Kishkindha, Hampi

Kishkindha is the kingdom of the vanaras in the Ramayana, ruled first by Vali and then by his brother Sugriva. It is traditionally identified with the rugged boulder country on the Tungabhadra river around Hampi and Anegundi in Karnataka, where the capital of the Vijayanagara empire later stood.

Kishkindha in the Ramayana

After Sita’s abduction, Rama and Lakshmana travelled south and, on the shores of Lake Pampa, met the ascetic Shabari, who had waited all her life for Rama and offered him berries. She directed them to Mount Rishyamuka, where the exiled Sugriva lived in hiding with his ministers. There Hanuman first met Rama, disguised as a Brahmin, and brought the two together. Rama and Sugriva swore friendship before a sacred fire: Rama would kill Vali, and Sugriva would search for Sita. After Vali’s death and Sugriva’s coronation, the monsoon kept the armies at rest on Mount Prasravana, and when the rains ended the vanaras set out in all directions in search of Sita. The whole of the Kishkindha Kanda is set here.

Places linked with the Ramayana

• Anjanadri Hill – near Anegundi, revered as the birthplace of Hanuman, son of Anjana; about 575 steps lead to a hilltop temple. (Other places, including Anjaneri near Nashik and Tirumala, also claim the honour.)
• Pampa Sarovar – the lake where Rama met Shabari, with a small temple of Lakshmi and a cave associated with her.
• Rishyamuka Hill – where Sugriva hid from Vali, who could not go there because of a curse.
• Malyavanta Hill and the Raghunatha Temple – where tradition says Rama and Lakshmana waited out the monsoon.
• Sugriva’s Cave – near the Tungabhadra, where Sita’s jewels are said to have been hidden; streaks on the rocks are pointed out as marks of her shawl.
• Vali’s Kila – a ruined hill near Anegundi linked with Vali’s fort, and a mound said to be his funeral pyre.

Hampi

The ruins of Hampi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, include the great Virupaksha temple of Shiva, the Vittala temple with its stone chariot and musical pillars, and the Hazara Rama temple, whose walls are carved with the whole story of the Ramayana in bands of relief.

How to reach

Hosapete (Hospet) railway station is about 13 km from Hampi. The nearest airport is Jindal Vijaynagar near Toranagallu, about 40 km away; Hubballi airport is about 160 km.

Kishkindha is where Rama finds his greatest devotee and his allies. The meeting with Hanuman on Rishyamuka and Shabari's offering at Pampa are central images of devotion (bhakti) in the Rama tradition, and Anjanadri is revered by many as Hanuman's birthplace.