Hampi Pins and Buttons

Hampi

Hampi is a visual delight, especially due to its stark contrast from most other places. Rocks are all you see whichever direction you look at. Vegetation is visible in the wet months; but again it never dominates the landscape. It is an ideal spot for people who are interested in history and/or nature. There are many sites of interest in and around Hampi. The must-visits are Virupaksha Temple, Hampi Bazaar, Monolith Bull, Lakshmi Narasimha temple, Hemakuta Hill temples, Big Shivlinga, Vithala Temple (the famous Stone Chariot is located here), Hazara Rama Temple, Royal Enclosures, Queen's Bath, Zanana Enclosure (which also houses the Lotus Mahal), Elephant Stables, Achyut Raya temple, Statue of Lakshmi Narasimha (often mistaken for Ugra ...

Hampi is a visual delight, especially due to its stark contrast from most other places. Rocks are all you see whichever direction you look at. Vegetation is visible in the wet months; but again it never dominates the landscape. It is an ideal spot for people who are interested in history and/or nature. There are many sites of interest in and around Hampi. The must-visits are Virupaksha Temple, Hampi Bazaar, Monolith Bull, Lakshmi Narasimha temple, Hemakuta Hill temples, Big Shivlinga, Vithala Temple (the famous Stone Chariot is located here), Hazara Rama Temple, Royal Enclosures, Queen's Bath, Zanana Enclosure (which also houses the Lotus Mahal), Elephant Stables, Achyut Raya temple, Statue of Lakshmi Narasimha (often mistaken for Ugra ...

Indian tourits by their 1000's come to Hampi for its festival. Seems mainly the men take part. Hampi is a visual delight, especially due to its stark contrast from most other places. Rocks are all you see whichever direction you look at. Vegetation is visible in the wet months; but again it never dominates the landscape. It is an ideal spot for people who are interested in history and/or nature. There are many sites of interest in and around Hampi. The must-visits are Virupaksha Temple, Hampi Bazaar, Monolith Bull, Lakshmi Narasimha temple, Hemakuta Hill temples, Big Shivlinga, Vithala Temple (the famous Stone Chariot is located here), Hazara Rama Temple, Royal Enclosures, Queen's Bath, Zanana Enclosure (which also houses the Lotus M...

At Hampi Bazar this villager is embroidering some she hopes to sell to a tourist Hampi Bazaar is also known as Virupaksha Bazaar, this street is located in front of the Virupaksha temple. About a kilometer long, the east end of the temple ends at the bottom of Matanga Hill . Both sides of the street are lined with a series of old pavilions, some of them are two storied. These structures were once part of a thriving market and residence of the nobles

Many villages and pilgrims do their washing in the Tungabhadra River. Tungabhadra is a major river in the south Indian peninsula. Hampi is located on the south bank somewhere in the middle of this river’s path. In this area the river takes a number of twists and turns owing to the rocky terrain. The river has immense significance in forming the political & religious history of Hampi. The river along with along with the boulder-strewn hills formed the northern barrier of the capital. It was not easy for an invading army cross the river without the fate of a sure defeat. Tungabhadra is in fact formed by the union of two rivers Tunga and Bhadra and hence the name. Both Tunga & Bhadra Rivers are originated on the eastern slops of the Wes...

A digital drawing made from a photograph of Hampi in India. Inspiration was taken from the designs of 1970s Italian experimental architects Superstudio.

At Hampi Bazar this woman, one among many, is selling plantains to pilgrims for them to use as offerings. Also known as Virupaksha Bazaar, this street is located in front of the Virupaksha temple. About a kilometer long, the east end of the temple ends at the bottom of Matanga Hill . Both sides of the street are lined with a series of old pavilions, some of them are two storied. These structures were once part of a thriving market and residence of the nobles.

Taken at the festival at Hampi. Hampi is a visual delight, especially due to its stark contrast from most other places. Rocks are all you see whichever direction you look at. Vegetation is visible in the wet months; but again it never dominates the landscape. It is an ideal spot for people who are interested in history and/or nature. There are many sites of interest in and around Hampi. The must-visits are Virupaksha Temple, Hampi Bazaar, Monolith Bull, Lakshmi Narasimha temple, Hemakuta Hill temples, Big Shivlinga, Vithala Temple (the famous Stone Chariot is located here), Hazara Rama Temple, Royal Enclosures, Queen's Bath, Zanana Enclosure (which also houses the Lotus Mahal), Elephant Stables, Achyut Raya temple, Statue of Lakshmi Nar...

