📄 Abstract
Hampi occupies a distinctive position in the historical and cultural landscape of South India because it preserves, within a dramatic natural setting, the material remains of Vijayanagara, one of the most influential political and cultural formations of medieval peninsular India. This article examines Hampi as a historical heritage centre by placing its monuments, urban landscape, sacred institutions, royal architecture, water systems, markets, defensive arrangements and cultural traditions within the wider historical development of the Vijayanagara Empire. The study adopts a historical and descriptive approach based on published historical works, archaeological documentation, heritage records and official information relating to the World Heritage property. Particular attention is given to the establishment and growth of Vijayanagara in the fourteenth century, the consolidation of imperial power, the reign of Krishnadevaraya, the economic and cultural significance of Hampi, the impact of the Battle of Talikota in 1565, and the subsequent transformation of the capital from a major imperial metropolis into a monumental archaeological and pilgrimage landscape. Hampi is interpreted not merely as a collection of ruins but as an integrated cultural landscape in which river, hills, temples, royal spaces, bazaars, agricultural systems and water-management structures reveal the organisation of a complex pre-modern city. The article also discusses Hampi's inscription as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986, its outstanding universal value, and the continuing challenges of conservation, tourism, community participation and sustainable heritage management. The study argues that the historical significance of Hampi lies in the relationship between political power, religious culture, economic activity, architectural innovation and environmental adaptation. Its preservation is therefore essential not only for protecting monuments but also for maintaining the historical memory and cultural identity associated with the Vijayanagara Empire.
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📚 How to Cite:
Dr. Karekannappala Satisha , HAMPI AS A HISTORICAL HERITAGE CENTRE: A STUDY OF THE VIJAYANAGARA EMPIRE , Volume 12 , Issue 8, August 2026, EPRA International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (IJMR) , Pages: 793 - 797 ,