LOCATION

Hospet is at a distance of 325 kilometers from the capital city of Bangalore has a place of its own on the tourist map of Karnataka in India. The significance of Hospet lies in its propinquity to the World Heritage Site of Hampi.

TOURISTS ATTRACTIONS

The charming town of Chitradurga is a must visit for the tourists to Hospet. You may holiday at Chitradurga on your way to Hospet from Bangalore. The hill and fort town of Chitradurga is often referred to as Kallina Kote or the Place of Stones. The bold rocky hills and picturesque valleys with huge towering boulders offer nature at its best at Chitradurga. The Palegars, Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan built the famous fort of Chitradurga. The fort lies enclosed in series of seven walls and is known for its military architecture. There are as many as nineteen gateways to the fort. There are several ancient temples inside the fort. You may visit the Sampige Siddeshwara temple, the cave shrine of Hidimbeshwara, Ekanathamma, Phalguneshwara, Gopalakrishan, Anjaneya, Subbaraya et al. at the hilltop of Chitradurga. Of these the Hidimbeshwara is the oldest. The largest temple in the town happens to be dedicated to Goddess Uchchangtamma who was the patron goddess of the Paleyagars. The temple has a two-storied building and boasts of a unique swing arch and tall lamp-pillar. Thirty-five kilometers from Chitradurga is Nayakana Hatti. The major tourist attractions at Nayakana Hatti are the temple and tomb of saint Tippe Rudraswamy.

Then there is the ancient town of Harihar. The holy Harihar is situated on the banks of the Tungabhadra River. The pilgrims believe that the dip in the following along the Harihar will cleanse them of the sins owing to the association between Lord Vishnu and the Tungabhadra River. The four feet tall temple image of Harihar has the representations of Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva on the left and the right side respectively was built in the Hoysala style way back in the year 1223. At the Archaeological Museum you may check out the remnants of the historic wars, coins and manuscripts. Jogimatti happens to be one of the highest points in the area. The visit to Jogimatti is an experience in itself with the wondrous view of the Himavat Kedaya waterfall on the way. The Himavat Kedaya waterfall is a pulsating picnic spot amidst the cool surroundings. The marvelous Murugharajendra Matha and the amazing Ankli Matha are the other two places that are thronged by the tourists and are worth visiting.

 

EXCURSIONS

Being just thirteen kilometers away from the World Heritage Site of Hampi, Hospet acts as a base for the tourists to the Vijayanagar ruins in Hampi. It is one of the major towns that provide the gateway to Hampi. From Hospet you may opt for any of the daylong sight seeing tours of Hampi and the Tungabhadra Dam by the Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation. Regular buses also ply between Hospet and the Tungabhadra, which are at a distance of fifteen kilometers from each other. The Tungabhadra Dam boasts of the Japanese gardens at its base and the sweet waters of the river. The terrific dam across the Tungabhadra River is 590 meters in length, 49 meters in height with an enormous storage capacity. Hampi is situated on the banks of the Tungabhadra River flows and it is believed that the Goddess Hampi (Parvati) attained Lord Shiva here.

Hampi is the site of the ruins of the medieval Vijayanagar Empire and happens to be a World Heritage Center. The government has taken up the restoration, excavation and the protection work of the ruins. While at Hampi do check out the King's Balance. The weight of the kings was weighed against grain, gold or money that was then dispersed amongst the poor. Then there is the Queen's Bath. The majestic swimming pool is fifty feet long and six feet deep. The pool has fountains in the shape of the lotus flower that sprinkled perfumed water. The entire structure with its arched corridors and projecting balconies is splendid and spectacular. The Lotus Mahal is another must visit at Hampi owing to its architectural excellence. In 1565 the Sultanates of South turned the gorgeous structures of Hampi to grounds. Since then the ruins of the Virupaksha, Vittala, Ramachandra and Hazara Rama temples, images of Ganesha and Narasimha, the Ugra Narasimha, the 6.7 m tall monolith is amongst the more popular images, the elephant stables et al have been center of attraction for people from across the globe. The Virupaksha temple is still used for worship and when the lamps are lit on festivals the sight is simply put unforgettable. The ruins at Hampi are the most reminiscent of the ruins in Karnataka. The ruins of the spectacular structures are examples of the splendid art and architecture that was developed in the captivating capital city of the Vijayanagara Empire. No doubt the Portuguese traveler Paes compared Vijayanagar with Rome and the historian Nuniz could not help praising the empire!

 

STAYING THERE

In keeping with the climatic conditions the best time to plan your trip to Hospet is from the month of September to February. Accommodation is easily available at Hospet in the range of hotels that suit all pockets. Hospet is easily accessible through rail and road.