Hampi was the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire in the 14th century. It was a embattled city. Chronicles left by Persian and European travellers, particularly the Portuguese, say that Hampi was a prosperous, wealthy and grand city near the Tungabhadra River, having countless temples, farms and trading markets. By 1500 CE, Hampi-Vijayanagara was the world's second-largest medieval-era city after Beijing, and probably India's richest at that time, attracting traders from Persia and Portugal. The Vijayanagara Empire was defeated by a coalition of Muslim sultanates; its capital was vanquished, ransacked and demolished by sultanate armies in 1565, after which Hampi remained in ruins. Hampi is famous for its ruins belonging to the erstwhile medieval Hindu kingdom of Vijaynagar and it is declared a World Heritage site. The temples of Hampi, its monolithic sculptures and monuments, attract the traveler because of their excellent workmanship. Hampi or Hampe, has been described as the UNESCO World Heritage Site as an "austere, grandiose site" of more than 1,600 surviving remains of the last great Hindu kingdom in South India that includes "forts, riverside features, royal and sacred complexes, temples, shrines, pillared halls, mandapas, memorial structures, water structures and others".
The nearest airport to Hampi is the Jindal Vijaynagar Airport, located in Bellary, approximately 40 kilometers away. However, this airport has limited connectivity. The next best option is the Hubli Airport, which is about 144 kilometers away. From either airport, you can hire a taxi or take a bus to reach Hampi.
Hampi is well-connected by road, and you can reach the town by bus or private vehicle. Several state-run and private buses operate from major cities like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Goa to Hospet. From Hospet, you can take a local bus, hire a taxi, or take an auto-rickshaw to reach Hampi. The distance between Hospet and Hampi is around 13 kilometers.
The nearest railway station to Hampi is the Hospet Junction, which is well-connected to major cities like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Goa. Hospet is about 13 kilometers away from Hampi, and you can hire a taxi or take an auto-rickshaw from the railway station to reach Hampi.
