hampi places to visit around

• Group Enquiry? NEW
• 35 Places to Visit in Hampi

Attractions to Visit in Hampi

Here are some of the best places to visit in hampi:, quick navigation.

Virupaksha Temple

The temple is so constructed that its main entrance faces east and homes to two courtyards. No sooner you enter the temple, there is a statue of Nandi with three heads. There is a pillared hall in the center which is reckoned as the Ranga Mandapa. In case you are an international traveler, you have to register yourself at a police outpost with all your essential details. Mostly, this temple remains crowded in December; whereas it celebrates its annual festival in February and it is one of the best places to visit in Hampi. Location : South banks of Tungabhadra river, Hampi, Karnataka 583239 Timings: Virupaksha temple is open for the visitors from morning 9:00 am to 13:00 pm. After about 4 hours, again the doors are open visitors from 17:00 pm to 21:00 pm. Price: There are no entry fees. However, you can hire a guide to give you complete information about the temple at its footsteps for a nominal charge of 50 INR. Click Here to Book Now:   Green Planet Dubai Tickets Planning a trip to Hampi? Checkout & Book:   Hampi Tour Packages

Vijaya Vittala Temple

Vijaya Vittala Temple or Vijaya temple of Hampi amongst the ancient Places to Visit In Hampi worthy of visiting. There are fantastic stone structures all around, and the pillars here appear as if they are playing music. This is true architectural excellence of Hampi as it exemplifies remarkable creativity and the beauty of architecture’s imagination. The architecture of this temple dates back to the Dravidian era and reflects South Indian traits. Three towering gateways are encircling the temple along with high compound walls. Maha Mantapa, Stone chariot, musical pillars are amongst the tourist attractions of this Vijaya Vittala Temple. Location:  8FRG+W3H,   Hampi, Karnataka 583239 Timings: The doors of Vijaya Vittala Temple are open from morning 08:30 am to evening 18:00 pm. Price: There are no entry fees to this temple Check Out:  Best Resorts in Hampi Also Checkout & Explore:   Places To Visit In Thailand

Lotus Mahal

Lotus Mahal or Kamal Mahal exhibits an explicit architectural design amongst all the other Hampi tourist places. It is so called as it more or less resembles the shape of a lotus flower. Central dome of this Mahala resembles the bud of lotus and the balcony and passages as petals. The roof illustrates a multi-layered design reflecting and Indo architectural style. There are around 24 pillars to provide excellent support to the arched windows of this palace. Location: SH 131, Hampi, Karnataka 583239 Timings: The Lotus Mahal Hampi is open for visitors from morning 08:00 am to evening 06:00 pm. Price: The entry fees of Lotus Mahal Hampi is fixed at 10 INR per Indian, 250 INR per foreigner and no charges for children below the age group of 15 years. Also Recommended:   Best Trekking Tours in Hampi for an adventurous experience

Yantrodharaka Hanuman Temple

Yantrodharaka Hanuman Temple is present at a distance of around 2km from the famous Virupaksha temple. This temple is a part of a cave standing at the peak of a hill and is dedicated to the Hindu deity Lord Hanuman. Also, the Tungabhadra river flows through the steps of this hill. Here, you can find Lord Hanuman indulged in a state of deep meditation. Within a distance of five minutes from here, you can find another temple dedicated to Lord Srinivasa. In case you feel hungry, you can approach small stalls nearby selling either mangoes, biscuits or cucumbers. It is best if you plan on your itinerary to this place in between October to March. Location:  8FM9+89H, Hampi, Karnataka 583239 Timings: You can visit this temple at any point during the daytime. It takes around one hour to cover your entire visit here. Price: There are no entry fees here. Also, you can easily take in your cameras here to capture some beautiful pictures of this place. Do Checkout: Best Hampi Tour Package From Bangalore

Hampi Bazaar

When you have a day reserved at leisure, do not forget to try a shopping hand at the Hampi Bazaar. It spreads more than a kilometer and the road that passes through this market exhibits pavilions on both roadsides. Alternatively, this shoppers stop is known as Virupaksha Bazaar which is one of the best Places to Visit In Hampi,  Towards the eastern side, you can find a street to be occupied by the local villagers. There is a large Nandi bull statue at the east end of this Hampi Bazaar street. Nearby pavilion exhibits photos of Hampi right from the ancient times. Location: Hampi Bazaar St, Karnataka 583239 Timings: You can stop and shop at any time from morning 06:00 am to night 11:00 pm. Price: No one is going to charge you any expense for your visit to Hampi Bazaar. However, if you are a shopaholic, do not forget to carry a reasonable sum as the place has many things to attract your tender heart.

Best of North Goa

Hippie Island

Queen's Bath

Reckoned as a large bath of Hampi, Queen’s Bath exemplifies the Vijayanagara's architectural excellence. It lies close to one of the most awful places to visit in Hampi- the Royal Enclosure. Although built around 500 years ago, this magnificent structure still remains intact in its construction. It’s simplest exterior perfectly blends with an ornate interior to embrace its overall appearance. It a rectangular building admeasuring around 30 square meters and has a large sunken bath at its center. It may interest you to find arched corridors all around this Royal bath. Location:  8F7C+9X9,   Karnataka 583239 Timings: Queen’s bath is open for visitors from morning 08:30 am to evening 06:00 pm. Price: Entry to the Queen’s bath is free from all charges. Suggested Read:   Best Things to Do in Hampi

Matanga Hill

Out of all the places to visit in Hampi, Matanga Hill is the one which is most talked about. It represents the highest point of Hampi, and it’s a picturesque destination for the travel photographers to capture some aerial vies of Hampi. North portion of this hill terminates into Tungabhadra river where you have another religious place to visit-Kodanda Rama temple. Towards the south of this hill, you have a twisting valley with a zigzag Turthu canal. Low-lying Northern section exhibits a trekking trail that connects straightaway to Hampi bazaar. Location: 8FJ9+M83, Hampi, Karnataka Timings: There are no specific timings to climb on the Matanga Hills. However, tourists make it a point to climb this hill early in the morning to capture the allure of sunrise and carry ahead with their downward journey in the evening after sunset. Price: Climbing Matanga Hill is absolutely free of cost.

