- Also called:
- Group of Monuments at Hampi, Pampakshetra, and Kishkindha-kshetra
Hampi
Where is Hampi located?
What are the three major architectural influences at Hampi?
What is the significance of the Virupaksha Temple?
What is unique about the Vittala Temple?
What is the historical significance of Anegundi?
Hampi, a 16-square-mile (40-square-km) site located in Vijayanagara district, Karnataka, India. It sits on the southern bank of the Tungabhadra river. The area comprises more than 1,600 surviving monuments from the former capital city, Vijayanagara (Sanskrit: âCity of Victoryâ), of the Vijayanagara empire, which was founded in 1336. The site contains a wide range of structures: royal and religious enclosures, temples, commemorative monuments, pillared pavilions, animal quarters, and water management installations. In 1986 Hampi was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Epic lore and mythical identity
Hampi has long been associated with legends of the Sanskrit epic Ramayana and Puranic lore (a corpus of Hindu literature comprising myth, legend, and genealogy), which underlie its alternate names Kishkindhaâkshetra and Pampakshetra.
According to Hindu mythology, Kishkindha was the kingdom of monkeys ruled by the monkey king Sugriva. It was here that Ramaâthe hero of the Ramayana and an avatar of the god Vishnuâand his half-brother Lakshmana first met the monkey god Hanuman while searching for Ramaâs wife, Sita. The hills, boulders, and riverbanks around Hampiâincluding Matanga Hill and Anjanadri Hillâare believed to correspond to landmarks mentioned in the Ramayana.
The name Pampakshetra (âfield of Pampaâ) refers to Pampa, a local name for the goddess Parvati of Hindu mythology, and is the ancient name of the Tungabhadra river. Hindu lore says that Shiva performed meditation on Hemakuta Hill at Hampi before marrying Pampa, daughter of Brahma. The site is also linked to the destruction of Kama, the god of desire, who disturbed Shivaâs meditation in support of Pampaâs wish to marry Shiva. Enraged, Shiva burnt Kama to ashes with his third eye at this spot.
Architectural styles
Hampiâs monuments reflect centuries of cultural blending, drawing from three major architectural influencesâDravidian, Indo-Islamic, and Vijayanagara.
Dravidian architecture features massive structures with secluded enclosures, walls embellished with sculpted motifs, tall towers, and entryways framed by ornamental pillars. Classic examples of Dravidian-style structures include the Virupaksha Temple and the Vittala Temple.
Indo-Islamic architecture is often characterized by symmetrical arches and domes and decorative paneling, such as those at the Lotus Mahal and elephant stables.
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Vijayanagara architecture features ornate temples, elaborately pillared marriage halls (kalyana mandapas), sculpted entrance gateways (gopuras), monolithic statues, the use of granite, and technologically advanced water storage and irrigation structures such as tanks and the aqueduct built during the rule of the Sangama ruler Bukka, one of the founders of Vijayanagara. Some important examples of Vijayanagara structures are the Hazara Rama Temple and the Lakshmi Narasimha statue.
Monument zones and notable structures
The surviving Hampi monuments are present in three distinct zonesâa sacred center, a royal area protected by rocks and fortifications, and the settlement zone. Each zone is home to a variety of noteworthy monuments.
The sacred zone
The Virupaksha Temple, dedicated to Shiva, is the oldest temple within the sacred zone. It is used for worship to this day. The temple is known for its pillared hall (mandapam), with ceiling paintings illustrating events from Hindu mythology and a huge statue of Shivaâs bull mount (vahana), Nandi. The temple predates the Vijayanagara empire. It was constructed in the 7th century ce and is still an active place of worship today.
The Vittala Temple dates to the 15th century and is dedicated to an incarnation of Vishnu, one of the principal Hindu deities. It is famous for its musical pillars, 56 in number, named SaReGaMa for the first four musical notes in Indian classical music. The structure consists of a set of larger musical pillars, each flanked by a ring of seven subsidiary pillars. These smaller pillars are acoustically tuned, with each one believed to resonate with a distinct note from Indian classical music. Also noteworthy are its ornate granite columns depicting yalis (mythical creatures thought to function as protectors) and its stone chariot shrine to Garuda (Vishnuâs eagle vahana).
Religious influence
Many of Hampiâs monuments are temples or shrines built for specific religious communities. The vast majority are for Hindu worship, including more than 35 temples that were built on Hemakuta Hill, most of which are dedicated to Shiva. The Ganagitti temple is a Jain religious structure. Consecrated in 1386, it was dedicated to Kunthunatha, the 17th Tirthankara (a savior who has risen beyond the cycle of rebirths and has paved the path for others to follow).
While the religious monuments are predominantly Hindu, one establishment, now known as Ahmad Khanâs mosque, has been linked to the Islamic faith. In 1439 Ahmad Khan, a high officer in the Vijayanagara empire, built what was inscribed as a âhall of religion.â Researchers later concluded that it was a mosque, based on its prayer niche (mihrab) that faces Mecca, the direction faced by Muslims during prayer.
The royal area
The Queenâs Bath is believed to have been built in the 16th century by the Vijayanagara king Achyuta Deva Raya for the women of the royal family. It is a large square structure with an entrance marked by a series of lobed arches. The open-air interior is arranged around a central pool, with corridors of pointed arches, overhanging balconies, and elaborately plastered domes and vaults.
The Lotus Mahal, also known as Kamal Mahal or Chitrangini Mahal, is believed to have been built in the 16th century. It is a two-story pavilion with a dome shaped like a half-open lotus bud that served as a palace of leisure for the women of the royal family. It features cusped arches and vaults, and its interior is decorated with fine reliefs of flower and animal motifs and scenes depicting Hindu myths.
The elephant stable, considered the most monumental of all Vijayanagara empire capital structures, was home to the royaltyâs elephants. Built from large masonry blocks, the exterior walls are embellished with sculpted scenes depicting working elephants. The stable consists of 11 large domed chambers that were used to house up to 22 elephants, with two in each chamber.
The suburban settlements zone
The Pattabhirama Temple, built during the Vijayanagara empire and dedicated to Rama, is in the center of a walled complex with four entry towers, an interior walkway, and two large axial mandapam (halls). The temple and mandapam are known for the detailed sculptural work adorning their pillars and walls.
The Talarigatta gate was one of the main entrances into the capital of the Vijayanagara empire and was most likely a toll gate, as that is the rough translation of the word talarigatta. Although the arched structure is heavily damaged, the remains of the fortification walls can still be seen stretching out from the gatewayâs upper platform. A small shrine of Hanuman, the monkey god in Hindu mythology considered the most devoted follower of Rama, is located in front of the gate.
Anegundi, located on the banks of the Tungabhadra river, is an ancient village that predates Hampi, with a settlement history stretching back over 3,000 years. Founded in the 10th century bce, it later held the mantle of the Vijayanagara dynastyâs first capital, with its roots entwined with ancient cities of the region mentioned in the Ramayana.