Hampi: The Architectural Gem Of Karnataka

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Hampi, the architectural marvel and epitome of ancient civilization is situated on the banks of river Tungabhadra in Ballari, Karnataka. The city of ruins which is spread over 41.5 sq km was the capital of the mighty Vijayanagara Empire in the 14th century. It is an open museum with 100’s of locations surrounded by 500 odd ancient monuments or structures to explore. This place was declared as the UNESCO World Heritage Site in the year 1986.

Hampi was considered one of the richest and largest cities in the world during the heydays of the Vijayanagara empire from the 15th to 16th centuries. It is home to ancient temples, ruins of palaces remain of aquatic structures, monolithic structures, ancient bazaar streets, royal pavilions, bastions, royal platforms, forts, treasury buildings, and several other architectural surprises spread over a vast area. All these ancient monuments showcase the exceptional architecture and unmatched craftsmanship and Workmanship this kingdom possessed. The Virupaksha temple, Vittala temple, stone chariot, Elephant stable, Lotus Mahal, and queen’s bath should be on top of your list. Apart from this, this was also the major trading center for cotton, spices, and gemstones.

Outside of this, Hampi which is full of rugged terrains and rocky boulders has the adventurous side attached to it. You can witness adventurous activities like trekking, rock climbing, cliff jumping, coracle rides,  etc. Try climbing the small hillocks around the cities to have a better view of the ruins of the Vijayanagara kingdom.

Hampi is a delight for tourists, Backpackers as well as the people who seek religious blessings, thus is considered among the best places to visit in Karnataka.

Shopping 

If you are a shopping freak then head to Streets next to Virupaksha temple which is flooded with shops on either side. These shops offer antique coins, traditional costumes, handicrafts, artifacts, colorful bags, jewelry, silk clothes, cotton clothes, etc. Do not miss out on stuff with Lambani prints which is the specialty in this region. Also, try hitting the place in the morning to skip the hustle-bustle of travelers and tourists in the evening.

What To Eat While In Hampi

As tourists and travelers from various corners of the world pay a visit to Hampi, you can witness a variety of cuisines. However, as Hampi is a temple town, the scope for non-vegetarian food is limited. Nevertheless, don’t miss an opportunity to gobble down on Spicy south Indian dishes.

Hampi Utsav

You can visit this place during Hampi Utsav or post-monsoon in the months of October to February. Hampi Utsav is a 3-day cultural festival which is organized by the tourism department of Karnataka every year. This festival showcases the rich history and culture of Vijayanagara in the form of dance, drama, songs, music, etc. Usually, you will be able to see the whole town flooded with travelers and being lit up with colorful lights.

How To Reach Hampi

Hampi, being one of the most popular sites, is well-connected from major cities of Karnataka. The City of ruins “Hampi” is situated just 12 kilometers away from the Hospet town in the Ballari district. You can either take frequently available buses or trains from Bangalore to Hospet. From Hospet, you can hire an auto-rickshaw to reach historic town Hampi

Also, read: Places To Visit And Things To Do In Hampi

 

Hampi: Places To Visit And Things To Do In Hampi

image of 1140x530

Hampi, the architectural marvel and epitome of ancient civilization is situated on the banks of river Tungabhadra in Ballari, Karnataka. The city of ruins which is spread over 41.5 sq km was the capital of the mighty Vijayanagara Empire in the 14th century. It is an open museum with 100’s of locations surrounded by 500 odd ancient monuments or structures to explore. This place was declared as the UNESCO World Heritage Site in the year 1986. This blog post will throw light on some of the best places you can visit and things to do in Hampi.

Places To Visit And Things To Do In Hampi

Hemakuta Hills

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Hemakuta hills are home to a collection of a large number of shrines that belongs to pre Vijayanagar dynasty times. Once upon a time, these hills were topped with beautiful temples, mandapas, pavilions, gateways, galleries, archways, and fort walls. But, what remains now is only the ruins of the architectural wonder that sustained the attacks of various rulers.

It is a short trek of 15 minutes to climb the hill. You need to take steps carved on a humongous rock, to the north of Virupaksha temple to reach the Hilltop. After reaching the top, flat land stuffed with magnificent monuments welcomes you with open arms.

