HAMPI

Hampi, also referred to as the Group of Monuments at Hampi, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in east-central Karnataka, India. It became the center of the Hindu Vijayanagara Empire capital in the 14th century. Chronicles left by Persian and European travellers, particularly the Portuguese, state Hampi was a prosperous, wealthy and grand city near the Tugabhadra River, with numerous temples,farms and markets.

By 1500 CE, Hampi – Vijayanagara was the world’s second largest medieval-era city after Beijing, and probably India’s richest at that time, attracting traders from Persia and Portugal. The Vijayanagara Empire was defeated by a coalition of Muslim sultanates; its capital was conquered, pillaged and destroyed by sultanate armies in 1565, after which Hampi remained in ruins.

Hampi situated on the banks of the Tungabhadra River in the eastern part of central Karnataka. Emperor Ashoka’s Rock Edicts in Nitur and Udegolan both in Bellary district. A Brahmi inscription and a terracotta seal dating to about 2nd century CE have been found during site excavations. The town is mentioned in Badami Chalukya’s inscriptions as Pampapura; dating from between 6th and 8th centuries. While prosperous and in infrastructure, the Muslim-Hindu was between Muslim Sultanates and Vijayanagra Empire continued. In 1565, at the Battle of Talikota, a coalition of Muslim sultanates entered into a war with the Vijayanagara Empire. They captured and beheaded the King.

One of the notable features of the Vittala Temple in Hampi is the musical pillars. The large Ranga Mandapa is well known for it’s 56 musical pillars. These pillars are also known as SaReGaMa pillars,which are attributed to the musical notes emerging out of them. The pillars produce tones when struck with a thumb.

-DEEPIKA S