India (Post Covid-19 Overseas Visit No 7 - My 37 days Free & Easy Visit to Northern, Central & Southern India) City No 9 - Group of Monuments (UNESCO) at Hampi, Karnataka - Jan 3 & 4 2024 (Day 24 & 25)

Day 24 & 25 (Jan 3 & 4 2024) - my 2 days bike hire (Rp950 inclusive of petrol = Rm55.10) to visit major ancient temples (including UNESCO World Heritage Sites) & touristy places in & around Hampi. Very pleased with the outcome of my 2 nights stay in Hampi as both of us using a hired bike managed to visit all the 8 UNESCO World Heritage Sites as listed in the Group of Monuments at Hampi !  Each of us paid an entrance fee of Rp600 = Rm34.80 for entries to 3 UNESCO sites in Hampi ie Vijaya Vittala Temple & Stoner Chariot, Lotus Mahal & Archaeological Museum, entries to other ancient temples were free !  

Hampi is a temple town village in the central Karnataka region, & recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, listed as the " Group of Monuments at Hampi ". 

Group of Monuments at Hampi (UNSECO), Karnataka, India 

• Virupaksa Temple
• Badavi Lingga Temple
• Vittala Temple
• Ganagitti Jain Temple
• Krishna Temple
• Lotus Mahal
• Hampi Bazaar
• Archaeological Museum

1) Virupaksa Temple, Hampi, Karnataka - a 7th century Shiva temple, located in Vijayanagara district, part of the Group of Monuments at Hampi (UNESCO), the temple is dedicated to Sri Virupaksha, the main centre of  pilgrimage at Hampi & had been considered the most sacred sanctuary over the centuries.

2) Badavi Linga Temple, Hampi, Karnataka - ancient temple featuring a shrine & pedestal with a Hindu linga, surrounded by a pool of water.

3) Vittala Temple, Hampi, Karnataka - ruins of a temple known for creative architecture such as moving stone chariot & musical pillars. 

4) Ganagitti Jain Temple, Hampi, Karnataka - a Jain temple on the way to Bhima's Gate, this lovely temple is one of the simple stone structures & one of the few well preserved temples in Hampi, also one of the earliest structures constructed during the reign of the Vijayanagara Empire. 

5) Krishna Temple, Hampi, Karnataka - a 16th century temple ruins with elaborately carved stone pillars & towers & a sacred water tank.

6) Lotus Mahal, Hampi, Karnataka - an important secular structure in Hampi, an example of Vijayanagara style of architecture & is a two-storied structure built in Rubble masony & finely plastered, the structure was used as residue place for royal family of the Vijayanagara Empire (1336 > 1646) which was a medieval Indian empire that covered much of the region of Southern India, ruling the lands of the the modern states of Karnataka, Andra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Goa & some parts of Telangana & Maharashtra. 

Watch Towers, Lotus Mahal, Hampi, Karnataka

Basement of Queen's Palace, Lotus Mahal, Hampi, Karnataka

Lotus Mahal, Hampi, Karnataka

Elephant's Stable, Lotus Mahal, Hampi, Karnataka

Guards' House, Lotus Mahal, Hampi, Karnataka

Sculpture Gallery, Guard's House, Hampi, Karnataka

Madhava (Ranga) Temple, Lotus Mahal, Karnataka

7) Hampi Bazzar, Hampi, Karnataka - an unique attraction of Hampi, located in front of the Virupaksha Temple, the Hampi Bazaar is a well-known market place that spreads more than 1 km, the roads passing through the market has a series of old pavilions on both sides.

8) Archaeological Museum, Kamalapura, Karnatak - dedicated to the ruins of Hampi & the Vijayanagara Empire, the museum is situated within the the ruins of the old city of Vijayanagara & just outside the "Royal Centre" of Vijayanagara Empire, museum is small but significant museum that preserves the relics & artefacts related the Vijayanagara Empire & its ruins.