Hampi as the Capital – Architecture and Art of the Vijayanagara Empire
Medieval History › Vijayanagara Empire · Topic 4.9
Hampi, on the Tungabhadra, was the Vijayanagara capital from 1336 to 1565 and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site of over 1,600 remains. Its temples, such as the Virupaksha, the Vittala with its stone chariot and the Hazara Rama, show elaborate pillared halls and carved panels, while the Lotus Mahal and Elephant Stables mix Hindu and Indo-Islamic styles.
5 min read · UPSC Prelims · History · Vijayanagara Empire
At a Glance
- Capital Hampi, 1336 to 1565
- River Tungabhadra
- Area and remains About 4,187 hectares; over 1,600 remains
- Status UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Oldest active shrine Virupaksha temple
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Medieval History: Vijayanagara Empire
Where Does It Fit?
This is the last topic of the category on the Vijayanagara Empire. The previous topic described the battle that ruined the capital, and this topic describes what survives of it. The next category covers Bhakti and Sufi movements, starting with the origins of Bhakti. Previous topic: Battle of Talikota (1565) and the Decline of Vijayanagara.
What Was Hampi?
In short: Hampi was the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire, on the banks of the Tungabhadra, and its ruins are one of the largest medieval sites in India.
Hampi in east-central Karnataka was the capital from 1336 to 1565. In 1565 a coalition of the Deccan sultanates defeated the empire at Talikota, and the city was pillaged and abandoned. The name comes from the Pampa river, and the site is linked with Ramayana tradition. It covers about 4,187 hectares with more than 1,600 surviving remains. Colin Mackenzie surveyed it in 1800, and the Archaeological Survey of India now digs and maintains it. Historians estimate that around 1500 Vijayanagara may have been the world’s second-largest city after Beijing, but this is only an estimate.
Which Are the Main Monuments?
| Monument | Features |
|---|---|
| Virupaksha temple | The oldest shrine; still a place of worship and pilgrimage |
| Vittala temple | Known for its stone chariot and musical pillars |
| Hazara Rama temple | Carvings of Ramayana scenes and festival processions |
| Lotus Mahal and Elephant Stables | Blend of Hindu and Indo-Islamic styles |
| Queen’s Bath | Public bath with Indo-Islamic influence |
| Mahanavami Dibba | A ceremonial platform |
| Monolithic Narasimha and Shiva linga | Large single-stone images near the Krishna temple |
What Was the Temple Style?
Under the Vijayanagara rulers temples became very elaborate in structure and organisation. Even old temples were enlarged with pillared halls, pavilions and other smaller structures. The temples were often rich, and they were centres of trade, learning and social life, with towns growing around them. The rulers built temples, schools and maths, and the capital became a showpiece of this tradition. The empire’s temple style, with gateway towers (rajagopurams) and pillared halls (mandapas), continued the south Indian Dravida tradition seen under the Cholas.
How Did Travellers Describe the City?
Abdur Razzaq called it one of the most splendid cities he had seen or heard of, built as seven citadels with walls enclosing each other and the seventh fortress ten times the size of the market place of Herat. From the palace four long and broad bazaars ran, and numerous running streams and canals of chiselled stone ran through the bazaars and palace. Nicolo Conti gave the circumference as sixty miles. A later traveller said the city was larger than Rome. People of one caste or profession lived in one quarter, and Muslims in separate quarters.
Krishna Deva Raya built a new town near Vijayanagara and dug a huge tank there. Deva Raya I built dams on the Tungabhadra and Haridra, and canals brought water into the city, which supported both gardens and the royal water system.
What Is the Timeline of Hampi?
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 1336 | Vijayanagara founded and Hampi becomes the capital |
| 1420 | Nicolo Conti describes the city |
| Reign of Deva Raya II | Abdur Razzaq describes seven citadels and canals |
| 1509 to 1530 | Krishna Deva Raya builds a new town and a large tank |
| 1565 | Defeat at Talikota; the city is looted and abandoned |
| 1800 | Colin Mackenzie surveys the ruins |
Why Are Hampi’s Mixed Styles Important?
