HampiHampi explores one of the most beautiful and evocative of all historical sites in south India. Austere and grandiose, Hampi was the seat of the Vijayanagara Empire, when art and architecture flourished. Contemporary chroniclers from Arabia, Italy, Portugal and Russia visited the empire leaving behind glowing accounts. Conquered by Muslim invaders in AD 1565, Hampi was pillaged for six months and abandoned. Declared a World Heritage Site in 1986, its dramatic landscape contains examples of secular architecture, market places, royal palaces and the stone chariot. The temples are renowned for their florid ornamentation, intricate carvings, magnificent pavilions, stately pillars and a wealth of iconographic and traditional depictions. |
Common terms and phrases
16th century 16th-century Achyutaraya Anegondi Anjaneya archaeological architecture bathing bazaar street Bhuvaneshvari Bisnaga boulders built capital captains century ceremonies chamber colonnades columns courtly Devaraya doorway east elephant stables entrance gopura festival front Ganesha gate gateway goddess gold gopura granite hall Hampi Hanuman Hazara Rama temple Hemakuta hill Hiranyakashipu horses Hospet houses idol images India inside interior Kamalapura Karnataka kilometres king's kingdom Kodandarama temple Krishnadevaraya Lakshmana linga Lotus Mahal Mahanavami Mahanavami platform mandapa Matanga Matanga hill metres middle monument Muslim Narasimha nearby octagonal open mandapa palace Pampa passageway pavilion pillars plaster porch precious stones Ramayana river road roof royal centre rulers sacred centre sanctuary Sangama sculptures Shiva short distance shrine side Sita slabs stands structures Sugriva sultans surrounded tank Tuluva Tungabhadra urban core Vijayanagara emperors Vijayanagara king Virabhadra Virupaksha temple Virupaksha temple complex Vishnu Vitthala temple complex walls wives women worship yali zenana enclosure