Hampi Site Art and Culture

Overview

The third Sherpas meeting under India’s G20 Presidency was recently held in Hampi.

G20 are confident of being able to forge a compromise between the G-7 countries and the Russia-China combine in order to hammer out a joint declaration.
Officials have prepared the rest of the G-20 draft, including the development agenda.
New confidence follows support from other countries during bilateral meetings.
G-7 countries would like to see the formulations on Ukraine to repeat those used in last year’s G-20 summit at Bali.

Hampi is a city in central Karnataka.
It was once known as Pampakshetra of Kishkindha.
It is situated on the banks of the Tungabhadra River.
It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Covering a vast area of 42 km2, Hampi, in India
As the former capital of the Vijayanagara Empire, one of the largest Hindu empires in South India, which flourished from the 14th to the 16th century.
It is known for its historical and archaeological significance.
Colonel Colin Mackenzie, an engineer and antiquarian, discovered Hampi in 1800.

Art and Architecture

Dravidian architecture flourished under the Vijayanagara Empire.
The more than 1600 surviving ruins, which include forts, riverside features, royal and sacred complexes, temples, shrines, pillared halls, Mandapas, memorial structures, gateways, defence check posts, stables, water structures, etc., demonstrate the sophistication of the various urban, royal, and sacred systems.
The most magnificently ornate building on the property is Vittala Temple.
- It was built during the reign of King Devaraya II (1422 – 1446 A.D), one of the rulers of the Vijayanagara Empire.
- The Musical Pillars, 56 elaborate monolithic pillars that tower over the temple, are its main feature.
- The eastern section of the complex holds the famous Stone Chariot.
Vijayanagara architecture is also known for its adoption of elements of Indo Islamic Architecture.
- Queen’s Bath and the Elephant Stables are some of them.
The Battle of Talikota (1565 CE) led to a massive destruction of its physical fabric.

The mediaeval Indian Empire, which dominated a large portion of South India.
It was founded by two brothers Harihar and Bukka in 1336 CE.
Agriculture and land revenue was the main source of income.
The Indo-Islamic style of Bijapur was merged with the architectural characteristics of the Cholas, Hoysalas, Pandyas, and Chalukyas to create the thriving temple architecture of the Vijayanagar empire.
The naturally occurring basin created by the river Tungabhadra, which flows northeasterly.
Four Dynasty under Vijayanagar Empire
1. Sangama 1336 to 1485 CE founded by Harihara I. Deva Raya II possibly the most successful of the Sangama Dynasty rulers
2. Saluva during 1485 to 1503 CE was founded by Saluva Narasimha.
3. Tuluva dynasty rulers of the period 1491 to 1570 CE. The empire reached its peak during the rule of Krishna Deva Raya.
4. Tirumala Deva Raya started the Aravidu dynasty between 1542 to 1646 CE.

Decline of Vijayanagar Empire

In the Battle of Talikota in January 1565, the Deccan sultanates to the north of Vijayanagara banded together and assaulted Rama Raya’s army.
The Sultanates’ army plundered Hampi.
After Rama Raya’s demise, Tirumala Deva Raya established the Aravidu dynasty and made an effort to rebuild the Vijayanagara Empire from its ruins.
Tirumala abdicated in 1572, dividing the remains of his kingdom to his three sons.
The Aravidu dynasty’s successors dominated the area, but the empire’s final remnants were destroyed in 1646 as a result of ongoing conflicts with the Bijapur sultanate and other rivals.

The Tunga River and the Bhadra River converge to form the Tungabhadra River.
The majority of the course of the Tungabhadra River in India goes through the state of Karnataka.
It then travels along the boundary between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh until entering the Krishna River close to Gundimalla hamlet in the Jogulamba Gadwal district of Telangana.
Sacred river in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

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