340 kms from Bangalore lies Hospet. Its tourist importance lies in its proximity to Hampi, the site of the medieval Vijayanagar Empire, situated about 13 kms away. The Tungabhadra Dam here harnesses the sweet waters of the Tungabhadra river. At the base of the dam is a garden styled along Japanese lines.
Chitradurga
On the Highway linking Bangalore to Hospet, one comes across Chitradurga, a quaint town with its famous Fort. This marvel of military architecture, made impregnable by the Nayak Paleyagars has 19 gateways and 38 postern Harihareshwara.
Hampi
353 kms from Bangalore and 74 kms from Bellary is Hampi. A World Heritage Centre, Hampi is the most beautiful and evocative of all the ruins in Karnataka. The erstwhile capital of the Vijayanagar Kingdom, Hampi is full of delightful surprises. King`s Balance is the balance where kings were weighted against grain, gold or money, which was then distributed to the poor.
Queen`s Bath with its arched corridors, projecting balconies and lotus-shaped fountains that once sprouted perfumed water, the two-storeyed Lotus Mahal with recessed archways are architectural delights. The huge Elephant Stables, the splendid Vithala Temple with its musical pillars and the Stone Chariot, the Virupaksha Temple, still used for worship, Ugra Narasimha, the 6.7 m tall monolith, the Pushkarini Tank, the Mahanavami Dibba are all worth visiting. The once-powerful Vijayanagar Empire was compared to Rome by the Portuguese traveller Paes.
How to get there ?
Rail - Hospet is connected to Bangalore , Bellary, Gadag, Bijapur and Hubli-Dharwar.
Road - There is a well-developed road network.