Elephant Stables

Elephant Stables is amongst the significant tourist places to visit in Hampi to witness a little to absolutely no destruction. It is a long building homing to a series of dome-shaped chambers which once were used for the parking of royal elephants. These chambers are around 11 in their total count; some of which are interconnected. The whole building gives a symmetrical appearance, and the central hall tower reflects the shape of most of the temples here. This central hall has five domes on either side of it which reflects an Islamic style of architecture. Location:  8FCF+C3X, Hampi, Karnataka 583239 Timings: The doors of this Elephant Stables are open from early morning 08:30 am to evening 05:30 pm. It takes around an hour to complete your visit here. Price: There is an entry fee of 10 INR for Indians and 250 INR for foreigners. Entry for children up to the age group of 15 years is absolutely free of cost.

Monolithic Bull

Best of Coorg

Badavilinga Temple

Badavilinga Temple is a beautiful temple of Lord Shiva and one of the most visited Hampi tourist places. It lies close to the Lakshmi Narasimha temple and homes to a beautiful Linga carved out of a black stone. The linga is around 3 meters high and dates back to the era of the Vijayanagar Empire. This linga lies within a small stone chamber of this temple with only a single narrow opening and is without a ceiling. The pedestal is circular in shape and reflects as the Yone Pitha of Lord Shiva Linga. Location:  8FH5+PJC, Hampi, Karnataka 583239 Timings: Badavilinga Temple doors are open for the devotees from morning 05:00 am to night 09:00 pm. Price: There are no entry fees to make your visit here.

Zanana Enclosure

Once reckoned as a secluded area for the Vijayanagara Kingdom’s royal ladies, Zanana Enclosure reflects a sprawling compound with tall walls. Lotus Mahal is the center of attraction of this place. You can either step in through its northern entrance or through its north-eastern entrance. Zanana Enclosure homes to three watchtowers each standing at eastern, south-eastern and northern ends of this magnificent structure. The entire architecture here reflects an Indo-Islamic style. Lotus Mahal, queen’s palace’s basement, treasure building, and water pavilion are some key attractions of this place. Location:  8FCC+88X, Hampi, Karnataka 583239 Timings: This place is open from morning 06:00 am to evening 06:00 pm Price: Entry fee here is 10 INR per Indian, and for foreigners, it is 250 INR.

Lakshmi Narasimha Temple

Most significant of all the religious statues in Hampi, Lakshmi Narasimha Temple is the amongst the next best Hampi tourist places to visit. Here, the figure of Lord Narasimha sits on a coil of a snake with seven heads in a Yoga position. This statue has an image of Goddess Lakshmi on his lap. It takes around one to one and a half hour to complete your visit here. The best time to visit this temple is in between October to February. Location: Southern end of Hemakuta group of temples, Hampi, India Timings: You can easily make your way inside Lakshmi Narasimha Temple from morning 06:00 am to evening 06:00 pm. Price: There are no entry fees here. You can click photographs of the temple without any charges.

Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary

You are going to find a lot of Indian Sloth Bears here at Daroji Sloth bear Sanctuary. Hillocks here are rough enough and are dotted with a lot of boulders. The Sloth bear count here goes to around 120. However, the sanctuary also accounts for other species. Tiger, Leopard, Mongoose, Pangolins, Star Tortoise, and Spotted Deer are some other animal species found here. This sanctuary alone exhibits around 90 bird species, 27 butterfly species, and a watch tower at the center. Location: Seetharama Tanda, Karnataka 583215 Timings: Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary is open from 04:00 pm to 06:00 pm on all days. Price: For Indian tourists, the entry fee is 25 INR while the foreigners need to pay a sum of 100 INR. If you are eager to bring in your own two or four wheelers, you will have to pay additional charges accordingly.

Old Palace (Gagan Mahal)

This Gagan Mahal dates back to the 16th-century era. Although significant portions of this palace are currently under ruins, it is still amongst worthiest places to visit in Hampi. The palace is small and yellow in color with decorated windows and encircled all over by four beautiful towers. Once here, you can march towards Sarovara Laxmi Temple, Sabari Caves, Nava Brindavana, Durga Temple, and other nearby religious places of importance. It is best to visit here anywhere between October to March. However, take care that there is no public transport here to ride around. Location: Anegundi, Karnataka 583227 Timings: This Gagan Mahal is open for all 24 hours. It takes approximately one to one and a half hour to complete your visit here. Price: There are no entry fees here.

Best of South Goa

Hemakuta Hill Temples

Hemakuta Hill is a vastly stretched zone offering an astounding view of the sprawling ruins, temples, and archways. This is the next best place to watch the sunrise and sunset as tourists find it easier to reach to its top position. Virupaksha temple, Moola Virupaksha temple, Krishna temple and shrines of Lakshmi Narasimha and Badivilinga are some of the best places to visit in Hampi. These temple architectures are entirely different and date back to the era of Vijayanagara king rule. These group of temples has three chambers conjoined to resemble a pyramid roof. Location: Centre of the city, Hampi, India Timings: You can climb the Hemakuta Hill temple at any time from dawn to dusk. Price: There are no entry fees to reach and adore the ancient beauty of Hemakuta Hill Temple. You May Also Like: Best Homestays in Hampi for a relaxing stay

Achyutaraya Temple

The last one to go down in the list of places to visit in Hampi is the Achyutaraya Temple. This temple lies amidst the Matanga Hills and Gandhamadana. This temple exhibits Vijayanagar’s architectural elegance and homes to a beautiful idol of Lord Tiruvengalanatha. All towers, pillars, and walls of this beautiful temple are exquisitely carved and ornamented. The main shrine of this temple is situated amidst a rectangular concentric structure. Location:  8FJC+Q26, Hampi, Karnataka 583239 Timings: The doors are opened for a visit from 05:30 am to 01:00 pm. Again, in the evening, the doors are opened from 05:30 pm to 09:00 pm. Price: No entry fee is charged for entry to this temple.