Know More About Hemakuta Hills

Vittala temple In Hampi

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Vittala temple dates back to the 15 century and it is the grandest of all temples and monuments in Hampi. This temple complex is spread over a large area with high walls, 3-tower gateways, halls, and multiple shrines. In fact, each of these structures present in the temple is built in the Dravidian style of architecture using stone. Outside of this, this temple also hosts the “Stone Chariot” which is one of the iconic symbols of Indian architecture. Not just that, it also houses one of the biggest mysteries of Indian Temples, yes we are talking about” Musical Pillars”.

Read More About Vittala Temple

Stone Chariot Hampi

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Iconic Chariot is built on a rectangular platform using giant granite blocks. You can witness the carving of mythical battle scenes all around the base of the chariot. In fact, it is not a chariot, but a shrine dedicated to “Garuda” carrier of Lord Vishnu. Moreover, this is the same chariot that you normally see depicted on the 50 Rupee note.

Coracle Ride-In Hampi

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Like every great kingdom begins on the banks of the river, so did the great Vijayanagar empire on the banks of the river Tungabadra. The ancient town of Hampi is well known for its culture, architectural beauty, as well as the great and wealthy lifestyle they followed.

 The round-shaped boats or coracles made of bamboo were used by everyone to ferry people and livestock, during the heydays of the Vijayanagar empire to move across the Tungabhadra river. Even to date these coracles are being used by locals and have become immensely popular among the travelers. This little beauty carries around 6 to 8 people on a go and will take you across to ancient temples, ruins & historical places that are perched on top of rocky boulders. Try hitting this place in evenings, as sunsets in these regions are truly magical when watched from coracles as you glide through the water.

Never say never, to the merry go-arounds rides on the coracles, it is just an out of the world experience.

Majestic Mysore Palace And It\’s Royalness

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If there is another word for grandeur then that is gotta be Mysore Palace. Also known as Amba Vilas Palace it is one of the biggest palaces in the whole of India. This royal residence in Mysore stands tall facing the Chamundi Hills in the east. Literally speaking, there are no words in a dictionary that can describe the beauty of Mysore Palace.

 The 24th ruler of Wodeyar dynasty “ Maharaja Krishnaraja Wodeyar 4” built this palace in the year 1912, Later the palace was expanded by his son Jayachamaraja Wodeyar. The palace is designed by British Architect Henry Irwin in Indo-Saracenic style, which is a blend of Hindu, Mughals, Rajputs, and Gothic style. Some of the finest craftsmen across the country have joined hands to create this architectural marvel. The major portion of the Mysore palace remains with the government. However, a small portion is still being used as the official residence of the royal family. 

Structure Of Mysore Palace

Mysore Palace is a 3 storeyed stone palace with marble domes and 145 ft tall 5 storeyed watchtowers. There are 2 colourful darbar halls with ornate ceilings, sculpted pillars, and beautiful paintings that tell stories about the culture and traditions of the royal family. 

Near the entrance of the palace, there is a “Gombe Totti”. Where the traditional dolls of different times have been displayed. Most of the dolls in here are a personal collection of rulers of the Wodeyar dynasty. A major highlight is a wooden elephant decorated with 84 kg worth of gold on it.

You can witness a peacock themed Kalyanamantapa with stained glass windows of different shades and floral mandalas. Moreover.this is the place where the royal family celebrate their birthdays, marriage ceremonies, baby showers, etc.

There are large lush green gardens surrounding the palace, where you can click a pic, having the palace in the backdrop. Besides this, there are 12 Hindu temples in the complex that dates back from the 14th century till 1950.

Usually, on Sundays and other public holidays, you can witness the whole palace being lit with 97,000 golden hues of light. 

Mysore Palace is the 2nd most visited site in India by locals as well as foreigners after “Taj Mahal”.As per the stats, nearly 6 million travellers visit this place every year.

There is a light and music show that happens every evening for tourists, except on Sundays and public holidays.

Usually, on Sundays and other public holidays, you can witness the whole palace being lit with 97,000 golden hues of light. 

