Hampi - An Adventure into the Past

Hello All,

Not able to find time to write. So, this time determined that this article would be a priority. Here am I back again, writing about my recent visit to Hampi. 

Firstly, Hats-off to all those who keep up a travel blog. Visiting the place, finding about it and then putting it in an article is a tough thing altogether. Let me start with the places I happened to visit in Hampi. It was one night and two-day trip to Hampi. Like most other tourist, even I and my friends happened to land first in Hospet Junction, from where we took an auto to Hampi. Hampi, the city is cut by river named Tungabhadra. The other side of the river housed some resorts, where we had put up. After the check in and fresh ups, we hired a scooter. Our first visit was Sanapur Lake, where the vast body of water had accumulated amidst the wall of rocks. From there, we rode to Vali-Sugriva caves, places where the warrior mentioned in the Epic Ramayana resided. This place was not open to public, so we drove again to Anjandri hills, place of birth of another warrior of same epic – Hanuman. This hill had 600 steps to top, climbing which the sunset really looked amazing. Our next day went about exploring the other side of the river. Here, we hired a tourist auto and visited all around the then glorious capital of Vijaynagar, Hampi. We visited, Kadekalu Ganesh who got his name because of the stomach in shape of Bengal gram. Next stop was Krishna Mandhir and Krishna market from where we arrived at the Underground Shiva temple. On the way we saw, Ugra Narasimha and Badavi Linga. Later we visited, Lotus Mahal and elephant stables on the way to which we saw Akka-Tangi guda. Travelling further, we visited the Hazar Ram temple from where we arrived at a place called Mahanavami Dibba (Which was the area of Soldier training, water irrigation system and common gathering of the Kingdom). After a break for lunch, we arrived at the Vittal temple and the music pillar temples. Finally ending with a small trek back to Virupaksha temple, visiting which we caught our train back to Bangalore.

 Hampi as I saw was a mixture of many stories and cultures and architectures. Most ancient being those from the Epic tale of Ramayana. This place (or nearby Kiskinda) is the birth place of Hanuman, is the place of residence of great warriors Vali and Sugriva and the place where the Majesty Ram found the jewelry of his wife, she had thrown during her kidnapping. This was the place where he makes the allies with Sugriva and forms his mighty Ape-men army. The place is also the significance of the great friendship between Rama and Sugriva, for whose sake he not only proved his power of chopping 7 trees in a row with just an arrow, but also killed the then King, Vali. Kiskinda stands tall for the justice baring instance of advance law tactics of Ape-men and of the Rama besieging the throne back for Vali. This city of stones is ornamenting with a beautiful river - Tungabhadra, providing the richness in soil for farming.

 Probably the same realization must have occurred, when Harihar I and Bukka founded their Kingdom of Vijaynagar during 14^th century. And no wonder, they prospered in the capital of Hampi. Land was famous for the gold, diamonds, gems, ruby and many rare gems sold in the streets during the reign of Vijaynagar Empire. The kingdom had flourished far across most of the regions of current South India, with a wealthy capital situated at Hampi. The King – Krishnadevraya from the same dynasty was a great appraiser of art, music, literature and architecture. Hence during his reign, he turned the vast stone city into unbelievable temple collections. Hampi city was a very well-planned city for the era of 14-16^th century. With Dravidian style of architecture. The city has been well-arranged with a bank, a coin printing place, the palaces and bath arenas, a water irrigation and accumulation system, an entertainment area, a formal announcement and gathering area, temple and worship zones etc. Every structure had a stone foundation available from the abundant local stone, upon which the houses and building made from variety wood rested.

 City must have been colorful and adorning. Hence, like everyone aspiring the shining star, Hampi caught eyes of the invaders. The armies of the Delhi Sultanate, particularly those of Alauddin Khalji and Muhammad Bin Tughlaq, invaded and pillaged South India. They wanted to spread their culture and religion across these places. Also, the wealth of this place must have caught their attention. For whatever reasons, the city was under invasion and kingdom was in wars multiple times, leading to diminishing treasury of the city and Kingdom. They destroyed the temples and the sculpture of the King’s religion and built their worship places. Once the people's wealth was looted, the city was set on fire. City being made from wood, caught fire and burned for 6 months continuously. Only that remained of the city is the stone foundation underneath. This hell scene must have created fears among the people of Hampi and around. This must fear must have run down for generations because the city still has just remnant ash and never again emerged to be alive and happening city of any other era.  

Hampi being a tourist attraction, has many national and international tourists. But during my stay, I never much found a local resident of Hampi who relate the tales of Hampi back to someone in their family. Hampi is now maintained by UNESCO, who are responsible for excavation and preservation of the monuments. Thus, the ruins of Hampi, seems to talk its own tales. Concluding on Hampi as following – City where the Tungabhadra river silently breaks into the rocks and flows across making the soil more fertile; city where multiple history tales of India collide; City where Pampadevi(Parvati) went into meditation for years to win the heart of Lord Shiva(It is also calledPampakshetra); City with the birth place of the Mighty Hanuman; City where stones are nature’s beauty and excellent monuments as well; Unimaginably ancient City where the music came alive into the pillars of the temple; This mother of all architectures city, where all gods seems to reside in place; City where modern techniques, banks and trading, water saving and irrigation system, soldier training and varied applied science to learn from;  The city which remains forever as a mark of invasions and clashes and fights; The heavenly city which burnt for 6 months and yet stands tall as a symbol for making it through; The dead city seems alive with crowd and yet it is not it’s original crowd; And lastly the city centered for tourists and their need catered…

Please Take Care :-)
Keep smiling :-)
With Loads of Love,
Maddy.