Kishkindha (Hampi): The Monkey Kingdom in the Ramayana
The boulder-covered hills around Hampi in Karnataka are traditionally linked to Kishkindha, the monkey kingdom of Sugriva and Hanuman.
Kishkindha is the monkey kingdom of the Ramayana, home of Sugriva, Hanuman, and Jambavan. Tradition links it to the landscape of giant boulders around Hampi and Anegundi in Karnataka, in southern India.
What the story says
After Sita is taken to Lanka, Rama and Lakshmana wander south until they reach the forests of Kishkindha. There they meet Hanuman, the devoted vanara who becomes Rama’s greatest ally.
Rama helps Sugriva win back his kingdom from his brother Vali. In return, Sugriva sends his vanara armies in every direction to search for Sita.
It is from Kishkindha that Hanuman leaps across the ocean to Lanka, finds Sita in the Ashoka garden, and brings back the news that sets the rescue in motion.
Watch the story
Hear this place come alive in the Mythical Masala episode S1E17: Rama Meets Hanuman, Sugreeva’s Rise, and the Search for Seeta:
Chapters
- 00:00 Hook: Rama meets his greatest ally
- 01:30 A monkey in disguise
- 04:28 Sugriva’s story
- 07:08 The Dundubhi story
- 08:25 The alliance is sealed
- 09:59 Rama proves his strength
- 10:42 The first Vali fight
- 11:41 Vali is struck
- 12:37 Sugriva becomes king
- 13:05 The search begins
Find it on the map
Here is Kishkindha (Hampi) today. Zoom out to see where it sits in India, or tap the button to open it in Google Maps.
What we actually know
The village of Anegundi, near Hampi, was previously called Kishkindha and is traditionally associated with the monkey kingdom of the Ramayana. The rocky, boulder-strewn hills of the area match the epic’s description of the vanaras’ mountain home.
Nearby Anjanadri Hill is traditionally linked to the birth of Hanuman. The same region also holds the ruins of Vijayanagara, a great medieval empire, so one trip can cover two very different chapters of history.