The magnificent ruined city of Hampi, Karnataka once the capital of the Vijayanagar Empire (One of the greatest empires in the history of India), comes alive during the lively festival of dance and music, held in the first week of November.
Hampi holds many delightful surprises. The most famous is the King's Balance where kings were weighed against gold or money, which was then distributed to the poor. Also worth a visit are the Queen's Bath with its arched corridors, projecting balconies and lotus shaped fountains, the two storeyed Lotus Mahal, the huge Elephant Stables, the splendid Vitthal Temple with its musical pillars and the Stone Chariot, the Virupaksha Temple, Ugra Narasimha, the 6.7 meters tall monolith, the Pushkarini Tank, the Mahanavami Dibba, etc. Virupaksha temple is still in use.
Organized by the Government of Karnataka, the Hampi festival includes Dance, drama, music, fireworks, puppet shows and spectacular processions, all combine to recreate the grandeur of the bygone era. |
