Hampi, is a great archaeological ruin site. While you are at exploring the wonderful place, if you headed towards the southeast end of the Hampi ruins, make sure to stop by the Kamalapura museum.
Sure, it might be tiny, but it’s definitely worth a visit.
The museum’s most useful exhibit – a scaled model (in fact, two!) of Hampi’s topography with all the monuments marked on it. It’s like having your own personal map to help you navigate the area. The larger model is a miniature copy of Hampi as a whole, complete with hills and rivers, while the smaller one gives you a detailed view of the Royal Centre. I mean, who needs GPS when you have this museum, am I right?
But that’s not all. The museum has four sections that are bound to pique your interest. The second section, in particular, is dedicated to sculptures and idols from the Hampi ruins. You’ll find a plethora of artifacts related to the Veerabhadra cult and Shiva worship, including Veerabhadra himself, Bhairava in a fearsome posture, and Bhikshatana-murthi, depicting Shiva as an ascetic begging with a bowl made of a human skull. Talk about unique!
The third section is where you’ll find an array of tools, arms, coinages, and other objects that were in use during the Vijayanagara Empire days. And let me tell you, the brass documents bundled with a ring are quite peculiar.
Last but not least, the oldest section of the museum displays an impressive array of antiquities from the prehistoric and protohistoric period, including hero stones and sati stones, stucco figurines, and portions of porcelain pottery from the excavated sites. And did I mention the gallery of excavation photographs? It’s like a trip through time!
The museum is run by the Archaeological Survey of India and is open from 10.00 AM to 5.00 PM (closed on Fridays and national holidays). Entrance fee is only Rs. 5/- per head (children up to 15 years are admitted free), and you can complete a decent visit in about 90 minutes.
Unfortunately, photography isn’t allowed inside the galleries, but you can take pictures of the exhibits displayed outside.