The Hindu Business Line : Wake-up call for a sleeping legend

THE Finance Minister during the course of his Budget speech said, "One special area, the World Heritage Site of Hampi, will be developed as an international destination for tourism based on an integrated master plan."

Where is Hampi? What's so great about it?

Tucked away in central Karnataka, a little distance from the town of Hospet, lies the "ruins of Hampi", the last vestiges of the Vijayanagara Empire that flourished on the banks of the Thungabhadra in the 14th century. It is believed that the region that the Empire set itself on was the mountainous forestlands of Kishkinta, the monkey-kingdom that figures in the Ramayana.

In about the 10th century, the area was known as Vijaypur. In 1336, the Vijayanagara Empire was established by two Hindu brothers, Harihara and Bukka, under the guidance of their scholarly guru, Vidyaranya. The most powerful king of this empire was Krishna Deva Raya (1423-1446), during whose rule the Vijayanagara Empire extended all the way down to Kanya Kumari. Hampi lost its splendour after the defeat and killing of King Rama Raya in 1565 at the hands of a confederation of Muslim kings. Since then, the medieval city of Hampi lies in ruins, but has never lost its charm.

Today, a major tourist attraction is the Virupaksha (Shiva) temple with origins deep into the 7th century, which features a 50-metre tower. The shrine is still used for worship.

Then there is the partly-ruined Vitala Swamy Temple, famous for its sculptural grandeur. There is a hall in the temple, whose roof is held aloft by a cluster of narrow stone pillars. These pillars are believed to possess musical properties; one cluster of seven pillars when struck with a stick would produce the seven notes of Indian classical music. There are remnants of the palace — the elephant stable, the Queen's Bath, the Lotus Mahal.

Today, Hampi is a sleepy little town that attracts a modest number of tourists. But now that it has received Mr Yashwant Sinha's blessings, will it regain its prominence?

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