Hampi is magical…

Hampi from across the Tungabhadra River

Hampi was the seat of the Vijayanagar Empire in the 14th century. It is located in present day Karnataka, in South India. Today only ruins remain of a once wealthy city.

A vast city which boasted a population of 500,000 in the 15th century

Most of city lays in ruin, due to repeated raids of foreign emperors

In 1565, at the Battle of Tolikota, a coalition of sultanates defeated the Vijayanagar empire and beheaded the King. What followed was a massive destruction of infrastructure, and the city.

Some structures remain, bearing testimony to once great city.

The Virupaksha Swamy temple dates back to 7th century, many empires continued to make additions to the temple till about the 15th century

According to Nicholas Gier and other scholars, by 1500 CE Hampi-Vijayanagara was the world’s second-largest medieval-era city after Beijing, and probably India’s richest.

The Garuda stone chariot, regarded as the symbol of Hampi

The elephant stables of Hampi, cause why not?

Summer heat beats down on the city, the temperature stays above 90 F for six months in a year

Hampi remains a hook on which the greatness of a once great land is hung.

The Narasimha statue, restored by adding a belt, can only happen in India.

A bite of a gopura

Hampi is surrounded by hills made of boulders, appearing toasted in centuries of Indian summers

Evenings in Hampi offer magical sights

Hampi is a popular backpacking stop

Text from Wikipedia.