The monolithic Sasivekalu Ganesh, inside a columned mandapa at the bottom of Hemakuta Hill.
I visited Hampi on 22nd December 2006 ..... driving my car from Panaji, Goa via Ponda on NH-4A to the Karnataka border and then (to avoid the heavy traffic of iron-ore laden Dumpers) took some internal rural roads via Khanapur, Beedi, Kitoor to finally join the NH-4 between Belgaum and Dharwad-Hubli. From Hubli headed East via Gadag, Hospet and then on to Hampi.
Hampi was the site of the City of Vijaynagara located on the Tungabhadra river in Central Karnataka. Vijayanagara is famous as the capital of the South India's wealthiest and powerful Hindu kingdom of the 16th century. Most visitors to this World Heritage site notice the remarkable scenery - of huge granite boulders of varying sizes and colors strewn over the land, as if by some primeval cataclysm.
The City of Vijayanagar was established in 1336 by Telugu princes and lasted until 1565 when it was sacked and left deserted by the Confederacy of Deccan Sultantates. Under Krishnadevaraya (1509-29) and Achutaraya (1529-42) the Vijyanagara empire reached the climax of its power and extent. (For outstanding color pictures of Hampi temples and detailed historical description of the temples, shrines and ruins of Hampi read the IBH book "Hampi" by John Fritz and George Mitchell).
The Virupaksha Temple seen between boulders from the Hemkuta Hill
Krishna Temple entrance Gopuram erected in 1515AD by King Krishnadevaraya at Krishnapuram, Hampi
The huge colannaded Bazaar surrounding a rectangular water tank .... ..... in front of the Krishna Temple, Hampi
The entrance Gopuram of the (once) underground Temple .... dedicated to Virupaksha ... in the Royal Centre of Hampi. With Uday my Guide.
The Elephant stables
The Hazara Rama Temple entrance
Stepped bathing pool
The Vitalla Temple ....... with musical pillars
Visiting school girls .... in the main courtyard of Vitalla temple
Purandaradasa Mandapam on Tungabhadra river
Purandaradasa was the founder of Carnatic School of Music and a celebrated 16th century musician in Vijayanagaram Court. He would bathe in this ghat each morning and then go to the nearby Vitalla Temple to pray.
The boulders in the Tungabhadra gorge in front of Kothandarama temple.
The double storey Mandapa & Nandi Bull Monolithih in Hampi Bazar
The market street outside Thirvengalanatha (a.k.a. Achutaraya) temple.
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