Hampi Utsav: When History Comes Alive

The ancient, narrow streets don a festive look. Men adorning military finery – long spears, and polished helmets – stand under large, beautifully decorated gopurams. Caparisoned elephants welcome you as you walk under festive canopies, and you might just hear someone beating the drum or blowing on a trumpet for good measure. You walk among old ruins, admiring the rock sculptures and magnificent architecture, only they don’t appear as ruins right now. It’s almost as if you have been transported back in time to the glorious reign of the Vijaynagar Empire, a time still referred to as the Golden Era. But worry not, you haven’t entered a post-modern time machine, instead you just treated yourself to the glories of the Hampi Utsav! This incredible festival, a legacy of the Vijaynagar reign, is held every year from November 3 to 5 in the ancient town of Hampi in Karnataka.

Hampi, the ancient capital of the Vijaynagara Empire

Three Days of Festivities

Organised by the Government of Karnataka, which re-christened the festival to Nada Utsav, it is meant to draw crowds to Hampi, the ancient capital of the Vijaynagara Empire, the ruins of which have now been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For the days of the Vijay Utsav, as the Hampi Festival is locally known, this quiet town is completely transformed – welcoming thousands of tourists both local and international – to three days of spectacular cultural entertainment. The main street of Hampi is bedecked with red, white, yellow and blue cloth gopuras or gateways, under which decorated elephants and smartly dressed soldiers stand. They are stationed all the way down the path called Raj Marga or Royal Path. The air is rife with the sounds of traditional drums and pipes handcrafted by the descendants of the Vijaynagar craftsmen.

The Showstoppers

The festival boasts of performances by well-known exponents such as Hindustani vocalist Pt Jasraj, classical dancer Sonal Mansingh, actor-dancer Hema Malini and international troupes from China and Sri Lanka. Among the many shows that are put up during the festival are classical dance and music shows, concerts of folk songs known as Janapada Kalavahini, creatively designed puppet shows, sound and light shows and a breathtaking fireworks display.

Explore Hampi's past glory through its beautiful temples and royal structures

The last day of the festival is dedicated to a spectacular Jumbo Savari or an elephant march. This is a grand procession of majestically decorated elephants carrying howdahs, parading through the main street. In recent years, other activities such as rock climbing, water sports and traditional sports have also been added. There are exhibitions of locally made handicrafts, leather goods and other artifacts.

Travelling to Hampi

While in Hampi, it is a good idea to explore this fascinating site with its crumbling ruins, which despite their state retain their majesty and past glory. Do also visit its many beautiful temples and other royal structures. However, since this is a very popular event, expect large crowds and packed hotels. It’s a good idea to book your hotel in Hampi in advance.

There is no direct way of reaching Hampi and the town must be approached by a combination of modes of transport. The ideal way, however, would be to take a flight to Bengaluru and then take a bus or private cab to Hospet and then Hampi.

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