A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Hampi, also known as the Group of Monuments at Hampi, is situated in the town of Hampi in the Vijayanagara district in east-central Karnataka, India. The Ramayana and the Hindu Puranas refer to Hampi as Pampa Devi Tirtha Kshetra, indicating that it existed before the Vijayanagara Empire. With the Virupaksha Temple, an operating monastery connected to Adi Shankara, and other old city landmarks, Hampi remains a religious hub. From 1336 until its abandonment in 1565, t ... (Read More)