My presentation for #BCM10. How I fell in love with Hampi and how we have a tryst and every year I fulfil it...You should go there for sure.

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My tryst with the ruins of
Hampi…
www.hampi.in

2. #BCM10
www.hampi.in
Narayan Srinivas Rajpurohit
Late N. S. Rajpurohit has gone unrecognized in spite of his
significant contribution to history and heritage of Karnataka.
Born in a poor family in 1887, he was self-taught, and
qualified himself for teaching in primary schools. But, the
movement for India's freedom was very strong, and due to
his participation in anti-British activities, he found himself
dismissed and disqualified from teaching for rest of his life!
He single-handedly dug the land round about Rakkastangadi, a
village near Bijapur and established the battle field which
was the death-knell of the great Vijayanagar empire. The
fields were full of human and horse skeletons, coins and
raged canons. Till then scholars had believed it was Talikote
with was the battlefield.

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The Vijayanagara Empire
www.hampi.in

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History of Hampi
www.hampi.in
• Over the years Vijayanagara (what is now popularly
called as Hampi) developed a unique style of
architecture, later came to be known
aas Vijayanagara Architecture
• The Kadambas, Chalukyas of Badami, Kalyani,
Hoysalas, Yadavas and others.
• Affected by Delhi Sultan, Alauddin Khalji…
• Harihara , Dev Raya I, II and Krishnadeva Raya
• Ramraya and Deccan Sultans (Sultan of
Ahmednagar)
• The battle of Rakshasi and Tangdi (Talikota)

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The Ramayana Connection
www.hampi.in
•Rama and Lakshmana reaches Kishninda , the
kingdom of monkeys (Vanara Kingdom). Locals
believe it’s the environs of Hampi.
•Battle of Vali & Sugreeva (Matanga Hills)
•The Anjaneya Hill , just across the river is
believed to be the place where Añjana gave
birth to Hanuman.
•Sugreeva’s Cave is located on the banks of
the river on the way to Vittala Temple.
•The riverbank near Kodandarama Temple ,
near the Sugreeva’s cave is the place where
Rama crowned Sugreeva after killing Val

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Hazara Rama Temple
www.hampi.in

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Musical pillars and Stone chariot at the Vittala Temple
www.hampi.in

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The Kings Balance
www.hampi.in
• This 5-meter or so tall ‘balance’ is located near
the Vittala temple. Also called as Tula Bhara or Tula
Purushadana, the king used to weigh himself with
gold, gems, silver and precious stones, and
distributed to the priests.
• It’s believed that this had been done during the
special ceremony seasons like solar or lunar
eclipses. You can spot three loops on top of the
balance, into which the balance actually hung.

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The airconditioned Kamala Mahal (Lotus Palace) & The Elephant
Stables
www.hampi.in

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Octagonal public Baths in Hampi
www.hampi.in
•This structure, as the name indicates, is a
gigantic bathing area made in the shape of an
Octagon.
•The bath shelter is designed with an octagonal
shaped platform at the middle and an encircling
pillared veranda around it.
•The circular section between the veranda and
the platform is the water (now empty) area.
•To the west of it you can spot the ruined bases
of numerous palaces.

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Underground Shiva & Queens Bath
www.hampi.in

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The Krishna Temple at the entrance of the city…
www.hampi.in
• This temple was built by the king
(Krishnadevaraya) in 1513 AD to celebrate
the conquest of the eastern kingdom of
Udayagiri or Utkala (in the present day
Orissa state).
• The carvings are especially spectacular
with the Yalis (the mythical lion) on the
pillars and the entrances to the temple
hall flanged with impressive carvings of
elephant balustrades. Many small shrines
and pillared halls adorn the campus. The
temple kitchen is located at the south
east of the main shrine.
• You can see the carvings of the 10
incarnations of Lord Vishnu in this temple.

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Ugrasimha Temple & The poor woman’s Lingam
www.hampi.in

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The Ganeshas of Hampi…
www.hampi.in
Sasvekalu
Ganesha
Kadalekalu
Ganesha

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The monolithic Bull at the feet of Matanga Hill
www.hampi.in

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The Magical Matanga Hill
www.hampi.in
•Battle of Vali & Sugreeva
(Matanga Hills)
• Probably Matanga Hill is the
most talked about hill in Hampi.
Let it be its central location, the
oversold sunset/sunrise view or the
myths associated with it, this hill
commands a special attraction.
• Being at the centre of Hampi,
and also the highest point,
Matanga hilltop is the best spot to
get an aerial view of Hampi and
it's environs

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The Tungabhadra River and the coracle rideS
www.hampi.in
• The Vijayanagara kings took
advantage of the river by
constructing a host of irrigation
canals and aqueducts.
• A highly networked water supply
system fed the manmade water
bodies in the urban core of the
palace area.
• Many of the ancient canals are
still in use to irrigate the
surrounding agriculture fields.
• The ancient name of the river
was Pampa. According to the
legends, Pampa, the daughter of
Brahma (the God of creation) did
penance to please Lord Shiva.
Impressed by her devotion Shiva
married her and taken the name

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Finally the Virupaksha temple…
www.hampi.in

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Keep on Exploring the unknown… For the only two eyes I have, Are
thirsty for more…
www.hampi.in
Within infinite myths lies the Eternal Truth.
Who sees it all?
Varuna had but a thousand eyes,
Indra has a hundred,
You and I, Only two…
- Dr. Devdutt Pattanaik

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Thank You
@srinistuff
http://www.srinistuff.com
www.hampi.in