Anegundi Fort, Hampi, Karnataka India

 Anegundi = Ane + Gundi which translates to elephant + pit. Anegundi is on the northern bank of river Tungabhadra while Hampi occupies the southern bank. It is said that royal elephants of Vijayanagara empire were brought here for bathing, hence the name Anegundi.

Anegundi, Anjanadri hill, Rishyamukha and Pampa Sarovara are within 5km of each other. All these places have referred to in Ramayana. Anegundi is believed to be the monkey kingdom of Kishkindha. Anjanadri hill is believed to be the birth place of Hanuman. Rishyamukha hill is where Sugreeva lived and Rama & Laxmana meet Hanuman on this hill. It is believed that Rama and Laxmana had bathed in Pampa Sarovara.

Anegundi is said to be 3000 million years old, hence its one of the oldest plateaus on Earth. Anegundi is rich in Neolithic history. Two well known neolithic sites Moremane and Onake Kindi are within 10kms of Anegundi village. Moremane aka Mourya Mane is a Stone Age colony of several stone structures with paintings. Moramane is a prehistoric human settlement where one can find evidence of human activities spread over Microlithic, Megalithic and Neolithic ages. Anegundi village itself is a living heritage site.

The literal meaning of Anegundi is pit linked with elephants. This place has been learnt to be the place where in the elephants brought from Vijayanagar Empire used to be bathed. Spaced by 5 KMs of distances, there are 4 important places viz. Anegundi, Anjanadri hill, Rishyamukha and Pampa Sarovar. All of these regions are associated with Ramayana. This Fort encompasses a massive range of area encircling major portion of Rishyamukha hill. This place is known to have been the monkey Kingdom of Kishkindha headed by Sugreva. The paths around are difficult to walk along, thanks to scores of boulders lying strewn disorderly. These boulders are heavy weighing hundreds of tones and are spaced with the deep chasms and crevices among them. Other major fascinations incorporated in the list for the tourists are Gagan palace, Pampa Sarovar, Laxmi temple, temple dedicated to 7 head snake, Lord Ranganath temple and also a temple devoted to lord Ganesha. An Archeological Museum brimming over with baskets full of Neolithic tools, sculptures and also a massive size of model depicting the ruins of Vijayanagar. The Nandi Pillar erected in Huchchaiappana Mutt and Garuda stambh is the added attraction.