Leisure & Travel

Hampi — testimony to a golden ageOne of the 16 Unesco recognised World Heritage sites in the country, Hampi is getting an overdue infrastructure facelift for the imminent Hampi Utsav scheduled for early November Hampi, a world famous heritage tourism destination is getting an overdue infrastructure facelift for the forthcoming Hampi Utsav scheduled to be held this month (November 3-5). The Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC) has announced ambitious plans to spruce up and promote Hampi, hitherto a somewhat inconvenient heritage tourism site simpliciter as a leisure destination as well. Despite its magnificent 13-15 century architectural ruins, during the past decade Hampi has suffered official neglect and is slowly losing allure as a premier tourist attraction. Once home to a cultural efflorescence involving sculptors, musicians, artists, and artisans who worked together to translate the lofty vision of the Vijayanagar princes into enduring monuments, Hampi is currently an underdeveloped village which doesn‚t even have a half-decent hotel to accommodate visiting tourists. The Hampi ruins are evocative of ancient Hindu kings‚ pomp and glory which brought visitors (most famously Nobel laureate and author V.S. Naipaul) from across the seas to marvel and write about them.Recently five avid adventurers and campers including this writer re-explored the exotic ruins, sited on the banks of the graceful Tungabhadra river. Perhaps the fast-flowing river which provided unlimited fresh water in this rocky terrain prompted the Vijaynagar kings to choose this location to establish their capital. Set amidst massive boulders and craggy hills, the ruins sprawl over an area of 26 sq. km and are among the 16 Unesco-recognised World Heritage sites in the country. Hampi was the capital of the ancient Vijayanagar empire which controlled the Deccan Plateau for over 200 years from 1336-1565 AD, and reached its zenith during the reign of Krishnadevaraya, its most famous emperor. Following the death of Krishnadevaraya in 1529, the neighbouring Muslim Bahamani rulers coalesced and attacked Hampi. The invading armies ran amok in the town, destroying its beautiful temples and monuments and left the once grand city in ruins. Tungabhadra view from the Royal EnclosureThus far the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has identified and restored about 121 major monuments in Hampi and has installed explanatory signboards and information plates in front of each one of them. Easy to read, digitally printed maps have also been placed in strategic locations amidst the ruins to help tourists find their way to monuments of their choice. ASI has also trained and accredited several multi-lingual guides for the convenience of tourists. Their fees vary from Rs.150-500 per day, depending on the size of the group and monuments covered. For those who would rather wander about the ruins on their own, enterprising businessmen have started renting bicycles (Rs.100-200 per day) and motorbikes (Rs.300-500 per day excluding fuel). Autorickshaws driven by self-styled local guides are also an option.Day 1 ‚ Drive to HampiThe 355 km journey from Bangalore to Hampi situated in the Bellary district of Karnataka began on October 12 at 8.15…