Conservation of Hampi

Hampi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, stands as a testament to the grandeur of the Vijayanagara Empire. Despite its historical significance and designation as a World Heritage Site in 1986, Hampi faces ongoing challenges in conservation, management, and community integration.

About Hampi

• Hampi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the southern bank of the Tungabhadra river in the Vijayanagara district of Karnataka. 
• It was a fortified city and the capital of the Vijayanagaraempire in the 14th century. 
• It is totally bounded by mountains (Anjaneya, Malyavanta and Matanga Hills) by the three sites and rest one site is bordered by Tungabhadra River.
• Architecture: The structures boast of Dravidian architecture. It is characterized by their massive structures, cloistered enclosures, and enormous towers over the entrances encased by pillars engraved with folklore and mythologies.
• Important complex: Krishna temple complex, Narasimha, Ganesa, Hemakuta group of temples, Achyutaraya temple complex, Vitthala temple complex, Pattabhirama temple complex, and the Lotus Mahal complex
• Today, the site is a sprawling expanse of around 250 square kilometers, housing approximately 1,600 monuments that range from majestic temples to crumbling ruins

About Vijayanagara Empire

• The Vijayanagaraempire was based in the Deccan, in peninsular and southern India, from 1336 onwards. At its zenith, the empire controlled much of southern India and was renowned for its opulence.
• Founded by:Harihara I (Hakka), and his brother Bukka Raya.
• Duration: It lasted from about 1336 to perhaps about 1660
• Dominance and Regional Power: During the 15th and 16th centuries, the Vijayanagara Empire established itself as a dominant force in southern India. The empire effectively served as a bulwark against invasions from the Turkic Sultanates of the Indo-Gangetic Plain and remained a formidable competitor to the five Deccan Sultanates that emerged in the northern Deccan region.
• Relations with the Portuguese: Around 1510, the Portuguese captured Goa, which had been under the control of the Sultan of Bijapur. The subsequent establishment of trade relations between the Portuguese and Vijayanagara became crucial for both parties.
• Cultural and Architectural Zenith: The Vijayanagara Empire is often regarded as having reached its zenith during the reign of Krishna Deva Raya, who ruled from 1509 to 1529.
  • Key architectural achievements from Krishna Deva Raya's reign include the Hazara Rama Temple, the Krishna Temple, and the UgraNarasimha Idol, all located in Vijayanagara.
• Decline and Fall: Following Krishna Deva Raya's death in 1529, his successors were Achyuta Raya (1530-1542) and Sada Siva Raya (1542-1565). However, the effective power during this period was wielded by Rama Raya of the third dynasty. Rama Raya's aggressive policies and provocations eventually led to the formation of a coalition of the Deccan Sultanates against Vijayanagara.
  • The turning point came in 1565 with the Battle of Talikota, where the Vijayanagara forces were decisively defeated by the alliance of the Deccan Sultanates. Rama Raya was killed in the battle. The fall of Vijayanagara marked the end of the last significant Hindu kingdom in the Deccan.
• Foreign travelers, including the Portuguese Domingo Paes, who visited in 1520, noted Hampi's magnificence, comparing it to Rome in grandeur.
• Despite this, Hampi remained largely forgotten until the late 18th century, when British explorers like Colin Mackenzie and Alexander Greenlaw began documenting its ruins.
  • Mackenzie created the first map of Hampi in 1799, while Greenlaw’s photographs from the 1860s captured the site before significant restoration efforts began.