Hampi - City of Wonders
The Capital
In its golden age, Vijayanagara (Hampi) was one of the largest and most magnificent cities on Earth, larger than London or Paris, as splendid as Rome or Beijing. Portuguese travelers marveled at its temples, palaces, and bazaars. Walk through the streets of this wonder city: the Virupaksha Temple where Krishnadevaraya worshipped, the Vittala Temple with its musical pillars, and the royal enclosure where the emperor held court.
A City Beyond Compare
When Portuguese merchants first entered Vijayanagara in the early 16th century, they struggled to describe what they saw. Domingo Paes wrote that the city was "as large as Rome, and very beautiful to the sight." Fernao Nuniz called it "the best provided city in the world." Abdul Razzaq, the Persian ambassador who visited earlier, declared it "such that the eye has not seen nor ear heard of any place resembling it upon the whole earth."
These were not naive travelers easily impressed. They had seen the great cities of Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Yet Vijayanagara left them speechless.
The Scale of the City
Vijayanagara spread across approximately 25-30 square kilometers, an enormous area for any medieval city. The population during Krishnadevaraya's reign likely exceeded 500,000 people, making it one of the largest cities in the world at that time.
To understand this scale, consider contemporary cities:
| City | Population (c. 1500 CE) |
|---|---|
| Vijayanagara | 500,000+ |
| Beijing | 600,000-700,000 |
| Cairo | 400,000-500,000 |
| Constantinople | 400,000 |
| Paris | 200,000 |
| London | 50,000-75,000 |
Vijayanagara was not merely large, it was among the very largest cities on Earth, comparable only to the great capitals of China and the Islamic world.
The Three Zones
The city was organized into three distinct zones, each serving different functions:
The Sacred Center
The oldest part of the city clustered around the Virupaksha Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva. This was where Harihara and Bukka had first established their capital in 1336, choosing a site associated with Kishkindha from the Ramayana.
The sacred center included:
- Virupaksha Temple, the main royal temple, still active today
- Hemakuta Hill, dotted with older temples predating Vijayanagara
- Matanga Hill, offering panoramic views of the entire city
- Achyutaraya Temple, built during Krishnadevaraya's reign