Hampi was the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire in the 14th century. It was a embattled city. Chronicles left by Persian and European travellers, particularly the Portuguese, say that Hampi was a prosperous, wealthy and grand city near the Tungabhadra River, having countless temples, farms and trading markets. By 1500 CE, Hampi-Vijayanagara was the world's second-largest medieval-era city after Beijing, and probably India's richest at that time, attracting traders from Persia and Portugal. The Vijayanagara Empire was defeated by a coalition of Muslim sultanates; its capital was vanquished, ransacked and demolished by sultanate armies in 1565, after which Hampi remained in ruins. Hampi is famous for its ruins belonging to the erstwhile medieval Hindu kingdom of Vijaynagar and it is declared a World Heritage site. The temples of Hampi, its monolithic sculptures and monuments, attract the traveler because of their excellent workmanship. Hampi or Hampe, has been described as the UNESCO World Heritage Site as an "austere, grandiose site" of more than 1,600 surviving remains of the last great Hindu kingdom in South India that includes "forts, riverside features, royal and sacred complexes, temples, shrines, pillared halls, mandapas, memorial structures, water structures and others".
The nearest airport is at Bellary, about 60 km from Hampi. The nearest international airport is at Bengaluru, about 350 km away. Rented cabs are easily available outside the airport.
There are plenty of bus services available for Hampi.
The nearest railway station is at Hospet, located around 13 km from Hampi. From there you can book a cab to reach here
