Hampi Architecture

The Group of Monuments at Hampi, or Hampe, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in east-central Karnataka, India. Hampi was the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire in the 14 century. In 1336 AD, The two brothers Harihara and Bukka built the Vijayanagara Empire to protect Dharma and the spiritual guidance of Sage Vidyaranya. Hampi-Vijayanagara was the second-largest medieval-era city in the world after Beijing and is also considered India’s most prosperous city at the time, alluring merchants from Persia and Portugal. In 1565, the Muslim sultanates defeated the Vijayanagara Empire, causing Hampi to become a ruin. We will discuss the ruins of Hampi in India, information about Hampi and who built Hampi.

Hampi Architecture and Temples

There is information about Hampi. The Hampi in the ancient city of Karnataka is completely built of burnt bricks, and local granite from that also placed lime mortar. It is recognised that the architecture of Hampi is inspired by and is similar to the Indo Islamic Architecture. There were several distinguishing characteristics of Hampi’s architecture that set it apart from other ancient cities. Karnataka’s Hampi was an ancient and well-fortified city dating back thousands of years. And ruins of Hampi in India are famous worldwide. At Hampi, neither mortar nor cementing agents were found in the architecture or the walls. In Hampi, they constructed elaborate orchards and various pleasure gardens with sculptures and motifs, including the lotus and the corbels. Their purpose was to wedge them together through interlocking. The buildings in the royal complex had very grand arches, halls with huge columns and domes with niches for holding sculptures. It was a beautiful and prosperous city with several temples, farms and markets attracting traders from Portugal and Persia. The Vittala Temple Complex is a very well-known and famous temple at Hampi. Hampi was built in the 16th century, and the temple is dominated by 56 monolithic pillars, known as the Musical Pillars. The Virupaksha Temple, built in the 15th century at the western end of Hampi Bazaar, is the oldest in Hampi and has a 50-metre tall gopuram. 

Tourism in Hampi

Also, UNESCO recognised it as a world heritage site in 2008, and Hampi received much attention from foreign tourists. Also, it is not as famous as other archaeological sites in the country; the ruins of Hampi in India make it the biggest open-air archaeological museum globally. The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is solely responsible for protecting and managing the site established in Hampi. The construction of a beautiful heritage authority, Hampi World Heritage Area Management Authority (HWHAMA), provides the product management and security of the site. It was seen to be of utmost preference to acknowledge the diversity and complex relationship among the cultural and economic systems in the region.

Ruins of Hampi in India

The Hampi empire reached its peak when the Delhi Sultanate defeated other kingdoms in the south.

During the early 14th century, however, Muhammad bin Tughlaq rose to power in Delhi, changing the course of history. His rule was regarded as draconian, leading to internal rebellions, one of which took refuge in a tiny kingdom near Hampi called Anegundi. After attacking the kingdom, Tughlaq’s army defeated it and defeated the rebels. Tughlaq hired a general to take care of the kingdom. He returned to Delhi and left two people in charge. The unified kingdom, which controlled the entirety of South India, slowly and rapidly expanded. It was well known as the powerful Vijayanagara empire that supervised South India. As soon as the Vijayanagara empire grew, another one was also formed to its north.

Following a revolt against Muhammad bin Tughlaq, Alauddin Hassan Bahman Shah founded the first Muslim kingdom in the Deccan, the Bahmani Sultanate. It split into five Deccan Sultanates over two centuries. In the 16th century, Aliya Rama Raya, the ruler of the Vijayanagara empire, frequently clashed with the Sultanates due to his changing loyalties. The Sultanates eventually allied with him and invaded the kingdom. The Deccan sultanates defeated Aliya Rama Raya in the iconic Battle of Talikota, which lasted for nearly a century. The Muslim officers switched their loyalty to the sultanates and captured the surprised Raya at the last moment. They then beheaded him on the battlefield, creating chaos and confusion in the Vijayanagara army, thus losing the battle. The ruins of Hampi in India make it the immense open-air archaeological museum worldwide. The Sultanates plundered Hampi after defeating the magnificent Vijayanagara empire, but the ruins of Hampi still survive today. The question arises in your mind who built Hampi. King Devaraya II constructed it.

Conclusion

Even in its ruins, Hampi is captivating and beautiful. Hampi’s terrain is almost as mysterious as its ruins – it’s surrounded by boulders of varying sizes that you can climb to the top of to see the entire city and its surroundings. The way the city was built with temples and bazaars is exemplary. The temples and stories abound, which will help one better understand the local heritage. The obliteration of ancient times is an awesome sight for both the pilgrims and the tourists alike. In this, we discussed the ruins of Hampi in India, information about Hampi and who built Hampi.