Hampi

Situated in north Karnataka, Hampi is a world heritage site which is rich with culture. The capital of Vijayanagar Empire once, Hampi has a glorious history. Talking of today, the state boasts of its riches extending much beyond the skyline. But these ruins speechlessly narrate the story of its heydays. The ancient remains of its splendid palaces are a living testimony to its glorious past. The numerous temples that dot the landscape of the city clearly reflect its ageless charm.

Hampi was originally called Pampa, the puranic name of the Tungabhadra river. Founded in the 14th century by two local kings Hakka and Bukka, Hampi also finds a mention in the great Hindu epic, Ramayana. Several legends are associated with Hampi. The city is the blessed birth place of lord Hanuman. It is the land where he met lord Rama.

Places of Interest
Hampi has several temples which pull tourists and pilgrims in equal numbers. Though these temples are ancient yet, they are built in an artistic style of architecture. These Hindu temples are still held in high esteem by Hindu devotees. Travelers from across the globe come to witness the beauty of these structures. Hampi is home to around 500 monuments. Some of the must-see places in Hampi are namely Queen's Bath, Lotus shaped fountains, Virupaksha Temple, Lotus Mahal, Elephant Stables, Hazara Ramachandra, Stone Chariot, Chandrasekhara temple, Ugra Narasimha, , Vitthal Temple, Pushkarini Tank, Mahanavami Dibba, Jain Temple, Pampapati temple, Krishna temple and Pattabhirama temple.

Reaching There
Air, rail and road transport – all connect Hampi to different parts of the country. The nearest airport is at Tornagallu in Sandur. Airports at Bellary, Belgaum and Bangalore are amongst the other nearby airports. Hospet is the closest railhead. Hospet is linked to Hubli, Bijapur, Bangalore and Guntakal. Hampi is well connected to the major cities of South India by road. The main bus stop is located in the Hampi bazaar area.

Accommodation
Accommodation is not a problem in Hampi. The place has a number of good hotels. In addition to the quality services, the hotels make arrangements for sight-seeing tours in and around the city. Hampi Boulders Resort, Mayura Lodge, Lokare Lodge, Sundar Lodge and Naga Lodge are a few notable hotels to name.

Shopping
The marketplace of Hampi has a lot to offer to its visitors. Though there are only a few shops but the variety they offer is abundant. Handloom is the chief attraction of shopping in Hampi. Andhra Handloom House (Hospet), Karnataka Handloom (Station road), Tamil Nadu Cooptex and Gandhi Chowk are amongst the most popular shopping areas in Hampi.

Hampi, the temple town of Karnataka, exudes a charm which is simply spell-bounding.