Hazara Rama Temple

This beautiful temple marks its presence at the central focus of a royal area and is dedicated to Lord Rama. The walls of this temple are eager to illustrate the entire Ramayana flow before its visitors. Once you reach here, you can find bas relics of both Hindu deities Lord Rama and Krishna. Also, do not forget to miss on the remnants illustrating a Dasara celebration. Towards its northern side, you may find a sprawling lawn widely stretched apart. The temple has two huge getaways and the interior homes to sculpted columns. Location:  8F99+4G2, Hampi, Karnataka 583239 Timings: Reaching this temple is no longer a whammy situation as the doors are open from morning 06:00 am to evening 06:00 pm. It hardly takes two hours to complete your visit here. Price: There is no entry fee being charged by the temple authorities.

Archaeological Museum

A tiny yet worthy of visiting museums, Archaeological Museum of Hampi accounts for the best Places to Visit In Hampi to spend some time with. This museum accounts for four principal sections each dedicated to a different exhibit. The first section exhibits Hampi model, the second section shows sculptures and idols dedicated to Hampi ruins. The third section exhibits tools, arms, and ammunition. The fourth section exhibits artifacts dating back to the pre-historic and post-historic era. Location: Kamalapur Road, Hampi, India Timings: You are free to take a dig at the beauty of this Archaeological Museum from morning 10:00 am to evening 05:00 pm. Price: Per head you need to pay around 5 INR as entry fees. Entry is free for children under the age of 15 years. Photography is permitted only for the lawn exhibits. Also Checkout:  Things To Do In London At Night

Riverside Ruins

Close to a river edge of Kodandarama Temple are a couple of lingas carved on a flat rock surface. The arrays of this Shiv Linga contains around 100 to 1000 such lingas. A little away from this array is Lord Vishnu’s carved sculpture. Also, you can find a lot of tiny shrines that are submerged here and rock surfaces reflecting carved motifs. Be extremely careful while you step on the slippery rock surfaces especially in the monsoons. If the river is stable, you can head towards this place through a coracle ride at a nominal charge of around 25-50 per head. Location: N ear the Kodanda Rama Temple, Hampi. Timings: You can visit riverside ruins at any point of time. Yet, if you plan to take a coracle ride here, you must cross-check with its availability in accordance with your chosen time of visit. Price:  There is no entry fee.

Best of Dandeli

Underground Temple-Prasanna Virupaksha Temple

Underground Shiva Temple’s every single piece of the structure reflects a perfect blend of mythology and history. This is amongst the only places to visit in Hampi lying under water. The central portion of this ancient shrine always lies immersed in water. According to local beliefs, it is the Tungabhadra river which flows through the interior of this temple through canals. There is the main hall, a courtyard, a small hall that leads to the innermost sanctum. All around the temple is a lush green lawn where you can sit and relax for some time. Location: Hampi Main Bus Stand, Hampi, Karnataka 583239 Timings: There is no time restriction to reach here. However, it is always better to visit here before sunsets. It will hardly take around 30 minutes to complete your visit to this temple. Price: The temple authorities won't be charging you for an entry to this temple.

Hampi Flea Market

Rice Paddies

Laughing Buddha Cafe

Krishna Temple

Built by Krishnadevaraya, Krishan temple of Hampi is the sign of Orissa campaign’s success. This temple is amongst those hand-picked places to visit in Hampi which are globally reckoned for their exquisite carvings. The love of Krishnadevraya for art and architecture is quite evident from the beauty of this place. For the original idol of this place, you need to head towards Chennai’s State Museum. The temple campus is encircled all over by massive pillars and small shrines. Towards its eastern side, lies a grand hall. You can grab a fresh banana from the Banana plantations that mark their presence to the south zone of this temple. Location: Bellary, Hampi, Karnataka 583239 Timings: You can seek blessings here at Krishna Temple from morning 06:00 am to evening 06:00 pm. Price: No authority here will demand any form of entry fees from you. However, photography is restricted only in the premises.

Best of Mysore

Kadalekalu Ganesha

Homing to one of the largest statues of Hindu deity Ganesha, Kadalekalu Ganesha temple is the famous holy shrine of South India. It is situated on the slopes of well-known Hemakuta Hills, and its towering statue is about 4.6 meters high. The temple features a statue carved out from a single massive stone, and the belly of Lord Ganesha resembles a Bengal gram. Entire hall of the temple homes to slender granite pillars and exhibit fictitious characters. The carvings of these pillars reflect the Vijayanagara architectural style of art. Location:  8FM6+4FQ, Hampi, Karnataka 583239 Timings: You can visit this shrine of Lord Ganesha from morning 06:00 am to evening 06:00 pm. Price: There are no entry fees to lead your way to this Kadalekalu Ganesha temple.

