<strong>The historic Indian city of Hampi: </strong>Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hampi was once the capital of the mighty Vijayanagara Empire. Hampi's Vittala Temple is renowned for its exceptional architecture and craftmanship. This column depicts the Yali, a mythical Hindu creature that is half lion, half elephant.
The historic Indian city of Hampi: Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hampi was once the capital of the mighty Vijayanagara Empire. Hampi's Vittala Temple is renowned for its exceptional architecture and craftmanship. This column depicts the Yali, a mythical Hindu creature that is half lion, half elephant.
Darshini Kandasamy
<strong>Vittala Temple: </strong>The impressive Vittala Temple ruins are filled with musical stone pillars, a giant stone chariot, sculptures and Dravidian-style architecture. The temple is part of the Sacred Center, which comprises some of Hampi's most celebrated sites.
Vittala Temple: The impressive Vittala Temple ruins are filled with musical stone pillars, a giant stone chariot, sculptures and Dravidian-style architecture. The temple is part of the Sacred Center, which comprises some of Hampi's most celebrated sites.
Darshini Kandasamy
<strong>Spectacular view: </strong>A 30-minute climb up Matanga Hill yields an unobstructed view of Virupaksha Temple and the surrounding Hampi landscape.
Spectacular view: A 30-minute climb up Matanga Hill yields an unobstructed view of Virupaksha Temple and the surrounding Hampi landscape.
Darshini Kandasamy
<strong>Tungabhadra River: </strong>From the top of Matanga Hill, travelers can see the Tungabhadra River. To the right lies the remains of the infamous Sule Bazaar, or Courtesan Street.
Tungabhadra River: From the top of Matanga Hill, travelers can see the Tungabhadra River. To the right lies the remains of the infamous Sule Bazaar, or Courtesan Street.
Darshini Kandasamy
<strong>Banyan trees:</strong> Banyan trees, or vat-vriksha, are considered sacred by Hindus. Many believe they can even fulfill wishes. Here, villagers praying for children tie cloth bundles from the tree's branches while others arrange piles of rocks beneath its bough, for houses.
Banyan trees: Banyan trees, or vat-vriksha, are considered sacred by Hindus. Many believe they can even fulfill wishes. Here, villagers praying for children tie cloth bundles from the tree's branches while others arrange piles of rocks beneath its bough, for houses.
Darshini Kandasamy
<strong>Budaga Jangam: </strong>A member of the Budaga Jangam community stands in front of the Virupaksha Temple. The Jangam are a semi-nomadic people, largely worshippers of the Hindu god Lord Shiva.
Budaga Jangam: A member of the Budaga Jangam community stands in front of the Virupaksha Temple. The Jangam are a semi-nomadic people, largely worshippers of the Hindu god Lord Shiva.
Darshini Kandasamy
<strong>Carved stone linga: </strong>An ancient yoni, symbolic of Hindu goddess Shakti, has been carved into the stone along the banks of the Tungabhadra River. In the background, boatmen await to ferry passengers across the river on their traditional coracles.
Carved stone linga: An ancient yoni, symbolic of Hindu goddess Shakti, has been carved into the stone along the banks of the Tungabhadra River. In the background, boatmen await to ferry passengers across the river on their traditional coracles.
Darshini Kandasamy
<strong>Hemakuta Hill ruins:</strong> A cluster of ancient temples and shrines, numbering more than 30, sits at the top of Hemakuta Hill. Some pre-date the Vijayanagara Empire.
Hemakuta Hill ruins: A cluster of ancient temples and shrines, numbering more than 30, sits at the top of Hemakuta Hill. Some pre-date the Vijayanagara Empire.
Darshini Kandasamy
<strong>Stone chariot:</strong> This richly decorated stone chariot at the Vittala Temple was built by King Krishnadevaraya in the 16th century. The structure is in fact a shrine that once contained a statue of the Garuda, the birdlike mount of Hindu God Vishnu.
Stone chariot: This richly decorated stone chariot at the Vittala Temple was built by King Krishnadevaraya in the 16th century. The structure is in fact a shrine that once contained a statue of the Garuda, the birdlike mount of Hindu God Vishnu.
Darshini Kandasamy
<strong>Hemakuta Hill carvings:</strong> These 16th-century carvings, based on the ancient Ramayana epic, are seen on the route to Hemakuta Hill.
Hemakuta Hill carvings: These 16th-century carvings, based on the ancient Ramayana epic, are seen on the route to Hemakuta Hill.
Darshini Kandasamy
<strong>Cattle herding: </strong>Villagers in Hampi live a peaceful existence in the shadow of the formidable hills, among the ruins of the once-great Vijayanagara Empire. Many grow crops or rear cattle for a living.
Cattle herding: Villagers in Hampi live a peaceful existence in the shadow of the formidable hills, among the ruins of the once-great Vijayanagara Empire. Many grow crops or rear cattle for a living.
Darshini Kandasamy
<strong>The drive to Hampi:</strong> The bumpy drive from Bangalore to Hampi takes about eight hours. But there's certainly lots to see as you travel through beautiful country, small villages, vineyards, fruit farms and power plants. Here, a bus ferries a group of excited locals as they head to collect the keys for their newly completed homes.
