Gallery: Remains of Vijayanagar Hindu Voice UK, May 2006 Hindu
Voice UK's Neha Gohil is currently touring in India. One recent stop
was Hampi, where the remains of the Vijayanagar Empire lie. Vijayanagar,
which means "City of Victory", was an immense fortified
city and the capital of a Hindu empire that flourished from 1336 to
1565. Harihara and Bukka, two princes acting under the inspiration
of the great sage Vidyarana, founded the kingdom. Between the 14th
and 16th centuries the kingdom became very prosperous, and unified
all of South India. It was powerful enough to stem the Muslim invasions
from the North for the duration of its existence. In 1565 the city
was invaded and pillaged by hostile armies. The destruction of the
city took six continuous months to complete. However many structures
from the kingdom's 'hey-day' still exist.
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