| Hospet is famous for its close proximity to Hampi, the famous site of the great Vijayanagar kingdom. Located about 13 km from Hampi and about 350 km from Bangalore, Hospet is known as the gateway to Hampi. Another major attraction near Hospet is holy town of Harihara, situated on the banks of the Tungabhadra River. The pilgrims believe that the dip in the river here will cleanse them of the sins because of an association between Lord Vishnu and the Tungabhadra River. |
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Many attractions here include the Virupaksha Temple, King's Balance where kings were weighed against grain, gold or money to be distributed to the poor, the Queen's Bath with lotus-shaped fountains that once supplied perfumed water, Lotus Mahal and Vithala Temple with its musical pillars and many more like them waiting for you to explore them. |
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| Tunga Bhadra Dam |
| Tungabhadra Dam is built across the river Tungabhadra. It is one of the biggest multi purpose dams in Karnataka. It is spread over an area of 400 sq.kms. It has 33 gates from which water gushes out forming it into a breath-taking site. The water canals of this Dam genarate 27 mega watts of electricity and also irrigates thousands of acres of lands.This dam also forms a great place of recreation for tourists with its beautiful gardens, children play parks, aquarium and musical fountain. |
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| The Tungabhadra is a river of southern India. It is the chief tributary of the Krishna River. It formed by the confluence of two rivers, the Tunga and the Bhadra, which rise in the eastern slope of the Western Ghats, in the state of Karnataka. The Tungabhadra flows east across the Deccan Plateau, joining the Krishna in Andhra Pradesh state, from where the Krishna continues east to empty into the Bay of Bengal |
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| Queen's bath |
| This 15-metre square bath is enclosed with gallery, verandas and overhanging Rajasthani balconies. The minor waterfall inside the bath was once poured with cool, perfumed water that flowed out through an underground drain |
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| Vithala temple |
| A World Heritage Site, the temple is located 2 km east of Hampi Bazaar. It was built in the 16th century and displays the architectural splendour acquired by the artisans of Vijayanagar Empire |
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| Raghunath temple |
| Located on a hilltop, the Raghunath Temple is known for its Dravidian style |
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| Virupaksha temple |
| One of the oldest monuments in the town, this 15th-century Virupaksha Temple is part of the Hampi Bazaar area. The principal deity is Virupaksha, one of the many forms of Lord Shiva. Rising to a height of 50 metres from the ground, the temple belongs to the later Vijayanagar period |
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| King's balance |
| Situated near the Vithala Temple, the King’s Balance has a golden past. According to legend, this balance was used to weigh the rulers against gold, jewels, and food that were later distributed to the Brahmins |
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| Lotus mahal |
| The Lotus Mahal is an exquisite pavilion located in the walled area of zenana near Hazara Ram Temple. The pavilion derives its name from the lotus bud that is carved on its dome and vaulted ceiling. A fine blend of Indo-Islamic architecture |
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| museum and Art gallery |
| The museum run by the Archaeological Survey of India has a very good collection of sculptures belonging to the Vijayanagar Empire. It is situated at Kamalapuram |
