State: Karnataka

Main languages: Kannada and Telugu

 

History:

 

The village of Hampi is situated in the northern Karnataka state, India. The village gets its name from Pampa, which is the old name of the Tungabhadra River. The village is built on the banks of this river. The village is located within the ruins of Vijayanagara, which was also the former capital of the Vijayanagara Empire. Historians believe that the Hampi could be the predating the city of Vijayanagara. The village is an important religious centre and houses the Virupaksha Temple. There are various other ancient monuments located in this city.  The Vijayanagara ruins are listed at Hampi are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The name of the city is the anglicized version of the Kannada Hampe. The city is also referred to as Vijayanagara and Virupakshapura. The village was a core part of the Vijayanagara Empire from 1336 to 1565. The architecture here is made with large stones which have been utilized to make larger than life statues of god. Due to the Islamic aggressions many statues have been destroyed or damaged.

 

Geography:

 

The village of Hampi is situated on the banks of the Tungabhadra River and is 353 km from Bangalore. The city has abundant mineral deposits like iron ore and manganese which also helped in the building of these architectural marvels. 

 

Climate:

 

The village has a generally dry & hot with summers from March to early June. The monsoon lasts from late June to early August and the colder period of the year is from November to February. All seasons are ideal to visit the village.

 

Economy:

 

The main industries of Hampi village are agriculture which is accompanied by the income from the tourism industry. Virupaksha temple and other temples ensure tourists through out the year. Even the annual Vijayanagar Festival contributes to the economy of the city. Due to mineral deposits there has been a recent boom for the supply of iron-ore in the international market and this has led to excessive mining in this district. 

 

Tourism:

 

One of the best ways to explore this village is by hiring a bicycle or moped. There are various places to see here like the Virupakska Temple, Vitthala temple that has musical pillars, Tiruvengalanatha Temple, Akka Tangi Gudda, Anegondi, Anjeyanadri Hill, Aqueducts and Canals, Archaeological Museum at Kamalapura

Badava Linga, Underground Temple, Tungabhadra River, Uddana Veerabhadra temple, Ugra Narasimha and many more. The Virupaksha Temple complex is a Shiva temple situated in the Hampi Bazaar. Due to the abundant natural resources there are plenty of monkey in the area but are basically harmless till they are teased. There is good south Indian food available here. 

 

Transportation:

 

Those who are traveling by train can easily reach Hampi from different parts of Southern India. There are well connected roads that connect the village to other southern cities. Bangalore international airport is the nearest airport. Hospet is the nearest busiest town which provides easy access to Hampi. 

 

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