The Stone Chariot (Garuda Chariot) at Hampi

Hampi was once the glorious capital of the mighty Vijayanagar Empire (1336-1565), which extended from the Arabian Sea to the Bay of Bengal and from the Deccan plateau to the tip of the Indian peninsula. Founded in the middle of the 14th century by two local princes, Hakka and Bukka, the Vijayanagar Empire came to be a celebrated for its might and wealth and as a showpiece of imperial magnificence.

The city was sacked, pillaged and burnt in 1565, after the combined armies of the Muslim sultanates of the Deccan defeated the Vijayanagar military and the king fled the capital.

Vijayanagar kings were patron of art and architecture as evident by the vast ruins of Hampi. Much of Vijayanagar's 26 sq. kms capital city waits to be discovered. Along the banks of the river, amidst the giant boulders, underneath the wild vegetation, there are secrets and treasures still unknown.

The destruction and pillage of Vijayanagar was so sudden and so total, that the re-creation of the city could mean many years of patient work. Some recent excavations have unearthed beautifully preserved temples, one of them underground, and the ruins of what must have been once splendid palaces and gateways.

The name is derived from Pampa, which is the old name of the Tungabhadra River on whose banks the city is built. The name "Hampi" is an anglicized version of the Kannada Hampe (derived from Pampa). Over the years, it has also been referred to as Vijayanagara and Virupakshapura (from Virupaksha, the patron deity of the Vijayanagara rulers).



One of the notable features of the Vittala Temple is the musical pillars. Each of the pillars that support the roof of the main temple is supported by a pillar representing a musical instrument, and is constructed as 7 minor pillars arranged around a main pillar. These 7 pillars, when struck, emanate the 7 notes from the representative instrument, varying in sound quality based on whether it represents a wind, string or percussion instrument.



Also to the south of Hampi is this massive rock cut idol of NarasimhaNarasimha


This is a natural cave, said to be the original home of the monkey king Sugriva.

This is a natural cave in Hampi, which is believed to be the original home of the monkey king Sugriva. Legends say that goddess Sita let fall her jewels here when carried off by the demon king Ravana and Lord Ram is said to have met Hanuman on his travels in the same place. The cave is dotted with beautiful paintings. Nearby is the Sita Sarovar, a pond.


Lotus Mahal

A palace for the queen that has, among other things, pipes with running water. A construction of the later Vijayanagara period, this structure shows Islamic influence in its arched gateways and vaulted ceilings; its construction entirely in stone is a clear deviation from conventional Vijayanagara palace and house construction that used wooden structures on stone platforms.

Elephant stables


A set of large stables, to house the ceremonial elephants of the royal household. The area in front of them was a parade ground for the elephants, and for troops. This is another structure that shows Islamic influence in its domes and arched gateways. The guards' barracks are located right next to the elephant stables.



Pushkarani

Also called the Stepped Bath, or the Queen's bath, this is a stepped Stepwells, also called bawdi or baoli , are in essence water wells in which the water can be reached by descending a set of steps.... designed for bathing. Such sunken wells were created to provide relief from daytime heat. It would have been covered when the city was occupied.

Ancient Market place -Vijaynagar empire(HAMPI)
The Vijayanagara ruins are listed as the Group of Monuments at Hampi as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.