Sanapur Lake

Stepped Tank

Stepped tanks here are considered to be sacred tanks for a holy bath before visiting any religious place of importance. Once a while,  they were centers for festival celebrations. There are steps on all four interior sides of such tanks so that you can step down to get in and out of the water. The stepped tank at the Royal center is geometrically larger in its dimensions and is carved out from a green diorite with a complete absence of drainage system. The stepped tank is constructed from black schist stones. Location: Hampi, Karnataka Timings: You can take a dive in the water of these stepped tanks at any time before the sun sets. Price: No entry fees for the stepped tank visit.

Tungabhadra River

Rising from the Western Ghats, Tungabhadra River flow towards the south-east and meets the Krishna river in Andhra Pradesh. Being a perennial river, the water level of this river takes a compelling look in monsoons. Tungabhadra Dam is an ongoing project here to aid in the infrastructure development of this region. After you complete your visit to the Virupaksha temple, you can march ahead to this river from the back of the temple. Throughout your journey, you can easily sip in sweet and tender coconut water. Do not forget to miss on your coracle ride while you plan on your Tungabhadra itinerary. Location: Vijayanagara Ruins, Hamp, Karnataka Timings: There is no specific timing to visit the Tungabhadra river. However, for the coracle ride, you need to reach here before sunset. Price: There is no entry fee to visit either the Tungabhadra river or dam. Coracle riding might charge you per head accordingly.

Pushkaranis of Hampi is sacred tanks in association with the Hampi temples. Pushkarani reminds you to take a precise note of ancient town planning and architectural style of the Vijayanagara era. Many of these pushkaranis served as the event venue for their annual boating festivals. During such celebrations, the idols of both Gods and Goddesses are taken out for a coracle ride. Majority of these Pushkarani’s are surrounded all over by explicitly beautiful pillars and arcades. Location: Pushkarani are found near to Royal Enclosure, Virupaksha temple, Krishna Bazaar, Pattabhirama temple. Timings: You can walk-in here at Pushkarani throughout the day. It takes around 20 to 30 minutes to complete your visit here.  Price: There are no entry fees here at Pushkarani. Both photography and videography are allowed.

Best of Gokarna

Sasivekalu Ganesha

This Lord Ganesha’s statue derives its resemblance from that of the mustard seed, which is referred to as Sasivekalu in the local dialect thereby leading to its name. This statue is located on the Southern foothill of the Hemakuta and is almost half the size of Kadalekalu Ganesha located on the Northern slope of the same hill.

This statue derives inspiration from an incident of Hindu mythology when one day Lord Ganesha had eaten so much food that his stomach almost burst. So in order to protect his stomach the Lord tied a snake around his belly. On this statue one can see the figure of the snake carved in front of his stomach.

This monolithic statue measure 2.4 metres in height and is carved out of a huge boulder. There is an open pavillion built around the statue, which is believed to be constructed by a trader from Chandragiri (present day Andhra Pradesh) in the memory of Narsimha II the mighty Vijaynagara king. Similar to the Kadalekalu Ganesha Temple, this temple too is considered to be one of the important places to visit in Hampi.

Royal Enclosure

The present day fortified area or the Royal Enclosure of Hampi was once the seat of power of the Vijaynagara rulers. In current times this Royal Enclosure is basically a wide open ground consisting of a number of small shelters.

Some of the important structures in here are spread across hundreds of square metres of land and consists of a number of interesting and important relics. Some of the important structures of the Royal Enclosure are the King’s Audience Hall or the 100-Pillared Hall, stepped tank, an underground chamber and the Mahanavami Debbie to the commonly called Dossier Platform.

Since the Royal Enclosure is pretty large a good amount of walking is required to have a look at the entire place. Any kind of vehicles whether manually or automatically driven are not allowed inside the area, so it is advisable to visit this place during early morning or in the evenings, as the atmosphere at these times are more pleasant.

Palace of Vira Harihara

People Also Ask About Hampi

What is hampi famous for, what is there to do in hampi at night, how many days do you need in hampi, how do you cover hampi for one day, what is the best time to visit hampi, is hampi safe to travel alone, how do you cover hampi for 2 days, does hampi have a beach, is it good to visit hampi in july, is hampi worth visiting, how do you get around hampi.

The most common means of local transportation in Hampi is auto-rickshaws. There are also car rental agencies that you can approach in order to get around. The roadways in Hampi are easy, accessible and non-congested. If you want to cross the river in order to reach Virupapur Gaddi, then boats are your only option. The boat fare may vary from INR 50 to INR 100, depending on the time during which you are crossing the river.

What can I buy in Hampi?

Though Hampi is famous for its rich and historical architecture and heritage sites, this city also boasts of great handicrafts and interesting artefacts. Some of the signature items you can collect from Hampi are- - Stone Artefacts and sculptures - Lambani crafts - Leather crafts - Various handmade musical instruments - Crafts made of banana fibre - Local Hampi clothes that are locally hand-made.

Is alcohol allowed in Hampi?

Alcohol consumption is strictly prohibited in Hampi. But the region across the river is considered as a more modern version of the town. With a predominant hippie culture, beer and non-vegetarian foods are allowed for consumption and purchase as well.

How can I go to Hampi from Bangalore?

Hampi Travel Guides

Hampi Reviews

Popular Nearby Places Around Hampi

More things to do in hampi, more on hampi tourism, popular related destinations.

Best Domestic Packages

Best international packages, domestic honeymoon packages, international honeymoon packages, places to visit in india, international places to visit, things to do in india, international things to do, popular on thrillophilia.

• We assure the privacy of your contact data.
• This data will only be used by our team to contact you and no other purposes.

Your enquiry has been received successfully. Our destination expert will reach out to you soon!

