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Hampi. A mythical landscape, littered with huge granite boulders balanced precariously on top of each other bound by mythology and history. Bisected by the Tungabhadra and ancient irrigation canals that create a sliver of blue and green across the rugged terrain, this is a land imbued with the presence of gods, goddesses and heroes. Scattered among this is the ruins of a once magnificent city. Described as the ‘the best provided city in the world’ the ruins of Hampi is a destination in itself. One that the discerning traveler will relish exploring one leaf at a time.
In this Blog on Hampi we dive back into its history and mythology to bring to you fascinating tales and anecdotes from South India’s largest, wealthiest and most powerful kingdom. While excavating and shifting through the sands of time we invite you to share with us your experiences of this surreal realm.
At the hole where he went in Red-Eye called to Wrinkle-Skin. Hear what little Red-Eye saith:“Nag, come up and dance with death! ”Eye to eye and head to head, (Keep the measure, Nag.) This shall end when one is dead; (At thy pleasure, Nag.) Turn for turn and twist for twist — (Run and hide…
While looking for offbeat places in a destination, I stumbled upon the Nava Brindavana. This is where there are nine small structures constructed for nine saints as a final resting place for them. A short boat ride will bring you to the place as it is amidst an island. The ride is scenic and all…
Fernão Nunes, a Portuguese horse trader, arrived in Vijayanagara (circa. 1535) when Achyuta Deva Raya had succeeded Krishna Deva Raya as the king. A decade or so earlier, Domingo Paes witnessed the golden age of the Vijayanagara Empire under Krishna Deva Raya. Fernão Nunes beheld a glorious kingdom as well; but the rule of Achyuta…
The quaint little hamlet of Anegundi located on the northern bank of the Tungabadra River is said to be the site of Kishkindha where Lord Hanuman was born. Walking inside the small lanes brings me to a board that reads ‘Banana Fiber Cottage Industry’. Intrigued I make my way inside and am pleasantly surprised to see…
It is easy to mistake Krishnadeva Raya for a character straight out of a fable—a king whose accomplishments and personality are exaggerated to make a great story. Just, benevolent, generous, a patron of arts and architecture, a poet—how could one man possess all these qualities and still manage to be a successful military commander under…
Reading an Italo Calvino novel includes stepping out of the world as we know it. Invisible Cities, the Italian writer’s take on Marco Polo’s travels in Asia, is no different. Calvino’s vignettes of various cities are wildly imaginative, blurring the line between metaphor and reality. In the city of Zirma, a girl takes a walk…
Even a fleeting look across the Koppal landscape (of which Hampi is an integral part even though only parts of it fall within the Koppal administrative district) and you are most likely to see sown or fallow fields and pastoralist groups with thousands of sheep traversing the landscape. Only with a closer look will one…
Anegundi, located near Hampi across the Tungabhadra River, has a history that predates the Vijayanagara Empire. It is believed that the founding dynasty of Vijayanagara were based there before they laid the foundations of their new capital at Hampi. It continued to be a royal town much after the fall of the empire and still…
I went to Hampi as an aimless traveler who was merely looking for something new and it barely took a day to succumb to the charms of this enchanting medieval city. The pure beauty and grandeur of the ruins I saw took me by surprise. This exquisite artisanship surely could not have flourished and sustained…
Hampi is the perfect coming together of unhurried modernity and historical enchantment. The cafés and curio stalls melt away as you enter the Vitthala complex’ five-tiered gopuram (gateway). The colonnades, on either side, are intricately carved with images of the women of Hampi decked out in royal finery. The musical pillars of the Sangeetha Mandapam complex…