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Thursday, November 21, 2024
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The magnificent ruined city of Hampi, 353 kilometers from Bangalore, Karnataka once the capital of the Vijayanagar Empire (One of the greatest empires in the history of India), comes alive during the lively festival of dance and music, held in the first week of November.
The Vijaynagar city ruins near the village of Hampi, are one of the most fascinating historical sites in South India. It has ruins of stone temples, elephant stables, barracks and palaces. Temples of this city are noted for their large dimensions, florid ornamentation, bold and delicate carvings, stately pillars, magnificent pavilions. Most of the site is early 16th century, built during the 20 year reign of the great Vijayanagar ruler, Krishna Deva Raya (1509 -1529). Hampi holds many delightful surprises. The most famous is the King's Balance where kings were weighed against gold or money which was then distributed to the poor. Also worth a visit are the Queen's Bath with its arched corridors, projecting balconies and lotus shaped fountains, the two storeyed Lotus Mahal, the huge Elephant Stables, the splendid Vitthal Temple with its musical pillars and the Stone Chariot, the Virupaksha Temple, Ugra Narasimha, the 6.7 meters tall monolith, the Pushkarini Tank, the Mahanavami Dibba, etc. Virupaksha temple is still in use.
Organized by the Government of Karnataka, the Hampi festival includes Dance, drama, music, fireworks, puppet shows, spectacular processions, all combine to recreate the grandeur of the bygone era.
How to get there
Air: The nearest airport is Bellary (74 kms.) and the other airports are at Belgaum (190 kms) and Bangalore(353 kms), Bijapur, Hubli and Guntakal.
Rail: The nearest railhead is Hospet.
Road: There are KSRTC Buses available to Hospet.
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