This ancient magnificent city now survives only in ruins. From the view of the ruins here, it seems natural that once upon a time there was a flourishing civilization in Hampi. There are more than five hundred monuments between the valleys and dunes. There are many buildings which include temples, palaces, cellars, water-ruins, old markets, royal pavilions, platforms, treasuries, etc.

 According to historians, Hampi was once called Kishkindha, in fact, from the 13th to 16th century the city prospered as the capital of the Vijayanagara kings. Hampi is an open museum for both tourists and pilgrims. Every turn of Hampi is amazing. Every monument holds a secret than it reveals.

Hampi is called a city of temples. Let’s know about some temples and sites that are worth visiting while Hampi and also included in the UNESCO world heritage site.

Virupaksha Temple

This temple of Hampi is dedicated to Lord Virupaksha, who is another form of Lord Shiva. Virupaksha Temple is a sacred place situated on the banks of the Tungabhadra River at Hampi in the state of Karnataka. Built during the seventh century, this temple was included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its history and beautiful architecture. The temple has beautiful sculptures of many deities which reflect mythological stories related to them.

VITTHAL TEMPLE or VITHALA TEMPLE

The Vitthal temple is one of the most influential temples in Hampi. The Vitthal temple was built during the 16th century. In fact, this temple presents its rich architecture beautifully. Hampi has a famous stone chariot which is considered an iconic symbol of Hampi’s architecture. This temple has a large courtyard which is located in the center. It signifies the majesty of Vijayanagar and the glory of Kalavabhava.

HAMPI CHARIOT

The main attraction of the Vithala temple is its pillared walls and stone chariots. These pillars have a unique feature that can’t be found anywhere else. They are known as musical pillars because the music comes out of them when patted with love. The stone chariot is a wonderful piece of architecture. The temple has been carved in stone, which is in the shape of a chariot.

LAKSHMI NARASIMHA TEMPLE

Hampi Lakshmi Narasimha Temple or Ugra Narasimha Temple is made of large rock which is the tallest statue of Hampi. It is about 6.7 meters high.

SHIV LINGA: Bada Shivlinga

As the name indicates, Bada, the shiv linga stands at a height of 3m. This Shivlinga has been carved out from a single stone and one of the most attractive sites to visit during the Hampi tour.

The other places that are popular and worth demanding a visit are lotus palace, monkey temple, Hippie Island, Elephant stable, and many more archaeological sites are there.

To explore the world heritage site and ancient ruins of Hampi, winters from (October to February) is the best time to visit Hampi. Visiting during this time can lead a traveller to see the events of Hampi that including Vijaya Utsav, the largest celebration happening in Hampi.

The most famous place that a traveler can see in Mysore is The Mysore palace. Known for its rich cultural and architectural history, the place is the residence of rulers of Mysore. Mysore is called a city of Palaces, and out of seven palaces, this one is the most grandeur and famous one. The palace is surrounded by a large garden. Its light and sound show at the time of Dussehra is renowned over the world.

Situated across the river Cauvery, another prominent attraction called Brindavan Garden is located. The lush green garden spreads over an area of acres is a beautiful place to visit. The dancing fountain in the garden, a variety of plants and flowers gives a mesmerizing feeling to the tourist.

On the Chamundi hills, a famous Hindu temple and among 18 shakti peethas, The Chamundeshwari temple is located. Dedicated to and named after the goddess Durga, the temple also has statues of Nandi and Mahishasura, the demon. Here for animal lovers, Mysore Zoo is the perfect place. Established in the year 1892 for the Royals, it is the oldest zoological park of India.  The zoo is a house of elephants, giraffes, zebras, lions, tigers, white rhinoceros and many more.

St. Philomenas Church is a gothic style, the beautiful cathedral is one of the largest churches in the country is in Mysore. Mysore has a number of museums like the National Museum of Natural History, folk art museum, Rail museum (second after Delhi), and melody world (wax museum).

Other attractions that allures tourists from all over the world are Mysore Dussehra, Mysore Pak, Mysore Dosa, and Mysore silk sarees. Mysore Dussehra is quite famous as it’s a 10day festival celebrated with huge pomp and splendour here. It was the day in the Hindu legends when Goddess Chamundeshwari (Durga) killed the demon Mahishasura. The main attraction of the ten-day Mysore Dasara festival is the Mysore Palace which is illuminated by thousands of bulbs, and various dance and musical fests are held there.

Thus, those who want to visit Mysore should visit it at the time of Navratri to have a glimpse of 10 days Dussehra festival. The summer and winter weather is quite the right time to visit Mysore.

The most beautiful attraction point in Coorg is Abbey falls which are located a few kilometers away from the Madikeri. Madikeri is the central point of Coorg from where all the transportation runs. Amidst the coffee estates and spice plantations, it is a beautiful opportunity for shutterbugs to capture the real beauty and grace of the natural world.

For wildlife lovers, Nagarhole National Park is the perfect place. It has diversified flora and fauna which make it a perfect place to spot mammals, reptiles, birds. To witness the elephants in their natural habitat, the home of elephants can be visited. The Dubare elephant camp is the place where elephants can be seen bathing and getting training.

Another majestic place a traveler should visit is Talacauvery, known as the origin point of river Kaveri. It is believed that the river originates as a spring feeding a tank and then flows underground to re-emerge as Kaveri. It is located in the Brahmagiri hill.

Raja’s seat is the most picturesque point of Coorg. It is basically a garden where tourist can see the mesmerizing view of sunrise and sunset, hills and valley, musical fountains, etc.

Apart from tea, coffee plantations and rich natural beauty, it has some cultural amusements to visit. Golden Temple (Namdroling Monastery), is one of the best architecture and artwork of Tibetan culture. It is considered as the second biggest Tibetan settlement in India.

Homestays and resorts of Coorg are other charms that attract tourists from all over the world. Homestays provide a homely environment and marvellous hospitality service.

Be it an adventure, sightseeing, camping, homestay, tea, coffee, and spice cultivation, tourists have a lot of things to do and can rejuvenate themselves. In any time of year, Coorg can be visited as it has a pleasant climate throughout the year. But for adventure seekers, October to March is the best place.