HAMPI

SUBMITTED BY: MEHAKDEEP

B.A.LL.B.(HONS.) 2ND SEMESTER
ROLL NO. 183/22
HAMPI
LOCATION: Bellary District, Northern Karnataka, Indic

FOUNDED BY: Hariharo and Bukkaraya

FAMOUS FOR: Vijayanagara Empire, Religious and Heritage Monuments

ARCHITECTURAL IMPORTANCE: UNESCO World Heritage Site, Listed as the Group of Monuments at Hampi.

ETYMOLOGY: Traditionally known as Pampa-Kshetra, derived from Pampa, which is old name of Tungabhadra River
• GEOGRAPHY: Situated on the banks of Tungabhadra River, 353 kms from Bangalore and 74 kms from Bellary.
• Principal industries are Agriculture and Tourism
Presence of several mineral deposits – iron ore and manganese, mining has been done for number of year,
thus threat to Tungabhadra Dam and World Heritage site at Hampi
HISTORY
First settlement of Hampi date from 1 CE.

Before rise of Vijayanagara kingdom the region was probably in the hands of chiefs of Kampili.

Hampi was one of the best areas of the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire from 1343 to 1565,
when it was besieged by the Deccan Muslim confederacy.

Hampi was chosen because of its strategic location bounded by the torrential Tungabhadra river
on one side and surrounded by defensible hills on the other three sides.
• The ruins of Hampi were discovered by Colonel Colin Mackenzie in 1800.
ARCHITECTURE
The site is significant historically and architecturally. The landscape abounds with large stones which have been used to make
statues of Jaina deities.

The Archaeological Survey of India continues to conduct excavations in the area to search for additional artifacts and temples.
• “The city of Vijayanagara” was originally encompassed by seven lines of fortifications. These fortifications had a large number
of bastions and gateways. The seventh & the innermost fortification enclosed the main city and is the best preserved.
• The extant monuments of Vijayanagara or Hampi can be divided into Religious, Civil & Military buildings The Jain temples on
Hemakuta hill, the two Devi shrines & some other structures in the Virupaksha temple complex predote the Vijayanagara
Empire.
• The earliest amongst them, the Shiva shrines with their stepped pyramidalvimanas or superstructures, date to the early
Chalukyan period around ninth-tenth century AD,
DYNASTIES OF VIJAYANAGARA EMPIRE
• The Sangama Dynasty was founded by Bukka Raya 1 and Harihara 1. The ruling passed on from
them to Harihara II and Devaraya II and several others.
• The Saluva Dynasty was ruled only by two rulers in the name of Saluva Narasimha Deva and
Immadi Narasimha.
• The Tuluva Dynasty was the third in a row to rule the Vijayanagara Empire. Immadi Marasimha
who initially ruled the dynasty was killed by Vira Narasimha who then took over the throne and
made the Tuluva dynasty in 1505.
• The Aravidu Dynasty is the last dynasty of the Vijayanagara Empire and Tirumala was the
founder. This dynasty was defeated and taken over Bijapuri Muslims.
 TEMPLES IN HAMPI
• Hampi represents a unique artistic creation.
• The Krishna temple complex, Narasimha, Ganesa, Hemakuta group of temples, Achyutaraya temple complex,
Vittala temple complex, Pattabhirama temple complex, Lotus Mahal complex, are the famous temples in Hampi.
• Suburban townships (puras) surrounded the large Dravidian temple complexes containing subsidiary shrines,
bazaars, residential areas and tanks applying the unique hydraulic technologies and skilfully and harmoniously
integrating the town and defence architecture with surrounding landscape.
• The remains unearthed in the site delineate both the extent of the economic prosperity and political status that
once existed indicating a highly developed society.
• Dravidian architecture flourished under the Vijayanagara Empire and its ultimate form is characterised by their
massive dimensions, cloistered enclosures, and lofty towers over the entrances encased by decorated pillars.
VIRUPAKSHA TEMPLE
Virupaksha Temple known as the Pampavathi temple, it is an ancient temple situated in the
Hampi Bazaar.

It predates the founding of the Vijayanagara empire.

• The temple has a 160 foot (49 m) high tower at its entrance. Apart from Shiva, the
temple complex also contains shrines of the erotica statues Bhuvaneshwari and Pampa.
• The temple also has an elephant called Lakshmi.
VIJAY VITTALA TEMPLE
The temple is built in the form of a sprawling campus with compound wall and gateway towers. There are many halls, pavilions
and temples located inside this campus.

