Category: Palace

Hampi, the architectural marvel and epitome of ancient civilization is situated on the banks of river Tungabhadra in Ballari, Karnataka. The city of ruins which is spread over 41.5 sq km was the capital of the mighty Vijayanagara Empire in the 14th century. It is an open museum with 100’s of locations surrounded by 500 odd ancient monuments or structures to explore. This place was declared as the UNESCO World Heritage Site in the year 1986. Hampi was considered one of the richest and largest cities in the world during the heydays of the Vijayanagara empire from the 15th to 16th centuries. It is home to ancient temples, ruins of palaces remain of aquatic structures, monolithic structures, ancient bazaar streets, royal pavilions, bastions, royal platforms, forts, treasury buildings, and several other architectural surprises spread over a vast area. All these ancient monuments showcase the exceptional architecture and unmatched craftsmanship and Workmanship this kingdom possessed. The Virupaksha temple, Vittala temple, stone chariot, Elephant stable, Lotus Mahal, and queen’s bath should be on top of your list. Apart from this, this was also the major trading center for cotton, spices, and gemstones. Outside of this, Hampi which is full of rugged terrains and rocky boulders has the adventurous side attached to it. You can witness adventurous activities like trekking, rock climbing, cliff jumping, coracle rides,  etc. Try climbing the small hillocks around the cities to have a better view of the ruins of the Vijayanagara kingdom. Hampi is a delight for tourists, Backpackers as well as the people who seek religious blessings, thus is considered among the best places to visit in Karnataka. Shopping  If you are a shopping freak then head to Streets next to Virupaksha temple which is flooded with shops on either side. These shops offer antique coins, traditional