South Asian men and women sometimes wear a mark on the forehead, a dot, smudge, or lines of red, black, or ash-grey. The woman's mark is most often called a bindi. It can be worn as a decoration, by women of any religion, or as a Hindu religious observance. The mark worn by some Hindu men is called a tikka. The most common tikka is red powder applied with the thumb, in an upward stroke. At Hampi Bazar this girl is selling tikka powder. Also known as Virupaksha Bazaar, this street is located in front of the Virupaksha temple. About a kilometer long, the east end of the temple ends at the bottom of Matanga Hill . Both sides of the street are lined with a series of old pavilions, some of them are two storied. These structures were once ...

In Hinduism, the Tilaka (Hindiis a mark worn usually on the forehead, sometimes other parts of the body such as neck, hand or chest. Tilaka may be worn on a daily basis or for rites of passage or special religious occasions only, depending on regional customs. The term also refers to the South Asian ritual of marking someone's forehead with a fragrant paste, such as of sandalwood or vermilion, as a welcome and expression of honor when they arrive. Taken at Hampi festival. Hampi is a visual delight, especially due to its stark contrast from most other places. Rocks are all you see whichever direction you look at. Vegetation is visible in the wet months; but again it never dominates the landscape. It is an ideal spot for people who ar...

An Indian family returning home after the Hampi Festival. Hampi is a visual delight, especially due to its stark contrast from most other places. Rocks are all you see whichever direction you look at. Vegetation is visible in the wet months; but again it never dominates the landscape. It is an ideal spot for people who are interested in history and/or nature. There are many sites of interest in and around Hampi. The must-visits are Virupaksha Temple, Hampi Bazaar, Monolith Bull, Lakshmi Narasimha temple, Hemakuta Hill temples, Big Shivlinga, Vithala Temple (the famous Stone Chariot is located here), Hazara Rama Temple, Royal Enclosures, Queen's Bath, Zanana Enclosure (which also houses the Lotus Mahal), Elephant Stables, Achyut Raya te...

Hampi is a visual delight, especially due to its stark contrast from most other places. Rocks are all you see whichever direction you look at. Vegetation is visible in the wet months; but again it never dominates the landscape. It is an ideal spot for people who are interested in history and/or nature. There are many sites of interest in and around Hampi. The must-visits are Virupaksha Temple, Hampi Bazaar, Monolith Bull, Lakshmi Narasimha temple, Hemakuta Hill temples, Big Shivlinga, Vithala Temple (the famous Stone Chariot is located here), Hazara Rama Temple, Royal Enclosures, Queen's Bath, Zanana Enclosure (which also houses the Lotus Mahal), Elephant Stables, Achyut Raya temple, Statue of Lakshmi Narasimha (often mistaken for Ugra ...

Hampi Arches

The Elephant Stables is one among the few least destroyed structures in Hampi, This long building with a row of domed chambers was used to ‘park’ the royal elephants. There are 11 domed tall chambers; some of them are inter- connected. The center one is specially decorated and big. Probably the musicians and the associated band troupes had been using this during ceremonies involving elephant processions. The whole building looks symmetric with respect to this central hall. The tower of the central hall resembles (though mostly destroyed) more like that of temples. However the five pairs of domes on either side are Islamic in style. They are better preserved and of alternating patterns. Metal hooks (used to tie the elephants) on the...

A couple of temple monkeys chill out in the sunset, Hampi, Karnataka, India

Being at the centre of Hampi, and also the highest point, Matanga hilltop is the best spot to get an aerial view of Hampi and it's environs as well as some of the ruins near its base. Matanga Hill is one of the important locations mentioned in the Hindu mythology, Ramayana. The place was the hermitage of Sage Mathanga. Monkey prince Vali killed a buffalo demon called Dundhuvi and threw the corps on to the sacred Matanga hill. Angry at this act, sage Matanga cursed Vali that he could never venture on to this hill. Later Dundhuvi's son Mayavi fought with Vali to avenge his father's death. Vali chased him into a cave; and asked his brother Sugreeva to stand guard outside. After a while thinking that Vali was killed in the fight, Sugreeva ...

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 herders. The temple was originally built in the 15th century AD. Many successive kings have enhanced the temple 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 halls 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 an iconic structure of Hampi.

Achyutaraya Temple located between Gandhamadana and Matanga Hills. The temple was established in 1534 AD by Achyuta Deva Raya and was originally named Tiruvengalanatha, but gradually it became popular by the King’s name. It is dedicated to Lord Venkateshwara. This view if from top of Mantanga Hill

Achyutaraya Temple located between Gandhamadana and Matanga Hills. The temple was established in 1534 AD by Achyuta Deva Raya and was originally named Tiruvengalanatha, but gradually it became popular by the King’s name. It is dedicated to Lord Venkateshwara. Taken about halfway down Mantanga Hill.