Vittala, after whom the temple is known, is a form of lord Vishnu. This aspect of Vishnu was worshiped in this part of the country
as their cult deity by the cattle herd.

The temple was originally built in the 15th century AD. Many successive kings have enhanced the temple campus during their
regimes to the present form. You can even see the remains of a township called Vittalapura that existed around this temple
complex, The highlight of Vittala temple is its impressive pillared walls and the stone chariot, The halls are carved with an
overwhelming array of sculptures on the giant granite pillars. The stone chariot located inside the campus is almost on iconic
structure of Hampi.
• The main highlight of the Maha-Mantapa is its richly carved giant monolithic pillars. The outermost of the pillars are popularly
called the musical pillars. These slender and short pilasters carved out of the giant pillars emit musical tones when tapped.
HEMAKUTA TEMPLE
The architecture of the temples on the Hemakuta Hilli quite different from the typical Vijayanagara style of architecture
found in many other temples in Hampi.
• The Hemakuta group of temples have a distinct style of their own.
• These temples are often mistaken for Jain temples due to their architecture, which is in some ways similar to that of
the Jain temples.
• The Hemakuta group of temples are compact triple chambered structures with pyramid like roofs made from granite.
• Some of the temples located on the northern side of the hill are built in the Trikutachala style of architecture.
• In this style of architecture, three shrines are placed in perpendicular position to each other face a common central
hall. The temples have almost plain outer walls, except for the horizontal chain of floral motifs that provide some
ornamentation to the walls.
ACHYUTARAYA TEMPLE
Consecrated in AD 1534, this temple is on example of Vijayanagara style temple architecture in
its most advanced form than any other temples in Hampi. This was one of the last grandiose
temple projects executed in the capital, before the fall o the empire.

The temple dedicated to Lord Tiruvengalanatha, a form of Vishnu , was constructed by a high
officer in Achyuta Raya’s court and hence the name.
• The temple complex and the ruined market street in front of it sit in a semi secluded valley
created by two hills the Gandhamadana & Matanga hill. Partially due to its off location from
the main tourist track and the hidden nature of the temple’s location makes it less crowded.
PATTABHIRAMA TEMPLE
Pattabhirama Temple is as large as the more popular Vittala Temple.

Apart from the principle shrine located at the center of the campus, a shrine dedicated to the
goddess is located within the temple compound.
• The hall in front of the main sanctum is a superb example of the Vijayanagara style
composite pillar architecture. The inner ones are relatively simpler whereas the ones facing
the courtyard are elaborate.
• The whole temple campus was once paved with granite slabs, you can still pot the traces of
it especially at the north-eastern portion of the campus.
PROTECTION AND MANAGEMENT
• Different legal instruments exist for the protection of the property, including the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological
Remains and Sites Act, 1958 (AMASR Act, 1958), AMASR (Amendment and Validation) Act, 2010 and Rules 1959 of the
Government of India and Karnataka Ancient and Historical Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1961.
Recently, the Draft(Bill) of Hampi World Heritage Area Management Authority Act, 2001 has been framed to look after the
protection and management of the 41 87,24 hectares of the World Heritage Area.
• “Non-profit organization Global Heritage Fund (GHF), in partnership with the Hampi Foundation, Cornell University, and the
State of Karnataka, has been actively involved in the conservation of Hampi’s unique cultural heritage.
• There are different levels of authorities and agencies that have mandates that influence the protection and management of the
property under a diversity of Acts.
• The constitution of a single heritage authority, Hampi World Heritage Area Management Authority (HWHAMA) ensure the
effectiveness of the management system and coordination of works from different agencies while allowing local self
Government authorities to continue to exercise the powers as enlisted in the respective Acts.
CONCLUSION
Hampi Temple is famous for its ruins belonging to the medieval Hindu kingdom of
Vijayanagara. The speciality of this temple is that it is declared as a World Heritage site. In
addition, Hampi is considered the largest open-air museum in the world and was the capital of
the flourishing Vijayanagara Empire. It is also one of the most popular holiday destinations.
UNESCO World Heritage Site has included the Hampi temple in its list.
• Hampi is also a bird-watching destination. There are many rare species of birds and reptiles.
Moreover, the famous Daroji wildlife sanctuary is located in the south of Hampi. Also, it is
the home of the endangered Indian Sloth bear. Apart from the Sloth bear, antelopes,
peafowl, and an impressive range of flora and fauna are also found in Hampi.
Thankyou!