Hampi Island: A Paradise Lost?
If the name Hampi rings a bell, chances are you’re a climber or a history buff. Hampi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site tucked away in east-central Karnataka, India. Once the capital of the great14th-century Vijayanagara Empire, many ornately carved temples and treasures remain. The ruins of over 1600 temples are scattered about an area of 4,187 hectares, some belonging to lavish complexes and others enduring in solitude.
Hampi features prominently in India guide books and stands testament to the Vijayanagara Empire’s former glory. Around 350,000 visitors from around the world flock to Hampi each year, battling the blazing sun for a close encounter with history. Given that Hampi is a historical and cultural pilgrimage site, it is understandable that the Karnataka Government wants to see it restored to its medieval glory — but their action comes at a human cost.
PILGRIMAGE TO HAMPI
Some of Hampi’s greatest treasures are those carved by wind and rain. The region boasts a unique landscape of snaking rivers, lush rice paddies, and rock-carved temples. Though architecturally rich, Hampi is also strewn with endless boulders. It has been a paradise for many dirtbags and boulderers.
A rather young Chris Sharma, the legendary climber, ventured to Hampi nearly 20 years ago with Katie Brown and Nate Gold…
