Today Hampi is a ghost town inhabited mainly by monkeys. Only the ruins of the once majestic capital of the Vijayanagara trade empire, which flourished in the middle of the 14th century, remind of the former power of its ancient inhabitants.
Meanwhile, Hampi continues to be the center of the Hindu religion, in particular, due to the Virupaksha temple that is still active today.
The official history says that the capital of Vijayanagara was founded due to the good location of the area: on one side the city was washed by a river, on the other three it was surrounded by inaccessible hills. At the beginning of the 14th century, the empire waged a fierce war with adherents of Islam, and the construction of a large and at the same time well fortified city became a kind of response to the expansion of Muslims.
Meanwhile, more recently in scientific circles, information has appeared that, most likely, the village of Hampi, the center of the capital of Vijayanagar, is much older than it was commonly believed. The thing is that the ruins of the capital of the empire rise on the foundations of more ancient buildings. Many scientists argue that the mysterious and unknown to modern science destroyed city - the remains of Kishkind, the mythical state of the apes.
The researchers came to this conclusion after a detailed examination of the territory of the entire Hampi complex. The features of its masonry are in many ways reminiscent of the numerous ancient structures scattered around the world, including the pyramids in Egypt. Meanwhile, neither legends nor numerous Indian myths provide an answer to the main question of how Hampi was built.
You must admit that it is impossible to imagine how the masters of the first centuries of our era, or even earlier, processed stones, the size of which reached several meters, and the structure of the rock of the blocks that make up the complexes is in many ways similar to a solid meteorite!
What is most incredible is that the stones were cut by an unknown tool so smoothly that no teeth and roughness remained. The origin and purpose of the road to the Virupaksha temple complex, built of massive granite slabs, reminiscent of modern airfield ones, is shrouded in mystery. Their size sometimes reaches 7 meters.
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However, according to the Ramayana, it was Vali and Sugriva, the monkey brothers, who founded the magnificent city, and then reigned in it. But after a while they split up. In a severe struggle for power, Vali ousted his brother, who had to move to the Matanga Parvatam hill. Sugriva was accompanied by a small but loyal party led by Hanuman.
In search of his wife Sita, Rama and his brother Lakshman found themselves in these parts. Thanks to their support, Sugriva managed to throw the obstinate brother from the throne and took his place, and Hanuman became the new king's closest assistant.
The completely unusual landscape of the city strikes the imagination: it seems to be created from a heap of numerous stones, the size of which ranges from a soccer ball to a quite decent house. Legends say that Hanuman, the god of the monkeys, and his warriors competed in the use of force: the larger the stone thrown, the stronger the athletes were considered.
The names of Rama and Lakshman are also associated with the emergence of numerous temples in the territory of Hampi. Locals claim that during his travels Rama often stopped for rest and prayer, each time leaving a temple at the site. Who knows if these legends are true, but even today the temple complexes of Hampi enjoy special reverence.
The pearl of Hampi is undoubtedly the greatest temple - Virupaksha, a center of pilgrimage for adherents of the Hindu religion from all over South India. The complex consists of two large courtyards, each of which is accessed through a gopura (gate). The courtyard is almost always filled with pilgrims praying and chanting religious songs. According to legend, in order for the person entering to receive the highest blessing, it is necessary to put a rupee in the trunk of the temple elephant standing at the entrance.
The mandapa hall leads to the main temple, the carved columns of which are decorated with magnificent bas-reliefs depicting rearing animals. The painting on the ceiling is no less amazing. Ancient artists managed to recreate the images of Shiva, the procession that accompanied the elder Vidyaranya, who for a long time was an adviser to the first kings of Hampi, numerous scenes from Mhabrarata and even ten incarnations of Vishnu.
Today the city, as before, is surrounded by a high stone wall, though partially destroyed. Massive, made of huge granite slabs, it is about 32 meters long. Locals say that before the sacred city was protected by seven exactly the same walls, and in combination with impenetrable forest thickets and a deep river, it was almost impossible to get to Hampi.
But, probably, the most amazing building of the ancient ghost town is made up of massive stone "royal scales". According to legend, once a year, the king of Vijayanagara had to distribute to the poor five metals, the total mass of which was equal to his weight, including gold, silver and bronze. Today, unfortunately, this magnificent monument of ancient architecture consists of only three stones, folded in the shape of the letter "U". The bowls used for weighing are lost.
All the beauty and uniqueness of ancient Hampi defies description, however, as it is not possible today to explain its origin. But, who knows, maybe one day, scientists will penetrate into the incredible secrets of the city-mystery.