Historical and Mythical Humpi

Sarika takes us on a tour of Humpi, replete with history and mythology. An exclusive for Different Truths.

At Hampi, every stone is poetry, and each corner has glorious tales of the Vijaynagara Empire.

It was autumn, unlike any autumn in my life. Pandemic’s searing impact forces you to sit at home and adore the travel pictures. A friend asked, “Why do you travel?” I was amused because my list is long. The best answer I could imagine, traveling will charge you for the better, and there is no doubt about it.

On a beautiful autumn morning, we three started for Hampi. It’s over a 400km journey. We drove, 90 percent he did so that his wife might enjoy the serene countryside view. Rest 10 percent I drove. I don’t want to miss the chance to drive in the countryside, playing the iconic song, ‘Country road take me home…’, by John Denver. We had our backpacks, food, and water, as we couldn’t eat anywhere due to Noble Corona Virus. While driving, I witnessed natural boulders, lush greenery, and paddy fields as far as the eye could see!

Hampi the backpacking trail is also a world heritage site, in Karnataka, recognised by UNESCO. It is undoubtedly one of the amazing sites of India.

Boulder strews the landscape, interspersed by golden paddy fields. Amazing ruins of temples, magical legends of gods and goddesses, stories of myths – everything surrounded the dreamy countryside. It felt like time was frozen. One ticks off almost every box to make it a special place in the travel lovers’ bucket list.

It’s an old ruin. Hence big hotels have not yet reached here. However, in the recent past, a few hospitality industry units had shown interest and started their businesses. We stayed in a resort, amidst nature and an organic garden.

The place which is filled with more than 1600 hundred temples is laid back and wrapped in a spiritual aura. Where history braids with mystery, there are many gods, myths, tales, legends, and folklore. God’s sunset point, where many sunsets were seen.

Vittle Temple amazes us with its marked architecture and amazing craftsmanship. The stone chariot is beautifully crafted. The Humpi stone chariot is one of the three famous stone chariots in India. The other two being at Konark, Odisha, and Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu. That intricately carved art reflects the skill of aesthetics and architecture during those days. The more I know new places, the more I get to wonder how rich our history, culture, and the legends attached to it are!

Historic Legend

It is believed that Hampi and its surroundings are Krishkinda – the kingdom of Banara ruled by king Bali. Valmiki’s Ramayana deals with the stories that happened here. According to the story, Rama and Laxmana arrived here in search of Sita. She was kidnapped by Ravana, the king of demons in a flying chariot. Rama with the help of Hanumana, Sugreeva, and the warriors of monkey managed to locate Sita and wage a war against Ravana. Hampi, the site, is associated with several myths and legends. Hills, caves, and boulders of the Tungabhadra valley are attached to these stories.

The capital of the Vijayanagar Empire became one of the greatest empires of southern India over the period. The empire flourished in peace and prosperity.

In Hampi, Virupaksha Temple is one of the famous Lord Shiva temples. It is on the brim of the serene Tungabhadra. It is also surrounded by many other temples. The engravings on the walls of the temple say that the temple was initially built in the 7th century AD and continued up to the rule of the Vijayanagar kings. Later, Chalukyan and Hoysala kings also contributed to the construction of this place. However, the temple grew in its glory during the Vijayanagar Empire.

Hampi Bazar is located in front of the Virupaksha Temple. It is also known as Virupaksha Bazaar. Almost a kilometer long, from one end to the other and attached to the foothill of Matanga Hill. My husband and I went up to the hill and were able to enjoy the panoramic view of Hampi and its surroundings. It was mesmerising. The track road was uneven and scary, but I feel that is the real fun of traveling on unknown roads. On our way, we met monkeys, different types of insects, baby snakes, butterflies, honey bees, and very few strangers. The hill is indeed a trekker’ delight and offers amazing views from the top.

Hampi Bazaar is another unique attraction of the place. The street has many old pavilions. Single and double-storied pavilions stand tall to tell us the glory of the Vijayanagara. These buildings were once part of the prosperity of the nobles. Surprisingly, all the arcades are open structures with no doors. It was strange for me. During the Vijayanagara rule, merchants used to sell precious stones, jewellery, silk clothes, etc. Even cows and horses are also traded here, I was told.

The bazaar is still functioning as a marketplace. However, it lost its glory. Now, it is a small village market talking about the glorious past.

Humpi’s magic lingers with us more than expected. We travelled across Hampi in our car. Somehow the boulders and stones reminded me about Jurassic Park.

Sometimes an unexpected trip is the most memorable one!

I guess, at times, the best memories attached to the most unlikely places of the world and marked by impromptu plans are much more rewarding than a planned one!

Photos by the author