Showing posts with label Saga in stone. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Saga in stone. Show all posts

Tuesday, 7 August 2018

Virupaksha- The Living Temple in Hampi

Hampi is a saga in stone. Hampi is history coming alive. Hampi is ruins with a charm.
The only 'living' structure in Hampi- meaning where puja (worship) is performed everyday- is the Virupaksha TempleThe temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, known in Hampi as Virupaksha, as the consort of the local goddess Pampadevi who is associated with the Tungabhadra River. The temple is also called Pampapathi temple and dates back to 7th Century AD. 
Rising high up in the sky, it can be seen from adjoining hills.

A guide sketch below shows the location of main monuments/sites for tourists.

Ghumakkad had shared a set of ten stories on Hampi, a UNESCO World Heritage SiteYou may browse it by clicking the following links:
Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary

One of the most striking features of Virupaksha temple is the usage of mathematical concepts to build and decorate it. The temple has repeated patterns that demonstrate the concept of Fractals. The main shape of the temple is triangular. As you look up the temple top, the patterns divide and repeat themselves, just like you would see in a snowflake or some other natural wonders. See the picture below.

This story takes you around Virupaksha Temple. Photography is not allowed in the sanctum sanctorum. But you can see the remaining pictures and get a feel of life inside the temple including Lakshmi- the temple elephant ! Let the pictures speak.


Gopuram or gopura (Sanskrit: गोपुरम्, gopuram) is a monumental gatehouse tower, usually ornate, at the entrance of a Hindu temple, in southern states of India.
Lakshmi- the temple elephant who resides inside the temple.



Inside the sanctum sanctorum- no photography please!
The Vijayanagara Dynasty- as painted on one of the temple walls.














Please pardon the typo! Shoes to be removed before entering the temple.





This story concludes Ghumakkad's set of ten stories on our visit to Hampi, a World Heritage Site in Karnataka India. It is indeed a saga in stone.

Hope you enjoyed browsing through. Your feedback or experience of earlier visits is always welcome.

     -   Harsh-the-Ghumakkad/ 7th Aug 2018 <hbindia@gmail.com>
#hampi #worldheritagesite #virupakshatemple #7thcentury #pampapathitemple #fractals #gopuram #natgeo #lonelyplanet #ghumakkadharsh #ghumakkadHB #indiatourism #karnatakatourism

Thursday, 27 July 2017

Women Warriors of Hampi

Women Empowerment is a fashionable word with sociologists, business leaders, economists, politicians, governments, United Nations and the like. But the Vijayanagara Empire in India knew how to empower their women 500 years ago. Yes, Hampi has proof of it. This story captures the theme 'Women Warriors' through pictures.
Those who came in late and have not yet browsed our earlier stories on Hampi a World Heritage Site, here are the quick links:
  1. Hyderabad to Hampi- Where Ghumakkad got lost in time
  2. Vitthala Temple and Royal Chariot
  3. Hiking in Hampi
  4. Confusion at Hampi- Ugra or Lakshmi Narasimha
  5. Coracles not for the weak hearted
  6. The Lotus Mahal
  7. Charm of a Sunset at Hampi
A tourist guide map of Hampi coutesy www.hampi.in for those who haven't yet been there:

Besides portraying the women warriors, Ghumakkad also takes you to the following 15th century monuments in Hampi:
  • Queen's Bath
  • Royal Enclosure including a video clip
  • Mahanavami Dibba
  • Cabinet Room
  • Pushkarni
  • Public Bath including a short video
  • Troops Barracks
  • Queen's Dance Hall
Let the pictures do the talking.








The menace of defacing historical monuments, public places, escalators and even tree barks persists across the globe. But in India, they take their time to scratch and dig their names into walls like in Hampi. As if the defacers will become immortal!

These pictures were taken in Feb-17 when four of us visited Hampi.

Royal Enclosure
Credit goes to Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) for making the whole Hampi site 'disabled-friendly'. See the braille signage below and a ramp for wheel-chair bound tourists few pictures later.






Mahanavami Dibba- Ceremonial Platform for the King
See the sheer size of the royal platform! A man on top of the platform dwarfs in comparion.

Here is a short 20-second video showing the carvings. Granite unlike sandstone and marble, is not easy to carve!




A woman warrior riding a battle horse! More sculptures of women warriors to come.



Pushkarni- Step well and water reservoir for inmates of royal enclosure



Public Bath
Feel the size of this 500-year old swimming pool with diving boards too, in this short 20-seconds video. Please ignore the howling wind in the background.





Giant sized dinner plates in stone. Imagine the appetite and built of the diners of that era!
More Women Warriors...




Queen's Dance Hall


In the next part, we will visit Virupaksha Temple which is a 'live' temple in Hampi.
Ghumakkad has shared a set of ten stories on Hampi, a UNESCO World Heritage SiteYou may browse it by clicking the following links:
Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary

Thanks for browsing. Do share your impressions/experiences.

    -  Harsh-the-Ghumakkad with Neeta Bhargava/ 27th July 2017