Hampi: The Ruins of Vijayanagara

In the heart of South India, where the Tungabhadra River winds through a surreal landscape of giant granite boulders and verdant banana plantations, stand the magnificent ruins of what was once one of the world's largest cities. Hampi, the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire, represents the last great flowering of Hindu civilization in medieval India, a testament to the cultural, artistic, and architectural achievements that flourished during the 14th to 16th centuries despite the tumultuous political climate of the period. This extraordinary city, which at its zenith may have housed over 500,000 inhabitants, served as the brilliant center of a vast empire that stretched across much of peninsular India and stood as the final bulwark of Hindu political power against the advancing Islamic sultanates of the Deccan.

The founding of the Vijayanagara Empire in 1336 CE marked a pivotal moment in South Indian history, emerging from the political chaos that followed the collapse of earlier Hindu dynasties and the increasing pressure from Islamic invasions from the north. According to traditional accounts, the empire was established by two brothers, Harihara and Bukka, who had served as feudatories under the Hoysala and Kakatiya dynasties before being captured and converted to Islam by the Delhi Sultanate. The story relates that they were later reconverted to Hinduism by the sage Vidyaranya and commissioned to establish a kingdom that would protect Hindu dharma and culture from further Islamic encroachment.

The strategic location chosen for the capital reflected the founders' sophisticated understanding of geography, defense, and commerce. The site of Hampi, known in ancient texts as Pampa-kshetra after the local name for the Tungabhadra River, was already sacred to Hindus as the legendary birthplace of Hanuman and the place where Rama first met the monkey king Sugriva in the Ramayana epic. The rocky terrain provided natural fortifications among the granite hills and boulders, while the river ensured water supply and facilitated trade connections. The area's association with the powerful goddess Pampa and the temple of Virupaksha gave the new capital important religious legitimacy that connected the Vijayanagara rulers to ancient Hindu traditions.