Hampi : a story in stone!
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by: dkagencies
Body: DK Number: DK-202786
ISBN: 8190382160
Imprint: Mumbai : Eminence Designs,
Physical Desc.: 196 p. : chiefly col. ill., maps ; 34 cm.
Year: c2009
Price: USD 65.00 (This special offer price valid for orders received till May 15, 2010)
The ruins of Vijayanagara, the City of Victory, know better today as Hampi, on the right bank of the Tungabhadra river in northern Karnataka, constitute one of the most extensive and spectacular historical sites to be found anywhere in India. Capital of the largest of all Southern India kingdoms for more than 200 years, from the early 14th century onwards, Hampi was developed by its Hindu rulers into a magnificent showpiece of imperial authority, attracting visitors from all over India, as well as from the Middle East and Europe. However, in 1565 the armies of the sultanate kingdoms of the Deccan, to the north of Hampi, sacked the city. Attempts to reoccupy the capital were unsuccessful, and thereafter it rapidly decayed. Visiting British and French officers documented the ruins during the 19th century, but clearance and conservation had to wait until the 20th century. In recent years interest in Hampi has intensified, due to the increased involvement of archaeologists and scholars, the rapid improvement in transport and local accommodation, and the intervention of government and private agencies concerned with preserving the monuments. Hampi and its surrounding region are today undergoing profound change, as this part of Karnataka experiences rapid growth. Governmental and private agencies are currently determining the best strategies for ensuring the preservation of Hampi's prestigious history and the protection of its remarkable landscape.
About the Author
photographs, Noshir Gobhai ; text, John M. Fritz & George Michell.
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