Hampi
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Hampi ( Kannada: ಹಂಪೆ Hampe ) is a historic site in the Indian state of Karnataka. From about 1343 to 1565 Hampi was the capital of the kingdom of Vijayanagar. At the height of his power controlled Vijayanagar, which is considered the last great Hindu empire, almost the whole of South India. Its capital is the heyday of around 200,000, even have had 500,000 inhabitants according to other estimates. Today Hampi is only a village with 2134 inhabitants ( 2001 census ). Hampi part since 1986 a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Hampi is situated on the south bank of the Tungabhadra River, twelve kilometers northeast of the town of Hospet in Bellary district in east-central Karnataka. The ruins of the city are spread over 26 square kilometers in what was a well -defended area south of the Tungabhadra river, from the other side, the area is surrounded by difficult to be traversed rocky hills. On a final heyday beginning of the 16th century was followed by disputes about the succession. After four of the five Deccan sultanates - had come together, they performed a joint war against the kingdom of Vijayanagar, which was defeated in the decisive battle in 1564 at Talikota of the Muslim armies annihilated. The city was largely destroyed, the surviving inhabitants were forced to flee.
From the ramparts that once surrounded the city, small residues can only be obtained from the palaces still some ground. For many temples have survived out of hard granite. Get remained small Jain temple ruins of the 10th century, the most elaborate and best preserved temple in Vijayanagara style date from the 14th - 16th Century. The highlight of this style is achieved in the Vitthala Temple from the mid-15th century. He stands in the north near the river, three high gopurams ( gateway towers ) define an area of 164 x 94 meters. There are several mandapas ( lobbies ), including the usual hundred pillared hall. The main temple is dedicated to Vishnu, whose mount is Garuda, the - unique in India - in a detached, true to the wooden model carved in stone Ratha (temple car) sits.
Today, the main temple and the feeding Hampi Bazaar Street are alive with locals and merchants from other states. The religious buildings are embedded in an extraordinary rocky landscape, surrounded by fertile banana plantations and rice fields, which are irrigated by the Tunghabhadra River. Built by the Government of India near Tungabhadra Dam supplies the area with electric current.
In some places may have small round basket boats that look like turtle shells, are placed over the river to reach Anegondi, the northern outpost of the city, of which, in a wide area only very few remains have survived.
During the 1990s, Hampi was strengthened into a tourist destination. When river and close to the temples, especially near the Virupaksha temple, the small town of Hampi was significantly expanded within a few years. Where was previously free country, are now some guesthouses and restaurants. Perhaps this historic image disturbing new buildings will be demolished and rebuilt at some distance back, so that the status of world heritage is not compromised. As required by the UNESCO, the Hampi Bazaar Street has now been cleared of modern buildings.
In and around Hampi numerous macaque monkeys, who have no fear of people live. Because of its proximity to the water Hampi is plagued by mosquitoes, the malaria risk is therefore compared to the rest of India high.