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A glimpse into the past

Hampi’s uniqueness lies in the fact that despite the many centuries over which it was built and the many dynasties that ruled it, the architecture is distinctly Dravidian and reflects a “highly evolved multi-religious and multi-ethnic society”.

The Virupaksha temple in Hampi, Ballari district, Karnataka.

 

The gopuram of the Virupaksha temple as seen from a hillock strewn with the ruins of temples.

The Hampi ruins are spread over a vast rocky area.

The Vittala temple complex’s richly sculpted stone chariot (ratha), considered to be the most stunning piece of architecture of the Vijayanagara kingdom..

The Vittala temple complex.

The Hemakuta hill temples.

Nobleman riding a yali, pillar detail.

Carvings on the granite lintel of the Durbar, or Audience, Hall of the Hazara Rama temple.

Panels in the Hazara Rama temple depicting scenes from Hindu mythology.

Panels in the Hazara Rama temple depicting marching bands, dancing damsels, ambling elephants and trotting horses.

Ruins of a sprawling market square that abuts the Virupaksha temple. The Tungabhadra can be seen in the distance meandering on its rocky riverbed.

A stepped Pushpakarani, perfectly proportioned and made of granite, which was used for religious and ceremonial purposes. Pushkarnis were fed with the water from the nearby Tungabhadra river through a series of canals and aqueducts.

Granite lintels, mandapas, alters and friezes near the Hazara Rama temple.

Kadalekalu Ganesha, which is en route to the Hemakuta Hill.

A monolithic Lakshminarasimha.

The impressive colonnaded walkway, mostly intact, at the periphery of the market square.

A pavilion on a rocky outcrop.

The facade of the Hazara Rama temple.

Hampi is an open-air museum of antiquity. It also offers something for everyone. Its stunning location and vantage perches offer Instagram-worthy images.

The Lotus Mahal. It is a pleasing monument that sports a syncretic architecture. Despite its aesthetic appeal, the Lotus Mahal does not seem to have had any specific royal purpose.

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The Virupaksha temple in Hampi, Ballari district, Karnataka.
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