Hampi visit – Endeavoring to capture the true essence of India’s Glorious Past
Hampi, located in the Southern Indian state of Karnataka was declared a UNESCO HERITAGE SITE in 1989. The ruins of monuments there abundantly showcase India’s rich historical past. But unlike visiting the Hadrian Wall in the United Kingdom or other similar historical sites, the leftover monuments, remnants of structures at Hampi provide us with a glimpse of Indian social luxuries and kaleidoscopic lifestyle that existed in the Vijayanagar Kingdom between the 14th through 16th centuries – be it on matters related to business and trade, social customs, religious rituals, etc.
Hampi, through its monument ruins, wall structures and scriptures, will invariably take you back in time when temples were built to please Gods and Goddesses, social mandapas were made at marketplaces to address matters of concerns, where traders from other countries, such as, erstwhile Persia, and China visited, bringing with them horses, gold, gems, and diamonds.
The Ranga Mandapa at Vijaya Vittala Temple is truly an epitome of the then-days’ lifestyle!
Standing in front of the Mandap, if one looks to the top, the ceiling is decorated with lotus designs and roof sides had horizontal stone rods on all sides, presumably for curtains to be hung from top to prevent dance and music from being visible from outside. Also, there are pin-sized holes accurately made at the bottom supposedly to lock or ‘pin’ curtains from flying and prevent rain water from dripping in!
The Musical Pillars of the Ranga Mandapa were another pondering wonder! Each of the 56 pillars were made out of single rocks and are referred to as “SAREGAMA Pillars” due to the musical sounds emanating when the pillars are tapped gently! It remains a mystery as to how they had the technology to provide such a natural musical platform!
The Maha Mandapa of Vijaya Vittala Temple is also an architectural excellence as it is exactly aligned along the central axis of the rectangular courtyard, facing the Stone Chariot.
Virupaksha Temple in Hampi is a major tourist attraction both for religious purpose and architectural excellence. Visitors remain amazed by the accuracy of the hole that was constructed hundreds of years ago to show the inverted image of the Gopuram (Temple Tower) at Virupaksha Temple.
Other attractions that showcased the Vijayanagara Kingdom’s rich historical era include Queen’s Bath, Lotus Mahal, Zenana Enclosure, expansive Elephant Stables, etc.
As an Indian, it truly makes me feel proud of our past heritage, culture, and contributions that our ancestors made for social and communal harmony, growth and prosperity. Such monuments not only showcases highly skilled craftsmanship, extreme accuracy, but also corroborates a deep sense of purpose targeted towards spiritual connectivity through meaningful technological innovations.
I salute the visions of the then Vijayanagara Kingdom rulers and hope that India by virtue of its glorious past, the country regains itself to evolve as one of God’s most beloved countries, cherished by all its citizens!