| Location | 350 km from Bangalore city in the southern state of Karnataka |
| Prime attractions | The ruins of Humpi and the Tungabhadra Dam |
| Temperature | Max-35°C and Min 14°C |
| Population | 1,14,154 |
| Area | 28.39 sq. km |
Hospet Travel Information
Hospet, the site where the great Vijaya Nagara Kingdom was situated lies about 13 km from Hampi in the state of Karnataka, India. It is also reachable from Bangalore, capital city of Karnataka, placed 350 km away from Hospet. As has been called the gateway to Hampi, Hospet stands proud of the Tungabhadra Dam which keeps the river Tungabhadra from being devastating and befitting to the peoples in generating power. There is a garden in the Japanese style at the base of the Dam which is a popular travel attraction of this historical city of Hospet.
Major Travel Attractions of Hospet
Chitradurga: Chitradurga, commonly called the Kallina Kote which means the place of Stones is an important travel attraction of the city. The Chitradurga Fort constructed under the supervision of Hyder Ali and his son the great Tipu Sultan is a marvellous piece of Architecture highly praised by the people who travel to the site. Seven walls encircle the fort area and about nineteen gates provides entry and exit to visitors to appreciate the military architecture.
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The Fort was built to protect the fort from external attacks of enemy Kings. The fort lies on the highway to Bangalore.
Harihara: Situated on the banks of the Tunga bhadra River, Harihara is an another travel attraction of Hospet. The holy town of Hari Hara has several thousand devotees coming to the place to relieve themselves of their sins. It is believed that the association of Lord Vishnu with the Tungabhadra River has the power to cleanse the ill of the person taking a bath in the river. There is also a temple dedicated to the deity of Harihareswara.
Hampi: Hospet receives importance due to its close proximity to the place of Hampi in Karnataka, India. Declared a world heritage site, Hampi has the distinction of being the site of the most beautiful ruins in India and an important travel destination of the Archeologists. The major travel attractions of this place includes the Virupaksha Temple. There is the King’s balance where the kings used to be weighed against grains, gold or money to be distributed among the poor. Another travel attraction is the Queen’s Bath fitted with lotus shaped fountains that once used to supply perfumed water. Among others the Lotus Mahal and Vithala Temple with the musical pillars waits to be appreciated by the visitors. Ugra Narasimha, the 6.7 m tall monolith can be seen towering high in to the sky from a far away distance.
Virupaksha Temple: Counted among the oldest monuments of the town, the 15th century temple is in the bazaar area.
The principal deity is Virupaksha, one of the many incarnations of Lord Shiva. The temple rises to a height of 50 metres from the ground and belongs to the later Vijayanagar period. The shrines inside the temple are much older. The stone carvings are larger than life in size, with the sculpture of Nandi on the eastern end and Ganesha to the south. A 6.7-metre-high image of Narasimha, the half-man and half-lion incarnation of Lord Vishnu in addition to a huge lingam, the phallic symbol of Lord Shiva lies with the base submerged in to the water.
Nearby Travel Attractions of Hospet
Mysore: Tourist on their way to Hospet have the pleasure of visiting Mysore in Karnataka, the imperial city and the erst while capital of the Woodeyers. Popular as the city of palaces Mysore mesmerises its visitors with the magnificent palaces, beautifully laid-out gardens and the imposing structures. Ruled by the once great Tipu Sultan, Mysore emerged as a thriving market for sandalwood and stone sculptures in Karnataka India.
Accommodation in Hospet
Though the place of Hospet is not so large yet, the place has some of the best hotel that provide furnished accommodation to its visitors. The prominent ones are Shanbagh Towers, Hotel Priyadarshini, Hotel Nagarjuna Residency, Hotel Mayura Vijayanagar and Ranjana Guest House among the lots.
How to Reach Hospet
By Air: The nearest airport is situated at Bellary about 75 km from the place of Hospet. The Bangalore and Belgaum airport in Karnataka is placed about 350 kms and 200 kms.
By Rail: The Railway Station in Hospet is well connected by rail network to Bangalore, Hyderabad, Hubli and Vijapur.
By Road: Regular buses are available from Hospet to capital city of Karnataka, Bangalore and other important towns nearby in Karnataka India.