• Andhra Pradesh
• Arunachal Pradesh
• Himachal Pradesh
• Madhya Pradesh
• Maharashtra
• Uttar Pradesh
• West Bengal
• New Zealand
• South Africa
• Bird Watching
• National Parks
• Paragliding
• River Rafting
• Scuba Diving
• Jungle Lodges
• Luxury Resorts

Top 12 Places to Visit Near Hampi To Explore the Wonders Beyond

• October 24, 2023

While Hampi is undoubtedly a mesmerizing destination that captures the essence of ancient India, the surrounding region is equally endowed with natural beauty, historical significance, and cultural treasures waiting to be explored. If you find yourself in Hampi, make sure to take the time to venture beyond its borders to discover a plethora of fascinating places nearby. In this blog post, we will unveil the top 12 places to visit near Hampi , offering you a chance to enrich your journey and create lasting memories. As Hampi is one of the best places to visit near Bangalore , it is visited in large numbers by tourists from Bangalore. When you are in Hampi, you can explore the following nearby places:

Top 12 Places to Visit Near Hampi:

1. badami – awe-inspiring cave temples.

Approximately 120 kilometres from Hampi lies the historic town of Badami , known for its stunning cave temples. Carved into sandstone cliffs, these rock-cut temples showcase an exquisite blend of Dravidian and Nagara architectural styles.

Explore the four main cave temples dedicated to Hindu deities and marvel at the intricate carvings and sculptures that adorn them. This is one of the best places to visit near Hampi . If you know how to reach Hampi and planned things accordingly, you can also plan your visit to this place located around 120 km away from Hampi.

2. Pattadakal – UNESCO World Heritage Site

A short distance from Badami, Pattadakal awaits visitors its UNESCO World Heritage Site status. This ancient site features an impressive collection of nine temples showcasing a blend of North Indian and South Indian architectural styles, representing the rich heritage of the Chalukya dynasty.

3. Aihole – The Cradle of Indian Architecture

Renowned as the “Cradle of Indian Architecture, Aihole is an architectural marvel located close to Hampi. Wander through its more than 120 temples, including the Durga Temple, Ravana Phadi Cave, and the Lad Khan Temple, which display a wide range of architectural experiments and styles.

If you are interested in exploring some spiritual places to visit near Hampi , you can consider visiting this place.

4. Anegundi – Hampi’s Lesser-Known Twin

Cross the Tungabhadra River from Hampi to discover Anegundi, a quaint village that shares its historical heritage with the iconic site. Explore ancient cave paintings, the Ranganatha Temple, and the picturesque Pampa Sarovar, all of which add to the charm of this hidden gem.

Indeed, you can engage in the best things to do in Hampi . But, when you go a bit further, do not forget to consider Anegundi as one of the best places to visit near Hampi .

5. Kishkindha – Ramayana’s Mythical Land

Step into the mythical land of Kishkindha, where legends from the Indian epic Ramayana come to life. This site is believed to be the kingdom of the monkey-god Hanuman. The Rishimukh Hill, Sugriva’s Cave, and the Monkey Temple are must-visit spots that transport you back to ancient times.

6. Tungabhadra Dam – A Marvel of Engineering

Witness the marvel of engineering at the Tungabhadra Dam, located around 16 kilometres from Hampi. Besides providing irrigation to the surrounding areas, the dam offers a serene ambience, making it an ideal spot for picnics and leisurely walks.

If you are planning an educational trip with kids, you can consider taking them to this dam, which is one of the best places to visit near Hampi .

7. Daroji Bear Sanctuary – A Wildlife Delight

Approximately 30 kilometres from Hampi, the Daroji Bear Sanctuary beckons wildlife enthusiasts. This unique sanctuary is home to the Indian Sloth Bears, and visitors can observe these majestic creatures in their natural habitat.

If you are looking for the best places to visit near Hampi with kids, you can consider taking them to this sanctuary. They will love spotting wild boar and other wild animals here.

8. Hampi’s Hippie Island – Virupapur Gadde

Venture to the laid-back island of Virupapur Gadde, also known as Hampi’s Hippie Island. This serene destination on the other side of the Tungabhadra River offers a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of Hampi. Relax by the riverside, witness stunning sunsets, and enjoy the bohemian vibe of the place.

9. Vijayapura (Bijapur) – The City of Victory

For history buffs, Vijayapura, formerly known as Bijapur, is a city steeped in history, located about 250 kilometres from Hampi. This city boasts a collection of magnificent Islamic architecture, with the Gol Gumbaz being the most notable structure, featuring the world’s second-largest dome.

Indeed, it is one of the best places to visit near Hampi located a bit away. But when you hire a car, you can conveniently explore this place and get back to your accommodation in Hampi. You might be interested in knowing about the best hotels in Hampi if you are yet to book one.

10. Hampi’s Stone Chariot at Sule Bazaar

Not to be confused with the Stone Chariot in Vittala Temple, Hampi’s Stone Chariot at Sule Bazaar is a hidden gem. Tucked away in a lesser-known part of Hampi, this beautiful stone chariot is reminiscent of the architectural marvels of Hampi and is a must-visit for history enthusiasts.

So, if you are looking for one of the best places to visit near Hampi to satiate your interest in historical places, you can choose to visit this place.

11. Koppal – Ancient Forts and Temples

About 70 kilometres from Hampi, Koppal is a treasure trove of historical sites, including the Koppal Fort and the Mahadeva Temple. These lesser-explored gems provide a glimpse into the region’s rich past and are worth a detour.

12. Navabrindavanam – Tranquil Island of Samadhis

Situated on an island between Hampi and Anegundi, Navabrindavanam is a peaceful abode housing the samadhis (tombs) of nine Hindu saints. Surrounded by the Tungabhadra River, this tranquil location is revered by devotees and offers a serene atmosphere for introspection.

Most tourists to Hampi point out this to be one of the best places to visit near Hampi . So, you should also never miss out on visiting it.

