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Hampi Travel Guide

Karnataka's cultural heritage is as fabulous as its glorious history. The various dynasties that ruled this resource bounty lands are known as much for their heroic deeds and administrative acumen as for their deep, discerning love for the arts. This penchant of the long line of rulers for art manifests as indelibly in the sculptural edifices dotting the sprawling, verdant landscape as in the patronage they extended to performing arts like theatre, dance and music.

This glorious cultural quest had reached its zenith during the reign of the legendary Krishnadeva Raya (1509 - 1529 AD). His many splendoured empire Vijayanagara was reputed for its plenty and prosperity in all aspects of life on earth, rightly referred to even to this day as the Golden Age of Karnataka.

The capital of this unforgettable empire was the historic city of Hampi. With its vibrant economy witnessed as vividly in its happy populace as in the pompous cultural life, it verily was a paradise on earth. In the oft-quoted words of the then Persian Ambassador Abdul Razak : "...... the eye has not seen nor the ear heard of any place resembling it upon the whole earth". Indeed, the vestiges of its ruined forts, lovely temples, luxurious baths, ornate palaces, perennial irrigation canals and busy bazaars sing the glory of that dream capital of one of the greatest empires. India has ever known. Demingo Paes, a Portuguese visitor of the times goes into raptures as he extols, "Each day is more splendid than the last. And when these amusements are ended, they begin to throw up many rockets and many different sorts of fires, also castles that burn and fling out from themselves many bombs and rockets". One may only imagine the vista as a fantasia, comparable only with the mythical world of Indra !

Reference like this to this once-opulent town are plenty in the annals of Indian history. As names by which the empire of Vijaynagar was known. It is described as the most celebrated of the medieval metropolises of the times.

Hampi had few parallels in the world both for its orderly administration and artistic achievements. The fabled metropolis was indeed unsurpassed for its affluence, magnificence and spread out splendour.

This paradise on earth, undulated with rocks all round and bathed by the gurgling waters of the Tunga-Bhadra, is spread over an area of 26 sq.kms. It was a city that was synonymous with plenty and prosperity. In the words of Nuniz, another Portuguese visitor, it was "the best provided city in the world".

After Krishnadeva Raya, alas the Kingdom disintegrated, the regal city of Hampi itself running into ruins. It is in the fitness of things that another dynasty as celebrated as Vijaynagar, should have continued that cultural grandeur in the famous Mysore Dasara. That was the Wodeyar dynasty crowned by such illustrious maharajas like Raja Wodeyar, Kanteerava Narasimharaja Wodeyar and, last but not the least, Krishnaraja Wodeyar the Fourth.

With the abolition of the princely order, all that pomp and pageantry would have naturally come to an end. But no, the Government and people of Karnataka would not have it. The inheritors of the glorious tradition, they have made concerted efforts to revive and re-live that glory, that marvel in all its glitter and gaiety, The annual Hampi festival has become as major an attraction as the Mysore Dasara. The environs of this Utsav slated for November 3, 4 and 5 every year is the same legendary town of Hampi in Bellary district.

Though the whole city goes gay on the festive occasion, the actual festivities are held in four different locations. Each presents a variety of entertainment which includes folk dances, wrestling, classical music and dance recitals and plays. It culminates in a colourful procession through the bedecked streets of the city. Well-known personalities in the field of performing and plastic arts, sportsmen and women and literatures join in the great event to make it a memorable occasion, and an experience worth living again and again!