Stone quarrying activities have started in the area around Hampi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Vijayanagara district of Karnataka. Environmentalists and tourists have raised concerns about the impact of these activities on the historical and ecological integrity of the site.
Key facts about Vijayanagara Empire and Hampi
Vijayanagara Empire
- The Vijayanagara Empire or “City of Victory” was founded in the year 1336 by two brothers named Harihara and Bukka, who had earlier served in the army of Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq.
- They broke away from the Delhi Sultanate and established an independent kingdom in Karnataka, with its capital city Vijayanagara located on the banks of the Tungabhadra River.
- The establishment of their kingdom was aided and inspired by the contemporary scholar and saint Vidyaranya.
- The Vijayanagara Empire was ruled by four important dynasties namely Sangam, Saluva, Tuluva and Aravidu.
- Krishnadevaraya (1509-29) of the Tuluva dynasty was the most famous ruler of Vijayanagara.
- He composed a treatise on polity in Telugu known as Amuktamalyada.
Hampi
- It is located in Bellary district of Karnataka, which contains the remains of the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire (14th-16th century AD).
- A unique feature of the temples of Hampi is that its wide chariot roads are surrounded by a row of pillared mandapas.
- Its famous landmarks include Krishna Temple Complex, Narasimha, Ganesha, Hemakuta Temple Complex, Achyutaraya Temple Complex, Vitthala Temple Complex, Pattabhirama Temple Complex, Lotus Mahal Complex etc.
- Hampi was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in the year 1986.
- The Vijayanagara Empire was defeated by a coalition of the Deccan Sultanates in the year 1565 (Battle of Talikota), after which Hampi became a ruin.
Vitthala Temple
- It was built in the 15th century during the reign of Devaraya II, one of the rulers of the Vijayanagara Empire.
- It is dedicated to Vitthala (Lord Vishnu) and is also known as Vijaya Vitthala Temple.
- It has notable attractions like the stone chariot and musical pillars, with the stone chariot depicted on the Rs 50 note.
Hampi Chariot
- It is one of the three famous stone chariots in India, the other two being at Konark (Odisha) and Mahabalipuram (Tamil Nadu).
- It was built in the 16th century on the orders of King Krishnadevaraya, the ruler of Vijayanagara.
- It is a temple dedicated to Garuda, the official vehicle of Lord Vishnu.
Virupaksha Temple
- It is a 7th-century Shiva temple in Hampi, central Karnataka.
- Lord Virupaksha also known as Pampapati is the main deity of the Virupaksha Temple.
- It was built in the Vijayanagara style of architecture and was constructed by Nayak Lakhan Dandesh under Deva Raya II, the ruler of the Vijayanagara Empire.
Vijayanagara Temple Architecture Style
- Varied structures: It included temples, monolithic statues, palaces, official buildings, cities, irrigation systems, stepwells and ponds.
- Blend of styles: The architecture had a unique blend of Hindu and Islamic elements.