Hampi

It was our long term dream to visit Hampi . We visited Hampi in June 2018.

As we are from Chennai we travelled to Bengaluru in train ,from Bengaluru to Hospet, we reached Hospet early morning from station we travelled by jeep to Heritage group of Hotels to freshen up, took bath in the sacred river Tungabhadra near Virupaksha temple .

Virupaksha temple the main significance is that the shadow of the gopuram falls upside down at the back entrance wall of the temple . The main deity is Lord Shiva and his consort is goddess Pampadevi . There are seperate sannithis for Goddess Durga, Lord Hanuman , Goddess Lakshmi. Near the dwajasthambam there are 3 Nandis in this temple . Everyday the pooja and rituals are done here. This temple is built in such a way at the backside of the main sanctum there is a wall ,the shadow of the main gopuram falls inverted on the wall .

After worshipping the Virupaksha temple we went to Ugra Narasimhar and Badavi Lingam temple which are adjacent to each other ,all attacked by invaders and remains ruined .No pooja rituals are done here .

Then we visited Vithalla mandir they took us in a battery car for that they charge Rs . 20 and entry ticket being charged 40 per person . Here is the famous stone chariot of Hampi and the musical pillars.

This temple is not under worship the main deity is absent and no clear information about it .
Though the main gopuram is half destroyed some renovation works were been undergoing . With this we took a lunch break .

After 3 pm we visited chakra theertham through trek and coracle ride reached the other side visited Kothandaramar temple , Surya Narayanan temple and Yantharo tharaga Hanuman temple .

Its said Lord Rama met Lord Hanuman at this place hence this Kothandaramar temple is built .

Yantharo tharaga Hanuman temple is a few steps ahead of Kothandaramar temple and Lord Hanuman is in yoga position inside a yantra surrounded by 12 monkeys ,one monkey catching the other tail which came in the dream of Vyasarajar ( a Madva saint) who installed this Yantharo tharaga Hanuman idol and slogan .

Throughout the roads we travelled we were able to see carved stones and could imagine how those times tradings were done . There are many places of interests like Queens bath , Elephants stable , row of shops much more feeling amazed by the royal ruins of Hampi we left to Anegundi .

One can plan Hampi visit along with Badami Aihole and Pattadakal .