Hampi

Hampi

Much of what is left of the ‘City of Victory’, Vijaynagar, can be found in the ruins of Hampi, a Unesco World Heritage Site, on the south bank of the Tungabhadra river. This gorgeous location consists of rocky ridges and granite boulders, which were part of a natural defense, protecting the grand capital of three generations of Hindu rulers.

286 miles northwest of Bangalore, Hampi consisted of an urban core, separated from the Sacred Center by ancient canals and waterways through the valley. There is a fascinating ‘King’s Balance’ where the Kings were weighed against gold or grain for distribution to the poor. The Sacred Center is dominated by the Virupaksha Temple, and the grandest of all, Vitthala Temple represents the very best of Vijaynagar art and architecture.