Hampi, Badami, Patuakhali and Aihole make a great North Karnataka trip. Hampi has a glorious past. It was destroyed and looted by Muslim invaders. Nevertheless, the landscape is the same, the ruins are still magnificent and the whole area is very evocative of the past. Two Kingdoms played a very important role in shaping the history of South India - The Chalukyas of Badami and Vijayanagaras of Hampi. This era revolutionised temple art in India and today most of the sites are protected as UNESCO world heritage sites.
Hampi is undoubtedly the most gorgeous landscape where the ruins come alive. The rocks keep you awe struck and the seamless architecture blends in perfectly. The numerous hill tops are vantage points for serene sunrise and sunset. The austere and grandiose site of Hampi comprise mainly of the remnants of the Capital City of the Vijayanagara Empire (14th-16th Cent CE), the last great Hindu Kingdom. The property encompasses an area of 4187.24 hectares, located in the Tungabhadra basin in Central Karnataka, Bellary District. Dravidian architecture flourished under the Vijayanagara Empire and its ultimate form is characterised by their massive dimensions, cloistered enclosures, and lofty towers over the entrances encased by decorated pillars. Another unique feature of temples at Hampi is the wide Chariot streets flanked by the rows of Pillared Mandapas, which was introduced when chariot festivals became an integral part of the rituals. The stone chariot in front of the temple is also testimony to its religious ritual. Most of the structures at Hampi are constructed from local granite, burnt bricks and lime mortar. The stone masonry and lantern roofed post and lintel system were the most favoured construction technique. Vijayanagara architecture is also known for its adoption of elements of Indo Islamic Architecture in secular buildings like the Queen’s Bath and the Elephant Stables, representing a highly evolved multi-religious and multi-ethnic society. Building activity in Hampi continued over a period of 200 years reflecting the evolution in the religious and political scenario as well as the advancements in art and architecture. The city rose to metropolitan proportions and is immortalized in the words of many foreign travellers as one of the most beautiful cities. The Battle of Talikota (1565 CE) led to a massive destruction of its physical fabric.
Badami was ruled by many dynasties and primary of those was the Chalukya Dynasty. Badami Caves from one to four are numbered in order of their creation. Though the exact date of the construction is not known the inscription found in cave 3 shows that this cave was constructed by Mangalesha. The construction of cave no. One and Two have north Deccan style architecture while cave no. Three has the styles of Nagara and Dravida. Cave One, Two and Three belong to Hindu deities while cave Four belongs to Jains. Badami caves were built by using sandstone available locally. The caves have entrance, a mukha mandapa or veranda, a hall and a small shrine or Garbhagriha. The veranda is supported by a series of columns and brackets. There are in total five caves in Badami out of which four are man-made and the fifth one is natural.
Embark on this mesmerizing journey with knowledgeable local guides and a well-planned itinerary with Leading Edge.