As an analytical point, the Lotus Mahal, Elephant Stables and Queen’s Bath show that the Hindu empire borrowed ideas from the Deccan sultanates and Persian-influenced architecture in its civil buildings, while its temples stayed in the south Indian tradition. This blend fits the picture of a state that employed Muslim soldiers and traded with the Muslim world. Hampi’s destruction after 1565 left ruins, but they preserve one of the most complete pictures of a medieval Indian capital.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Heritage staple Hampi monuments are a frequent Prelims question
- Mixed style Shows Hindu and Indo-Islamic exchange
- Link to the empire Ties architecture to its history
What Came Next?
The next category covers the Bhakti and Sufi movements, beginning with the origins and features of Bhakti. Next topic: Origins and Features of the Bhakti Movement.
Key People and Terms
- Vittala temple Stone chariot and musical pillars
- Virupaksha temple Oldest active shrine at Hampi
- Hazara Rama temple Ramayana carvings
- Lotus Mahal Indo-Islamic style building
- Mahanavami Dibba Ceremonial platform
- Rajagopuram Gateway tower
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Capital: 1336 to 1565; river Tungabhadra.
- Vittala: stone chariot, musical pillars.
- Hazara Rama: Ramayana scenes.
- Lotus Mahal: Hindu and Indo-Islamic blend.
- Mackenzie surveyed Hampi in 1800.
Do Not Confuse With
- Virupaksha and Vittala Oldest living shrine versus the temple of the stone chariot
- Hampi and Vijayanagara Modern name versus the city name
- Lotus Mahal and Elephant Stables Palace pavilion versus the stables of the royal elephants
Memory Hook
Virupaksha prays, Vittala drives its stone chariot, Rama carves, Lotus blooms, ruins stand.
Mains Angle
Questions on Hampi ask about its significance. These points add depth.
- Temples Pillared halls and carving
- Civil buildings Indo-Islamic blend
- Legacy A World Heritage ruin
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Describe the architecture of Hampi and what it shows about Vijayanagara culture.”
How to Answer
- Site Capital 1336 to 1565.
- Temples Virupaksha, Vittala, Hazara Rama.
- Secular Lotus Mahal, Elephant Stables.
- Meaning Blend and splendour.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Hampi?
Hampi is in east-central Karnataka on the banks of the Tungabhadra. It was the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire from 1336 to 1565 and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site with more than 1,600 remains spread over about 4,187 hectares.
What is special about the Vittala temple?
The Vittala temple at Hampi is known for its stone chariot and its musical pillars. It is among the best known monuments of Vijayanagara architecture and a leading attraction of the World Heritage Site at Hampi on the Tungabhadra.
Which Hampi temple is still in worship?
The Virupaksha temple is the oldest shrine at Hampi and remains an active place of worship and a major pilgrimage site. The Hazara Rama temple has Ramayana carvings and scenes of festival processions and is another famous monument.
What are the Lotus Mahal and Elephant Stables?
The Lotus Mahal and the Elephant Stables are secular buildings at Hampi that show a blend of Hindu and Indo-Islamic styles. The Queen's Bath, a public bath, also shows Indo-Islamic influence in its design and in the way it was built.
What happened to Hampi after 1565?
After the defeat at Talikota in 1565 Hampi was pillaged and abandoned by a coalition of Deccan sultanates. Colin Mackenzie surveyed its ruins in 1800, and the Archaeological Survey of India now excavates and maintains them.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 Hampi was the capital of Vijayanagara from 1336 to 1565.
It lies on the Tungabhadra.
2 The Vittala temple is known for its stone chariot.
It also has musical pillars.
3 The Virupaksha temple at Hampi is no longer a place of worship.
It is the oldest shrine and still active.
4 Colin Mackenzie surveyed Hampi in 1800.
The ASI continues the work.
Related Topics
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