If you have directly come here you should check out Part 1 of this article.
Now that you have seen the beauty of Hampi, we should move on to know and explore Hampi as part of our ancient heritage.
On the other side of the river are these beautiful temples located. These temples were temples in the olden days before the Islamic invasion happened. Post that all our Heritage was destroyed by them and today these temples stand as Ruins. There is no Idol worship that happens in these temples anymore.
The beautiful temples that you will come across in Hampi will blow your mind off.
It will make you think, how is that you missed these temples in our culture & heritage.
This used to be a Krishna temple in the past years. Today there is no Krishna idol located there. Now it is not even called a temple. It is referred to as Ruins.
The below is located just opposite to the Krishna temple shown above. It will definitely break your heart to see what has been done to our heritage.
Located a few kms away from the Krishna temple is this beautiful idol of Lakshmi Narsimha. But if you look closely, its hands are broken, the chest is also broken. And there is no Lakshmi idol either as that was also completely destroyed. You will be shocked to know that no one worships this beautiful idol anymore, It is also referred to as ruins. People go to Singapore to watch a lion spit water, but our own country has such things.
You would be surprised to know that this 22ft Idol is crafted out of single stone. It itself speaks volumes about our craftsmanship right from the ancient history.
If you are not yet impressed, have a look at this beautiful shiva lingam. It is another masterpiece. This Shiva Lingam is 11 ft high and yes this is also carved out of single stone.
While we are talking about the Shiva Lingam. Let us also look at this amazing wonder. As you see the this temple is located below the ground. The muslim invaders when they attacked Hampi, had destroyed this temple and burried it under the ground.
This was brought back to life by ASI during the excavation process. This is also referred to as the Underground Shiva Temple. But sadly, this is again not a temple anymore. Referred to as ruins.
This is another temple located in a huge open ground. The architecture around this is all destroyed and turned into ruins again.
The below used to be an Elephant Stable where the elephants of the Kingdom used to be kept.
Take a walk behind the elephant stable and you come across many more ruins. Totally destroyed.
Look at the pillars and the carvings it has. Today people spend lacs to get this done. And we have this entire city with all buildings, forts, palaces with such carvings. It stands destroyed today.
Every time and again you move ahead to have a look at another temple or fort and you end up watching a ruin. At times for a lot of travelers, it is a very depressing sight to watch.
The wall are so beautifully carved that they speak loudly about our ancient history & culture. It referred as the Hazara Rama Carvings.
From the inside, when the sunlight peeps in, it turns so beautiful. But then you are reminded that it is nothing more but just a ruin.
The landscaping of the entire temples is so beautiful, that any time of the day you look at it, you would end up being mesmerized by it.
This is the rear view of the Hazara Rama Swamy temple.
The below is what is called the Public Tank, this is where the water was stored for use of villages and people working in the Queen”s palace.
This huge Ganesha statue is another idol carved out of single stone. This was also found during excavation.
Sasivekalu Ganesha temple on the way to Virupaksha Temple.
The below is what you see called as the Virupaksha temple, this most of us get to see when we look for Hampi.
From the inside, this is how it looks. A magnificient architechture, so tall & so huge. This is the Lord Shiva temple. It is the only temple where prayers and worship is still held.
A km exact opposite to the Virupaksha temple is the huge bull, again carved out of single stone. It is referred as the Monolithic Bull.
Cross over the hill and you would find another palace which has been completly destroyed.
This is the Vitthala Temple. Another beautiful temple completely destroyed.
This is the Kalyan Matapam (Marriage Hall)
The stone chariot is something which you just cannot take your eyes away from.
Hampi turns beautiful with golden hues engulfing the entire sky by the evening.
Do not forget to reach the sunset point to capture this beauty. This point is at the top of Hemakuta Hill.
Do share your views, thoughts and feelings in comments.
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