Dasara Celebrations In Mysore

Mysore palace is the epicentre of Dasara festival and is celebrated in a grandeur way for 10 days. The whole town comes alive with colourful lights, fireworks, small eateries, small stones that sell handicrafts, and people flooding the streets. The main attraction of the festival is the parade march of elephants that are decorated with paint and jewels. In fact, an elephant will carry the idol of goddess Chamundeshwari on the fabled Golden Howdah that weighs 750 kgs. Interestingly, you can see lakhs of travellers and tourists from India and all around the world hoping to witness the Dasara celebrations. Apart from this, there are  a lot of sports and games organized 

Mysore Palace Information

Entry Fee for Adults: Rs 70/ person

Entry Fee for Children: Rs 30

Timings: 10 Am to 5:30 Pm

Location: Close To Mysore Main Bus stand.

Duration: 2 to 3 hours

Also, read: Sringeri Sharada Temple

Majestic Mysore Palace And It\\\’s Royalness

image of 1140x530

If there is another word for grandeur then that is gotta be Mysore Palace. Also known as Amba Vilas Palace it is one of the biggest palaces in the whole of India. This royal residence in Mysore stands tall facing the Chamundi Hills in the east. Literally speaking, there are no words in a dictionary that can describe the beauty of Mysore Palace.

 The 24th ruler of Wodeyar dynasty “ Maharaja Krishnaraja Wodeyar 4” built this palace in the year 1912, Later the palace was expanded by his son Jayachamaraja Wodeyar. The palace is designed by British Architect Henry Irwin in Indo-Saracenic style, which is a blend of Hindu, Mughals, Rajputs, and Gothic style. Some of the finest craftsmen across the country have joined hands to create this architectural marvel. The major portion of the Mysore palace remains with the government. However, a small portion is still being used as the official residence of the royal family. 

Structure Of Mysore Palace

Mysore Palace is a 3 storeyed stone palace with marble domes and 145 ft tall 5 storeyed watchtowers. There are 2 colourful darbar halls with ornate ceilings, sculpted pillars, and beautiful paintings that tell stories about the culture and traditions of the royal family. 

Near the entrance of the palace, there is a “Gombe Totti”. Where the traditional dolls of different times have been displayed. Most of the dolls in here are a personal collection of rulers of the Wodeyar dynasty. A major highlight is a wooden elephant decorated with 84 kg worth of gold on it.

You can witness a peacock themed Kalyanamantapa with stained glass windows of different shades and floral mandalas. Moreover.this is the place where the royal family celebrate their birthdays, marriage ceremonies, baby showers, etc.

There are large lush green gardens surrounding the palace, where you can click a pic, having the palace in the backdrop. Besides this, there are 12 Hindu temples in the complex that dates back from the 14th century till 1950.

Usually, on Sundays and other public holidays, you can witness the whole palace being lit with 97,000 golden hues of light. 

Mysore Palace is the 2nd most visited site in India by locals as well as foreigners after “Taj Mahal”.As per the stats, nearly 6 million travellers visit this place every year.

There is a light and music show that happens every evening for tourists, except on Sundays and public holidays.

Usually, on Sundays and other public holidays, you can witness the whole palace being lit with 97,000 golden hues of light. 

Dasara Celebrations In Mysore

Mysore palace is the epicentre of Dasara festival and is celebrated in a grandeur way for 10 days. The whole town comes alive with colourful lights, fireworks, small eateries, small stones that sell handicrafts, and people flooding the streets. The main attraction of the festival is the parade march of elephants that are decorated with paint and jewels. In fact, an elephant will carry the idol of goddess Chamundeshwari on the fabled Golden Howdah that weighs 750 kgs. Interestingly, you can see lakhs of travellers and tourists from India and all around the world hoping to witness the Dasara celebrations. Apart from this, there are  a lot of sports and games organized 

Mysore Palace Information

Entry Fee for Adults: Rs 70/ person

Entry Fee for Children: Rs 30

Timings: 10 Am to 5:30 Pm

Location: Close To Mysore Main Bus stand.

Duration: 2 to 3 hours

Also, read: Sringeri Sharada Temple