About Hampi

History of Hampi

Welcome to the city of Hampi, the imperial capital of The Great Vijayanagar Empire. The city of victory carved in stone that once flourished and rivaled Rome in terms of beauty, magnitude and population. Till today, each rock in the ruins speaks volumes of the grandeur, and majestic it experienced 5 centuries ago. HAMPI, the "Pompeii of India", is a dream come true for archaeologists, historians, art-lovers or tourists. Forts, Palaces, temples, sculptures, baths, Irrigation canals, bazaar ruins of a civilization belonging to the medieval era, Preserved in stone.



Listed as a World Heritage Site, Hampi the city of ruins is one of the most captivating historical sites of South India. It houses as many as 500 monuments, each with a story behind it, reflecting a fascinating history reaching the pinnacle of glory and then stumbling to a decline of utter neglect. The name Hampi originated from the word Pampa, the ancient name for the River Tungabhadra that flows through the city. There are many other names that it goes by - Vijayanagara named after the ruling kingdom and capital city, and Virupakshapura named after the revered deity Shiva. Hampi is also a sacred place for the Hindus as it is believed that Pampa was Lord Brahma's daughter, who married Lord Shiva, and thus the place was called Pampakshetra. Around it grew the biggest ever empire of South India, the Vijayanagar Empire in 1336 A.D. till