Monday 28 August 2017

Memories of Hampi - Monuments 2

Kadalekalu Ganesha

Is a giant Lord Ganesha Statue carved out of a huge boulder on the north eastern slopes of Hemakuta hill. The belly of Ganesha resembles a Chickpea hence the name Kadalekalu which translates to Chickpea in local language. The statue is 15 feet tall and is one of the biggest sculptures in Hampi . The statue is enclosed within a sanctum made with tall slender rock pillars. The pillars have beautiful stone carvings which are quiet beautiful.
Kadalekalu Ganesha Hampi
Kadalekalu Ganesha
Hampi Travel Blog
Kadalekalu Ganesha with Virupaksha Temple in the background
Boulders of Hampi
Small Temple build among the boulders of Hampi 

Sasivekalu Ganesha

Sasivekalu translates to Mustard seed which is what the shape of Ganesh's tummy is compared to. Ganesha the Elephant God was the son of Lord Shiv (God of Destruction) and Goddess Parvathi. He was very well knowns for consuming large quantities of food, once he ate soo much food that His tummy was about to burst. Ganesh caught a cobra and tied it around his wait to prevent his stomach from bursting. If you look carefully you can see the sanke tied abround Ganesha tummy in the below picture. 
Sasivekalu Ganesha Temple Hampi
Sasivekalu Ganesha

Muhammadan Tomb

These are Tomb and Grave structures built in typical "BAHAMANI" style architecture.  When you enter Hampi from Hospet this is one of the first ruins that you pass by . Not many people stop to see the tomb complex but is is definitely work a visit. 

Muhammadan Tomb Hampi
Beautiful Mohommadan Tomb in Kadiramapura

Mohommadan Daragh 

Hampi Travel Blog

Muhammadan Tomb Hampi

Thursday 24 August 2017

Memories of Hampi - Achyuta Raya Temple

Achyuta Raya Temple

One of the most marvellous temples in Hampi the Achyuta Raya temple was built around 1534 AD during the reign of Achyuta Raya. This temple is a true representation of the Vijayanagara style of architecture with intricate sculptures. The temple is dedicated to Lord Tiruvengalanatha who is another form of Lord Vishnu. Like most structures in Hampi the Temple was destroyed by the marauding armies form the north.
Achyuta Raya Temple Hampi
Achyuta Raya Temple Gate 
Temple Gates Achyuta Raya Temple
Beautiful Vijayanagara Architecture 
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Inner Gopuram of the Temple 
Achyuta Raya Temple
Ruins of the ancient gates 
Hampi Photography
Hampi Sunset 
Hampi Temples
Temple on Matanga Hill
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Beautiful Pillar Carvings 
Ruins of Achyuta Raya Temple 
In front of Achyuta Raya Temple is the courtesans street where merchants from all over the world came to trade. The street is roughly 1 Kilometre long and 50 meters wide with small cubical pillars 
Courtesans Street Hampi
Courtesans Street
Landscape of Hampi
Typical Hampi Landscape 

Thursday 3 August 2017

Memories of Hampi - Monuments 1

The ancient ruins of Hampi is like a giant museum spread over 25 square km of rocky landscape with ruins of ancient tombs, palaces and temples scatted all around. To see all the monuments in Hampi it would take you at least 3 days, these are some of the sights I visited during my trip to Hampi.
Hampi Travel Blog
Pushkarni or Temple Pond
Pushkarni – Temple Pond

Pushkarni are sacred water tanks which are built close to a temple; these tanks are used by the pilgrims to take bath. Dipping in these holy waters signifies the purification of both body and soul. The wells are also used in most temple rituals and has a lot of significance and respect in Hindu religion. There are many such temple wells all around Hampi , the most popular one being the step well in the Royal enclosure next to Vittala Temple.
Ancient Step Well India
Long Exposure of the Temple pond
Hampi Ruins
Ancient Columns 
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Beautiful Hampi landscape
Hampi Karnataka
Poetry In Stone
Hemakuta Hill
This hill was once fortified with high stone walls, watch towers and was of strategical importance. Now the walls have crumbled and the slopes are left with the ruins of temples, archways and pillars. Hemakuta hill is a good vantage point for photography especially at dawn and the view of Virupaksha Temple from up here is breathtaking. The hill also has religious significance; it’s on the same hill that Lord Siva (God of Destruction) did penance before his marriage to a mortal. Thera are a lot of small temples dedicated to Lord Shiva scattered all over the Hill and the biggest one being Virupaksha temple.
Hemakuta Hill Hampi
Ancient Pavilion on the hill
A 15 minute trek will take you to the top and you get a birds eye view of the Virupaksha temple complex.  We climbed the hill after a full day of exploration and wanted to watch the sunset from the hill top, unfortunately my camera died  and  I missed capturing some amazing sunset photos of Hampi.
Moola Virupaksha Temple
The hill slopes are packed with small temples from the Vijayanagara period with the most prominent one being Moola Virupaksha Temple.  This is said to be the original Virupaksha temple and its name also suggest the same; Moola translates to origin or base. 
Moola Virupaksha Temple
Hemakuta Hill
Pillars on Hemakuta Hill
The top of the hill is flat with a large number of temples archways and pavilions; these are referred to as the Hemakuta group of monuments. The buildings here are older than the Vijayanagar Empire and you can easily make out the difference in architecture from the rest of the monumetns.
Old Virupaksha Temples with the new temple in the background
Hemakuta Hill Hampi
Temples on the gentle slopes of Hemakuta Hill