Conclusion:

While Hampi’s allure is undeniable, the surrounding region presents an array of remarkable places that complement the ancient city’s charm. From awe-inspiring cave temples to mythical lands and tranquil islands, each destination offers a unique experience waiting to be explored. Make the most of your time in Hampi by embarking on an enriching journey to the top 12 places to visit near Hampi , and you’ll uncover the incredible diversity and richness of this historically and culturally significant part of India.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

• Trekking & Travel Events
• Travel Organizations
• Himalayan Treks
• Maharashtra Treks
• Karnataka Treks
• Travel Guides
• Weekend Getaways
• Trekking Tips & Advice

Things to Do in Hampi & A Complete Travel Guide

Are you ready for an adventure of a lifetime? Look no further than Hampi – a hidden gem in the heart of Karnataka, India. Our Things To Do in Hampi – A Travel Guide will explore its breathtaking landscapes, ancient ruins, and vibrant culture; this UNESCO World Heritage Site is a dream destination for history buffs and wanderlust seekers alike.

But before you embark on your journey to this enchanting wonderland, we’ve covered everything you need to know! From must-visit attractions to top things to do and insider tips, get ready to dive into the ultimate guide for planning your trip to Hampi. Let’s make memories that will last a lifetime!

Table of Contents

Introduction: Brief overview of Hampi

Hampi, located in the southern state of Karnataka, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most captivating destinations in India. It is a small village once the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire , which ruled South India for over two centuries from the 14th to 16th century AD .

The ruins of this ancient city are spread across an area of about 26 square kilometres . They are surrounded by stunning natural landscapes, making it a picturesque destination. Despite being in ruins, Hampi continues attracting tourists worldwide due to its rich cultural heritage and architectural marvels.

A Mix of Culture, Nature & History

One of the main reasons why Hampi is a must-visit destination is because it offers a unique blend of history, spirituality, and natural beauty . The temples and monuments here testify to the grandeur and opulence of the Vijayanagara Empire. The intricate carvings on these structures depict scenes from Hindu mythology and showcase outstanding craftsmanship.

Apart from its historical significance, Hampi also has a spiritual aura that can be felt throughout the village. With over 500 temples scattered around its landscape, Hampi is considered one of the holiest places for Hindus. The Virupaksha temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is one of the oldest functioning temples in India and attracts thousands of devotees every year.

In addition to its cultural importance, Hampi also offers breathtaking views with its boulder-strewn hillsides , lush green paddy fields, and glistening Tungabhadra river flowing through it. It is a paradise for nature lovers and adventure seekers, with activities like trekking , rock climbing, and coracle rides available.

In conclusion, Hampi is a must-visit destination for anyone looking to experience India’s rich history and culture, along with its natural beauty. The village has something to offer everyone and promises an unforgettable trip filled with ancient wonders and enchanting experiences.

Getting There: Different modes of transportation to Hampi

Hampi is a popular tourist destination located in the state of Karnataka, India. It is known for its rich history and ancient ruins, making it a must-visit place for history buffs and adventure seekers. However, planning your transportation mode is essential before embarking on your trip to Hampi. This section will discuss the various modes of transportation available to reach Hampi and their pros and cons.

The nearest airport to Hampi is the Hubli Airport, approximately 160 km from the town. You can hire a taxi or take a bus to Hampi from there. The airport has good connectivity with major cities like Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Delhi.

• Fastest mode of transportation.
• Flights are available from major cities in India.
• Comfortable journey.
• Expensive compared to other modes of transportation.
• Limited flights may result in higher airfare during peak season.

2. By Train:

The closest railway station to Hampi is Hospet Junction Railway Station (HPT), which is around 13 km away from the town. You can take a taxi or auto-rickshaw from there to Hampi.

• Affordable option.
• Trains are available from major cities in India.
• Scenic train journey through rural landscapes.
• Limited trains may require advance booking during peak season.
• Longer travel time compared to flights.

Hampi has good connectivity with major cities in Karnataka, like Bengaluru, Mysore, and Hospet. You can take a bus from these cities to reach Hampi. The town also has local buses that connect different parts of the town.

• Cheapest mode of transportation.
• Good connectivity with nearby cities.
• Local buses provide an authentic experience of the town.
• Long travel time.
• Buses may only be comfortable for a short distance.

4. By Car/Taxi:

You can also opt for a private car or taxi to reach Hampi from nearby cities like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, or Goa. You can either hire a self-drive car or book a chauffeured taxi service.

• Flexible timings and routes.
• Allows you to explore nearby places at your own pace.
• Expensive option if travelling alone.
• Traffic may result in longer travel time during peak season.

In conclusion, your transportation mode depends on your budget, comfort level, and travel preferences. It is recommended to plan your trip in advance and book tickets accordingly to avoid any last-minute hassles. No matter which mode of transportation you choose, a trip to Hampi will surely be an enriching and memorable experience.

Best Time to Visit

Hampi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Karnataka, India, is a popular tourist destination known for its rich history and stunning architecture. This ancient city was once the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire and is now home to numerous ruins, temples, and other historical sites that attract visitors from around the world.

If you are planning a trip to Hampi, it is crucial to choose the right time of year to visit. The weather, festivals, and tourist crowds can significantly impact your overall experience. To help you plan your trip effectively, here are the ideal months to visit Hampi based on these factors.

The best time to visit Hamp i is during the winter season , which lasts from October to February . During this time, the weather is pleasant, with temperatures ranging from 15°C to 30°C (59°F – to 86°F) . The cool breeze makes it perfect for exploring the outdoors and visiting various historical sites without feeling too hot or uncomfortable.

