Hampi
was the capital of Vijayanagar Empire, the last
great Hindu Kingdom. Under the Vijayanagar rulers
Hampi grew fabulously. The princes of Vijayanagar
built numerous Dravidian temples and palaces. The
records of foreign travelers between 14th and 16th
century bear testimony to the grandeur of Hampi.
However the magnificent capital of Vijayanagar was
destroyed by the Deccan Muslim league in 1565. Hampi
is a village in northern Karnataka, India. It marks
the ruins of Vijayanagar, the former capital of the
Vijayanagar Empire. The Hampi village also houses
the well-known Virupaksha temple.
Hampi contains several monuments belonging to the
erstwhile capital city. The Hampi ruins are a UNESCO
World Heritage Site. Hampi is also identified with
the legendary Kishkindha, the monkey kingdom
mentioned in the Ramayana. The rulers of Vijayanagar
chose Hampi as their capital because of its
strategic location. Hampi was bounded by the
Tungabhadra River on one side and granite cliffs on
the other three sides. The ruins at Hampi bear
testimony to the patronage of the Vijayanagar rulers
to art and architecture. Excavations at Hampi have
unearthed beautiful temples, one of them underground
and also the ruins of once splendid palaces and
gateways.



















