If I close my eyes, I can still see majestic boulders strewn around on hills, ancient ruins sprawling across the horizon, telling us tales of bygone days, of prosperity and turns of fortune. Every corner of this UNESCO World Heritage site speaks to those who care to listen, whispers the stories of the glorious past of the Vijaynagar Empire through the well-preserved present.
Hampi was on my wishlist for quite some time, and I finally fulfilled my dream with a birthday trip in March this year.
About Hampi
Hampi is a place in the Vijayanagara district of Karnataka. It was the capital of a flourishing VIjayanagara empirefrom 1336 to 1565, before it was abandoned, and today the extensive and well-preserved ruins of this city have earned it a spot of UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites.
It is believed that Hampi was the world's second largest city at that time after Beijing, and its ruins leave visitors awestruck at the extent and richness of the empire.
Itinerary
Here's our 2 days' itinerary to explore the best of Hampi:
DAY 1:
Circuit: Vijaya Vittala Temple- Lunch at Mango Tree-Queen's Bath-Pataleshwar Shiva Temple- Royal Enclosure(from far)-Hazara Rama Temple(from outside...must go inside, we missed it)
Our trip started from Bengaluru around 5 AM. Before 10 AM, we had reached Hampi. The roads are buttery smooth and the windmills along the way kept us company for quite some time.
The first "monument" to greet us was this gate which we saw from the car.
However our first major stop was Vijaya Vittala Temple, which dates back to the 15th century. The famous stone chariot of Hampi, which appears on Rs. 50 banknote, is part of this complex, along with musical pillars of ranga mantapa, maha mantapa and several other places. It takes 2-3 hour to see completely and is best toured with a guide. We paid Rs. 500 for our guide.
After this temple, we had lunch at the famous Mango Tree restaurant. Its popular for its cool vibes and floor seating but normal seating is also there. Food is very good.
After lunch we went to visit Queen's bathhouse and it was pleasantly cool despite the high heat outside.
We also saw the Pataleshwar(underground Shiva) temple from inside, the Royal Enclosure from outside and the Hazara Rama Temple from outside. However, don't miss the Hazara Rama Temple like we did.
We wanted to watch sunset from Hemakunta hill but we weren't able to bear the heat so retreated back to our hotel in Hospete.
In the evening, we went to TB tam to watch musical fountain show. We missed the sunset from the dam...its supposed to be spectacular.
DAY 2:
Circuit: Zenana Enclosure- Lotus Mahal, Elephant Stables-Kadalekaalu Ganesha-Krishna Temple- Step well & Hampi Bazaar(ruins)- Sasivekaalu Ganesha-Virupaksha Temple-Ugra Narasimha-Badavalinga
Our day started with a visit to the Zenana Enclosure, which was built for the Royal Ladies. It contains the Lotus Mahal, an ornate structure with windows and doors carved like lotus petals. A small enclosure at the end of the enclosure led us to the massive elephant stables.
After that, we went towards Virupaksha Temple. On the way we visited Kadlekaalu Ganesha, Krishna Mandir, Bazaar and Step Well, Sasivekaalu Ganesha.
Finally we reached Virupaksha Temple, the oldest surviving temple in Hampi whose history dates back to the 7th century. It is a live temple and poojas are performed everyday. Shorts are not allowed else you have to tie a lungi(both men and women)
After this, we went to visit and Ugra Narasimha and the Badavalinga..two of the most iconic structures of Hampi.
Finally we retreated to our hotel for lunch. In the evening we went to TB dam again, and had dinner at hotel Abhiruchi(delicious non veg food!!)
Next day, we left Hampi after breakfast and reached back to Bangalore.
Other Places to Visit Nearby
Anjanadri Hill which is supposed to be the birthplace of lord Hanuman.
Anegudi(settlements are closed), Sanapur Lake, Sunrise and Sunset points(Matanga Hill, Hemakunta Hill) and Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary are other places to visit apart from the above itinerary.
If travelling for 3-4 hours is not a mallter, a visit can be paid to the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Badami, Aihole and Pattadakal.
Just 100 km away, Lakkundi is another hidden gem in Karnataka, where some exquisite ancient temples can be found which remain largely unexplored by the average tourist.
Activities
Apart from exploring ruins, Hampi is famous for bouldering, rock climbing and cliff jumping. That's not surprising considering Hampi's terrain strewn with boulders.
It is also famous for coracle rides. Coracles are circular boats that look like a floating basket.
Accommodation
Hotels are available in Hospete. We stayed at Hotel Malligi which is a mid budget hotel and has decent accomodation.
Royal Orchid Central Kireeti is another good (but pricier) option.
Many resorts have also come up near Hampi like Hampi Feathers Resort, Hampi Boulders Resort, Heritage Resort Hampi.
For a truly royal stay(with huge expenses), you can opt for Evolve Back Hampi.
Best Time to Visit
Best Time to visit is winter months, particularly December and January when the weather is a bit bearable and suitable for outdoor activities.
Hampi can also be visited in the monsoon from July to September when the rains make the countryside green and inviting, and the temperatures drop slightly.
How to Reach
The nearest Railway station is Hospete, and regular trains run between Bangalore and Hospete.
Buses also connect Hospete with Bangalore.
The easiest way to reach is to take a cab or drive down to Hampi. Even though it is almost 330km from Bangalore, the highway till Hospete is in excellent condition, and within 5 hours we touched Hospete. Hampi is another 30 min drive from Hospete.
Hampi is a truly magical place! I definitely want to visit again and savour its charm because 2 days isn't enough to soak in all that it has to offer. Have you visited Hampi? Share your trip on Tripoto and earn credits to travel for free. If you want to plan your trip and have any queries, you can get in touch with me.
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