the 7th century. It is said that this temple has had a continuous run since then, making it one of the oldest functioning temples in India.There is an elephant living inside the temple complex, which goes bathing in the nearby river every morning.

Photo of Hampi by yashu kaur

2) Vithala temple

The most impressive structure in Hampi, the Vithala Temple dates back to the 16th century and is a truly splendid example of rich architecture.If you continue your walk you pass through several impressive ruins before you hit the Vithala Temple. Here you will find an impressive stone chariot. There are only 3 stone chariots in India)

Photo of My trip to Hampi karnataka by yashu kaur
Photo of My trip to Hampi karnataka by yashu kaur
Photo of My trip to Hampi karnataka by yashu kaur
Photo of My trip to Hampi karnataka by yashu kaur

3) Lotus palace

Close to the Zenana Enclosure, is a monument that stands out in its design and style from most of the structures of Hampi. Another complex, for royal women, this one gets its name from the lotus-like dome

Photo of My trip to Hampi karnataka by yashu kaur
Photo of My trip to Hampi karnataka by yashu kaur

4) hampi bazaar

This bazaar is facing the Virupaksha temple and hence is also known as the Virupaksha Bazaar

5) Lakshmi Narasimha Statue
The statue in Hampi is a huge half man half lion next to the Big Shiva Linga. It was created in 1528, got destroyed in 1565 and reassembled in 1985

Photo of My trip to Hampi karnataka by yashu kaur

6) hippie island

Virapapur Gadde or Hippie Island is a small island situated across the Tungabhadra river. It takes 5 minutes to travel to the island via coracle or boat. The island is an epitome of scenic beauty and is known for laidback ambient and lodges.

Photo of My trip to Hampi karnataka by yashu kaur

7) Coracle river

When in Hampi, you absolutely have to get hold of a coracle and ride in one. It is one of the few places in the country where you can get such an experience and we guarantee that it is going to be a lot of fun. You can rent a coracle at really economic rates and cross the rates in the ferry that looks exactly like the one in olden days. Coracle rides can be arranged for Rs. 50 or around that price and this is one of the most definitive experiences amongst things to do in Hampi. Coracle rides can be arranged at Tungabhadra River boating area, Sanapur Lake, or at Sanapur waterfalls.

Photo of My trip to Hampi karnataka by yashu kaur
Photo of My trip to Hampi karnataka by yashu kaur

8)Matanga hill

This hill is described as the location of the hermiatge of the Saint Matanga during the Ramayana, hence is appropriately named.

9) Elephant stables

The Elephant Stables served as an enclosure for royal elephants back in the day of the Vijayanagra Empire.

Photo of My trip to Hampi karnataka by yashu kaur
Photo of My trip to Hampi karnataka by yashu kaur
Photo of My trip to Hampi karnataka by yashu kaur

10) Hazara rama temple

At the middle of the Royal Centre, this was a place of worship for the royals. The walls and pillars are beautifully adorned with fascinating carvings, including the outside walls of the compound. This temple is smaller in size compared to the others in Hampi.

11) Sasivekalu Ganesh

Sasivekalu Ganesh has a gigantic monolithic statue of Lord Ganesha. The statue is over 8 feet tall and was created in the memory of a Vijayanagara King - King Narasimha II. It is often associated with the legend of Ganesha when he tied a snake around his belly when his stomach was about to burst after he had consumed a lot of food. The snake can be clearly seen around Lord Ganesha's belly.

Photo of My trip to Hampi karnataka by yashu kaur

Best time to visit humpi

According to most Hampi travel guides the best time of the year to visit Hampi is winter(we also visited at the time of winters still the place was super hot).It does get super hot in the months before monsoon (April and May) and it is advisable to avoid rainy season as well.

PS:-no camera can capture the beauty of this place.

Photo of My trip to Hampi karnataka by yashu kaur
Photo of My trip to Hampi karnataka by yashu kaur
Photo of My trip to Hampi karnataka by yashu kaur
Photo of My trip to Hampi karnataka by yashu kaur
Photo of My trip to Hampi karnataka by yashu kaur
Photo of My trip to Hampi karnataka by yashu kaur
Photo of My trip to Hampi karnataka by yashu kaur
Photo of My trip to Hampi karnataka by yashu kaur
Photo of My trip to Hampi karnataka by yashu kaur
Photo of My trip to Hampi karnataka by yashu kaur
Photo of My trip to Hampi karnataka by yashu kaur
Photo of My trip to Hampi karnataka by yashu kaur
Photo of My trip to Hampi karnataka by yashu kaur
Photo of My trip to Hampi karnataka by yashu kaur
Photo of My trip to Hampi karnataka by yashu kaur
Photo of My trip to Hampi karnataka by yashu kaur
Photo of My trip to Hampi karnataka by yashu kaur
Photo of My trip to Hampi karnataka by yashu kaur
Photo of My trip to Hampi karnataka by yashu kaur
Photo of My trip to Hampi karnataka by yashu kaur
Photo of My trip to Hampi karnataka by yashu kaur
Photo of My trip to Hampi karnataka by yashu kaur
Photo of My trip to Hampi karnataka by yashu kaur
Photo of My trip to Hampi karnataka by yashu kaur