Hospet, derived from ‘hosa’ ‘pete’ which in Kannada means New City is a city in Bellary District in northern Karnataka.
Built on the Tungabhadra River by an illustrious king of the Vijayanagara dynasty, Krishna Deva Raya, Hospet was earlier called Nagalapura in memory of the king’s mother, Nagalambika. However, people kept referring to it as the new city and that is how the name Hospet stuck. Situated about 12 km from the World Heritage site of Hampi, an erstwhile city and former capital of the Vijayanagara Empire, Hospet is a small city that is connected to several important cities in India. In fact, it served as gateway to the city of Hampi for all travellers coming from Goa and West Coast. Hospet is located at a distance of about 325 km from the capital city of Bangalore.
The city is also referred to as the “Steel City’, owing to the large iron ore and steel production here. The Tungabhadra Dam, which is a reservoir built on the Tungabhadra River dating back to the 12th century, is a very popular attraction. The ancient reservoir was built by the Vijayanagara king, Krishna Deva Raya, who also built the city. Apart from the dam, on its shore is a beautiful Japanese style garden that also attracts a lot of visitors.
The city experiences temperate weather with the average ranging from 33 degrees to 43 degrees during the months of summer and between 20 degrees and 28 degrees during winters. The best time to visit the destination is from September to February, when the weather is moderate and pleasant.
Hospet offers its tourists with numerous sightseeing options in and around the town. Some of the more famous of these sites include Chitradurga Fort, Queen's Bath, Achyutraya Temple, Lotus Mahal, Royal Residence and The Archaeological Museum.
The most famous attraction near Hospet is undoubtedly Hampi. Apart from being a UNESCO recognised World Heritage Centre, Hampi is also famous for its annual Vijayanagara Festival, organised during the month of January by the Government of Karnataka. This festival is popularly called Hampi Utsav or Hampi Festival and is held from 27th to 29th January. A cultural extravaganza that involves a mix of dance, music, drama, processions and a host of other events, this event gives its visitors a glimpse of the grandeur and richness of the bygone era of the Vijaynagara Empire. Hampi has two prominent temples that include the Vittal Temple and the popular Virupaksha Temple which is dedicated to the Virupaksha form of Lord Shiva.
Hospet : the New City