Hampi, now an ancient village, was the capital of the Vijayanagara dynasty. Till the mid-sixteenth century, Vijayanagara Empire was believed to be a powerful military state, and Hampi was said to be larger than Rome. Royal palaces, lavish temples, and thriving bazaars were spread across an area of 26 sq. km.
Now a UNESCO World Heritage site, Hampi’s existence can be traced way back to the episodes of the epic Ramayana. The region was formerly known as Kishkinda, the kingdom of vanara army ruled by the Sugriva and his brother Bali. Hanuman’s birthplace can be found here as well. The famous Anjaneya Hill is named after him.
The sacred sites of Virupaksha Temple and Vijaya Vittala Temple and the royal centers of the Queen’s Bath and Lotus Mahal and the rich atmospherics of the ancient ruins make Hampi an ideal destination for tourists. Languages commonly used in the city are Hindi, Kannada, and English.
When to Travel?
With boulders spread around Hampi, summers become too hot to stay outdoors and monsoon becomes too risky. Thus, the best time to visit Hampi is from October to March. The weather is pleasant and the chances of rainfall are low.