Summer in Hampi starts in March and lasts till June , with scorching temperatures reaching 40°C (104°F). It can be scorching and humid during this time, making it difficult for tourists to explore outdoor attractions. Monsoon season begins in July and ends in September, bringing heavy rainfall, which can disrupt travel plans.

Tourist Crowds

Hampi receives a high influx of tourists during the winter season from October to February . If you want to avoid large crowds, planning your trip during the shoulder season is best, from March to June or September to October. There are fewer tourists during this time, and you can explore the attractions at your own pace without feeling rushed or crowded.

In conclusion, the ideal time to visit Hampi would be from October to February when the weather is pleasant , and plenty of festivals and events are happening. However, to avoid crowds, consider visiting during the shoulder season (March – June & September to October)  . Plan your trip accordingly and have a memorable experience exploring this ancient city.

Where to Stay in Hampi

Hampi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in India, offers diverse accommodation options for various budgets and travel preferences. These accommodations include:

• Budget-friendly hostels:  Ideal for budget travellers, hostels provide shared dormitory-style accommodations with basic amenities and a chance to connect with fellow travellers.
• Guesthouses:  Family-run guesthouses offer more privacy than hostels and often provide simple rooms with attached bathrooms. Some may offer home-cooked meals.
• Heritage hotels:  For a unique experience, heritage hotels provide a glimpse into the city’s history while offering modern comforts. Many also organize cultural activities and guided tours.
• Resorts:  Luxury resorts, located away from the main tourist areas offer top-notch facilities, serene surroundings, and various activities like yoga, spa treatments, and outdoor adventures.
• Boutique hotels:  Combining heritage charm with modern amenities, boutique hotels offer personalized services and attention to detail, often in or near the main tourist areas.
• Camping:  For adventure seekers, camping is an option. Campsites offer basic tents; some provide luxury tented accommodations with attached bathrooms.

It’s advisable to book well in advance during the peak season (October-March) due to the town’s popularity. Hampi caters to travellers with various budgets and preferences, ensuring there’s a suitable place to stay for everyone.

Must-See Places in Hampi

Hampi is a mesmerizing destination with a rich history and cultural heritage. It is home to countless ancient temples, monuments, and ruins that will leave you in awe. If you plan a trip to Hampi, add these must-see places to your itinerary for an unforgettable experience.

• Hampi Bazaar – Stroll through this bustling market street, which was once the commercial hub of Hampi during its prime days. You can find everything from handicrafts, souvenirs, clothes, and traditional food here.
• Lotus Mahal – Also known as Chitragani Mahal or Kamal Mahal, this striking palace was used by the royal women of the Vijayanagara Empire during their recreational activities. The architecture of this palace resembles a lotus flower, hence the name.
• Matanga Hill – This is the highest point in Hampi and offers stunning views of the surrounding ruins and monuments. Many trekkers go here to catch a glimpse of the sunrise or sunset.
• Queen’s Bath – This is a large, well-preserved bathing complex built for the royal women of the Vijayanagara Empire. It consists of a central pool surrounded by arched corridors and balconies.
• Zenana Enclosure – This was the secluded area where the royal women lived in Hampi. The Lotus Mahal, Elephant Stables, and other structures can be found within this enclosure.
• Purandaradasa Mantapa – This memorial hall is dedicated to the famous poet Purandaradasa, a devotee of Lord Krishna. It houses a statue of him and his compositions carved on the walls.

Temples of Hampi

• Virupaksha Temple – This magnificent temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is one of the oldest functioning temples in India. The intricate carvings and sculptures on the temple walls will leave you amazed. Take advantage of the famous chariot festival held here every year.
• Hemakuta Hill Temples – For breathtaking views of Hampi’s landscape, head up to Hemakuta Hill. You’ll also find many ancient temples and shrines scattered across the hill, including the famous Virupaksha Temple.
• Vittala Temple Complex – This UNESCO World Heritage Site is known for its iconic stone chariot and musical pillars that produce different sounds when struck. The complex also houses beautiful mandapas (halls), shrines, and other structures.
• Achyutaraya Temple – Located on the banks of the Tungabhadra River, this temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and is known for its beautiful architecture and intricate carvings. The annual Purandaradasa Festival is celebrated here with great pomp and show.

Hampi is a treasure trove of historical and architectural wonders. Each place has a unique story and is a must-visit for anyone interested in Indian history or architecture. Remember to carry your camera to capture the beauty of these magnificent structures.

Top 9 Things to Do in Hampi

• Visit the Temples:  Explore the awe-inspiring ancient temples in Hampi, such as Virupaksha Temple, Vitthala Temple, and more, which offer a glimpse into the rich history and architecture of the region.
• Watch Sunsets:  The surreal landscapes of Hampi make for stunning sunset views. Enjoy the magical sight of the sun setting behind the boulders and temples.
• Shopping at Hampi Bazaar:  Hampi Bazaar is a vibrant marketplace where you can shop for souvenirs, handicrafts, jewellery, and traditional clothing. It’s a great place to pick up unique souvenirs.
• Indulge in Local Cuisine:  Savor local Karnataka cuisine at the numerous cafes and restaurants. Try dishes like bisi bele bath, jolada rotti, and the delicious masala dosa.
• Bouldering:  Hampi is a mecca for bouldering enthusiasts. The unique rock formations provide a challenging and picturesque backdrop for climbers of all levels.
• Cliff Jumping:  If adventurous, indulge in cliff jumping by the Tungabhadra River. Leap into the clear waters and experience an adrenaline rush.
• Cycling in and Around Hampi:  Rent a bicycle and explore the charming villages and stunning landscapes around Hampi. It’s a great way to immerse yourself in the local culture.
• Explore the Hippie Side in Anegundi Village:  Anegundi, just across the river, offers a more relaxed and bohemian vibe. Discover the laid-back cafes, art scenes, and vibrant community.
• Take a Coracle Ride:  Experience a traditional coracle ride on the Tungabhadra River. These circular boats offer a unique and serene way to enjoy the region’s scenic beauty.

