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Hampi |
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The Vijayanagar city ruins near the village of
Hampi are one of the most fascinating historical
sites in south India. The superb ruins are set
in a strange and beautiful landscape which has
an almost magical quality – a hill country
that is partly desolated and strewn with enormous,
rounded boulders, and partly irrigated and cultivated.
The Tungabhadra River runs along the northern
edge of this large area.
The best way to soak up the atmosphere here is
to spend several days and take your time exploring
the area, though it is possible to see all the
main sites in one day on foot if you start early. Or else
you could simply choose between various Hampi tour packages offered.
Signposting on the site is somewhat inadequate
and the trails sometimes indistinct, but you can’t
really get lost. It may be best not to wander
around the sites alone, especially at dawn or
dusk when it’s relatively dark, as there
have been a couple of muggings
here in recently years.
Temples of Hampi are noted for their large dimensions,
florid ornamentation, bold and delicate carvings,
stately pillars, magnificent pavilions and a great
wealth of iconographic and traditional depictions,
which include subjects from the Ramayana and the
Mahabharata. The largest extant temple is that
of Pampapati was extensively renovated and is
worshipped even now. Its magnificent entrance
tower was caused by Krishnadeva Raya.
The Vitthala temple in Hampi is an excellent example
of Vijayanagara style. The monolithic statues
of Lakshmi, Narasimha and Ganesha are noted for
their massiveness and grace. The Krishna temple,
Pattabhirama temple, Hazara Ramachandra and Chandrasekhara
temple as also the Jain temples, are other examples.
Majority of these temples in Hampi were provided
with widespread bazaars flanked on either side
by storyed Mandapas.
Among
secular edifices mention may be made of the Zenana
enclosure wherein a massive stone basement of
the Queen's palace and ornate pavilion called
'Lotus-Mahal' are only remnants of a luxurious
Antahpura. The corner towers of arresting elevation,
the Dhananayaka's enclosure (treasury), the Mahanavami
Dibba carrying beautifully sculptured panels,
a variety of ponds and tanks, Mandapas, the elephant's
stables and the row of pillared Mandapas are some
of the important architectural remains of Hampi.
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HAMPI
& THE DECCAN PLATEAU
Day 1 :: London
Fly from London on a direct flight of Air India
to Bombay. Arrive at midnight and change to a connecting
flight for Hyderabad. (Departures: Friday/Wednesday).
Day 2 :: Hyderabad
Arrive Hyderabad at 2 am and transfer to the Taj
Residency for 3 nights. The room will be booked
from the previous evening to allow immediate occupancy.
After a morning at leisure visit the city including
the Charminar, Lad Bazaar and the Salar Jung Museum.
Day 3 :: Hyderabad
Visit the impressive Golconda Fort in the morning.
The afternoon is free.
Day 4 :: Hassan
Take a morning flight to Bangalore and drive on
to Hassan. Check into the Hassan Ashok for 1 night.
In the afternoon visit the inticately carved Hoysala
temples at Belur and Halebid.
Day 5 :: Mysore
In the morning drive to Mysore visiting the imposing
statue of Gomateshvara at Shravanabelagola and Tipu¹s
Summer Palace at Srirangapattanam en route. Stay
at The Green Hotel for 2 nights.
Day 6 :: Mysore
Visit the sights of Mysore today including the Mysore
Palace, Chamundi Hill, Nandi Bull and the colourful
Devraja Market.
Day 7 :: To Hospet
(Hampi)
Enjoy a morning excursion to another Hoysala temple,
at Somnathpur. Late in the afternoon drive back
to Bangalore and board the Hampi Express, travelling
overnight in air-conditioned sleeper.
Day 8 :: Hampi
Arrive in the morning and transfer to the Malligi
Tourist Home for 2 nights. Enjoy a half day
sightseeing of Hampi.
Day 9 :: Hampi
At leisure to further explore Hampi, the city razed
by the five Deccan sultans in 1565.
Day 10 :: Bijapur
Drive through a range of red, rocky hills to Bijapur
and check into Hotel Madhuvan. The afternoon sightseeing
includes the Gol Gumbaz, the magnificent tomb of
Mohammed Adil Shah.
Day 11 :: Badami
Drive to Badami and check into the Badami Court
for 2 nights. Set amidst red sandstone hills and
rock-hewn tanks the beautiful villages of Badami,
Aihole and Pattadakal were once the capital cities
of the Chalukyan empire. Visit Badami in the afternoon
including cave temples from the 6th & 7th century
AD and the famous Malegitti Shivalaya temple.
Day 12 :: Badami
Visit Aihole including the Lad Khan temple, dating
back to 450 AD, where the earliest form of temple
design can be seen, and Pattadakal which has temples
of the northern Nagara and southern Dravida schools.
Day 13 :: Dandeli
Drive to the Dandeli wildlife sanctuary and check
into the Dandeli Resort for 1 night. Enjoy a game
drive late afternoon.
Day 14 :: Goa
Enjjoy another jungle visit before driving on to
Goa. Visit the Basilica of Bom Jesus, another World
Heritage Monument, before checking into the Taj
Holiday Village for 2 nights.
Days 15 :: Goa
At leisure.
Day 16 :: Bombay
In the afternoon fly to Bombay and transfer to the
Oberoi Towers. The remainder of the day is at leisure.
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Local
Festival
The
Vijayanagar Festival is organized by the Government
of Karnataka in December. Dance, drama, music, fireworks,
puppet shows, spectacular processions, all combine
to recreate the grandeur of the bygone era |
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How
to get there
Air
:
The nearest Airport is Bellary (74 kms). Other
convenient airports are at Belgaum (190 kms) and Bangalore(353
kms).
Rail :
Hospet is the nearest railhead (13 kms). Hospet
is linked by rail to Bangalore, Bijapur, Hubli and Guntakal.
Road
:
Hampi
is 350 kms from Bangalore.
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