The drive to Hampi: The bumpy drive from Bangalore to Hampi takes about eight hours. But there's certainly lots to see as you travel through beautiful country, small villages, vineyards, fruit farms and power plants. Here, a bus ferries a group of excited locals as they head to collect the keys for their newly completed homes.
Darshini Kandasamy
<strong>Veerabhadra Temple: </strong>The ghostly tower of the Veerabhadra Temple juts out from the summit of Matanga Hill, its stucco figures still visible despite the passage of time.
Veerabhadra Temple: The ghostly tower of the Veerabhadra Temple juts out from the summit of Matanga Hill, its stucco figures still visible despite the passage of time.
Darshini Kandasamy
<strong>A mighty empire: </strong>Both impressive and tragic, massive centuries-old relics and ruins are everywhere in Hampi.
A mighty empire: Both impressive and tragic, massive centuries-old relics and ruins are everywhere in Hampi.
Darshini Kandasamy
<strong>Inside Veerabhadra Temple:</strong> Rock piles and sand mounds sit inside the Veerabhadra Temple at Matanga Hill. Villagers praying for homes leave the rocks, while sand mounds are left by those seeking good harvests.
Inside Veerabhadra Temple: Rock piles and sand mounds sit inside the Veerabhadra Temple at Matanga Hill. Villagers praying for homes leave the rocks, while sand mounds are left by those seeking good harvests.
Darshini Kandasamy
<strong>Hanuman shrine:</strong> A small Hanuman shrine at the top of Hemakuta Hill. It's one of several ancient temples and shrines that dot this hilltop, some of which pre-date the Vijayanagara kingdom.
Hanuman shrine: A small Hanuman shrine at the top of Hemakuta Hill. It's one of several ancient temples and shrines that dot this hilltop, some of which pre-date the Vijayanagara kingdom.
Darshini Kandasamy
<strong>The Nandi bull:</strong> The Nandi bull is believed to be the gate keeper and vehicle for Hindu god Lord Shiva. Here, a Nandi statue is seen with its face broken by scavengers due to the misguided belief that the wealthy used to horde their jewels inside such statues.
The Nandi bull: The Nandi bull is believed to be the gate keeper and vehicle for Hindu god Lord Shiva. Here, a Nandi statue is seen with its face broken by scavengers due to the misguided belief that the wealthy used to horde their jewels inside such statues.
Darshini Kandasamy
<strong>Queen's Bath:</strong> Located in the Royal Center, this lavish Indo-Islamic style bathhouse was built for the royal women of the Vijayanagara Empire. A sophisticated aqueduct system connected the bath with water.
Queen's Bath: Located in the Royal Center, this lavish Indo-Islamic style bathhouse was built for the royal women of the Vijayanagara Empire. A sophisticated aqueduct system connected the bath with water.
Darshini Kandasamy
<strong>Matanga's sunrise:</strong> The half-hour climb up the rocky slopes of Matanga Hill to the highest point in Hampi is well worth the effort to catch the beautiful sunrise and views of this once glorious city.
Matanga's sunrise: The half-hour climb up the rocky slopes of Matanga Hill to the highest point in Hampi is well worth the effort to catch the beautiful sunrise and views of this once glorious city.
Darshini Kandasamy
<strong>Sunset Point:</strong> Sunset Point affords a spectacular sunset view of Hampi as you are surrounded by the ruins on Hemakuta Hill.
Sunset Point: Sunset Point affords a spectacular sunset view of Hampi as you are surrounded by the ruins on Hemakuta Hill.
Darshini Kandasamy
<strong>Virupaksha Temple gopuram:</strong> Preservation is underway on the 50-meter high gopuram (temple tower) of the Virupaksha Temple, an iconic landmark that shapes the Hampi landscape.
Virupaksha Temple gopuram: Preservation is underway on the 50-meter high gopuram (temple tower) of the Virupaksha Temple, an iconic landmark that shapes the Hampi landscape.
Darshini Kandasamy
<strong>Livestock:</strong> Cattle are left to peacefully graze among the ruins.
Livestock: Cattle are left to peacefully graze among the ruins.
Darshini Kandasamy
<strong>Local guide:</strong> Born and raised in Hampi, tour guide M. D. Basava says he has no plans to leave anytime soon. "I am proud of our history and I want to show it to people, to help preserve it," he says.
Local guide: Born and raised in Hampi, tour guide M. D. Basava says he has no plans to leave anytime soon. "I am proud of our history and I want to show it to people, to help preserve it," he says.
Darshini Kandasamy
<strong>A bumpy ride:</strong> A truck drives through the boulder-strewn hills of Hampi.
A bumpy ride: A truck drives through the boulder-strewn hills of Hampi.
Darshini Kandasamy
<strong>Dawn</strong><strong>:</strong> Two hikers sit atop what remains of the Veerabhadra Temple at the top of Matanga Hill, as they settle in to wait for the sunrise.
Dawn: Two hikers sit atop what remains of the Veerabhadra Temple at the top of Matanga Hill, as they settle in to wait for the sunrise.
Darshini Kandasamy