Hampi, with its cultural richness and natural beauty, offers diverse activities that cater to all interests, from history and spirituality to adventure and relaxation.

An Ideal 5-Day Itinerary for Hampi

1: Arrival and Exploration

• Arrive in Hampi and check in.
• Visit the Virupaksha Temple.
• Explore Hemakuta Hill.
• Enjoy a riverside sunset.

2: Temple Tour

• Explore the Vithala Temple complex.
• Visit Royal Enclosure.
• Explore the underground Shiva temple and the Lotus Mahal.
• Sunset at Hemakuta Hill.

3: Adventure and Nature

• Go bouldering among the unique rock formations.
• Explore Sanapur Lake or Anegundi Village.
• Evening in Anegundi for a taste of the bohemian side.

4: Riverside Activities

• Enjoy a coracle ride on the Tungabhadra River.
• Explore Anjanadri Hill and the Monkey Temple.
• Return to Hampi.

5: Relaxation and Departure

• Cycle around Hampi and explore the remaining sites.
• Enjoy a leisurely breakfast.
• Check out and bid farewell to Hampi.

In conclusion, Hampi is a truly magical destination that offers a perfect blend of history, culture, and natural beauty. Proper planning and preparation allow you to maximise your trip to this UNESCO World Heritage Site.

From exploring ancient ruins to trying local delicacies and indulging in adventurous activities, there’s something for everyone in Hampi. Therefore, pack your bags and prepare for an unforgettable journey filled with rich experiences and lasting memories with our travel guide .

While Hampi is a remarkable destination, two days can provide a taste of its beauty and history. During this time, you can explore the main temples, like Virupaksha and Vithala, and enjoy bouldering and local cuisine. However, to delve deeper into its richness, consider extending your stay to 3-4 days for a more comprehensive experience.

Absolutely, Hampi is a must-visit destination. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site with awe-inspiring temples, surreal landscapes, and vibrant culture. Hampi has something to offer, whether you’re a history buff, an adventure enthusiast, or someone seeking serenity. Ensure you check for the latest travel advisories and conditions before visiting.

Hampi’s uniqueness lies in its rich historical heritage, captivating architecture, and dramatic landscape of massive boulders set against a cultural backdrop. The Virupaksha Temple, the Vithala Temple complex, and the enchanting bouldering opportunities are some of its highlights. The town’s laid-back ambience and bohemian vibes in nearby Anegundi make it unique.

Ideally, to experience the essence of Hampi, you should spend at least 3-4 days. This will allow you to explore the numerous temples, enjoy activities like bouldering, and immerse yourself in the local culture. However, you can glimpse the main attractions in 2 days if you’re on a tight schedule. Still, a longer stay is recommended for a more enriching experience.

Did you like this travel guide for Hampi? 

We have 100s more such guides on similar off-beat experiences & we send out such guides, offers, hidden gems, and trekking destinations weekly via email. Subscribe to our newsletter to get them directly into your inbox.

• travel guide
• Share via...

12 Places To Visit Around Hampi You Must See

• Updated on January 29, 2024
• India , Karnataka , Places to Visit

Hampi is a small, but beautiful temple town, lined with the ruins of historical Vijayanagara, Karnataka , State, on the banks of the river Tungabhadra. The many tourist sights in Hampi fulfill this dream world of rocks, monoliths, and ruins of antiques, and is also regarded as one of the best places to visit in Karnataka .

Table of Contents

List of Top 12 Attractions in Hampi and its Around

A perpetual current of history buffs, families, and photographers can be seen in many places to visit in Hampi . Hampi is one of the most famous historical and religious tourist sites in Indians thanks to its UNESCO World Heritage Status.

1. Vijaya Vittala Temple

Hampi, Krishna Temple is one of the most famous places in Hampi and attracts travelers with its exquisite carvings from around the globe. Krishnadevaraya was built by the temple and demonstrates its interest in culture and art.

2. Sri Virupaksha Temple

Sri Virupaksha Temple is believed to be India’s oldest temple, a temple dedicated to the Lord Virupaksha, a manifestation of Lord Shiva from the 7th century. The temple also is known by many pilgrims from across India as one of the most important religious sites in Hampi.

A big court courtyard, massive gateway towers, and other old-style buildings surround the wide campus of Virupaksha Temple and you will be overwhelmed by the sheer grandeur of it.

3. Hanuman Temple

The holy site in Hanuman is situated on the top of the Anjaneya Hill which is known as Lord Hanuman’s birthplace. Approximately 4 km from Hampi, a small boat with paddles will cross the river, then climb up the stairs to the Temple.

The serene and picturesque atmosphere of the temple offers hot springs and sunsets and makes it a beautiful place to see in and around Hampi. The sun rises and falls.

• 7 Days Karnataka Travel Package
• Mysore Ooty Kodaikanal Tour
• 4 Days Hampi Trip Itinerary
• 4 Days Mysore and Coorg Itinerary
• 8 Days Karnataka & Kerala Tour
• Karnataka & North Kerala Package
• Click More Packages for Karnataka

4. Hemakuta Hill Temple Complex

Hemakuta Hill is a majestic place lined with Hindu temples, fortified walls, and winding roads. Mula Temple Virupaksha is one of Hampi’s most popular places to visit in the Hemakuta Hill Temple complex.

5. Sasivekalu Ganesha Temple

The Sasivekalu Ganesha Temple on the south side of Hemakuta Hill is named after the resemblance of Ganesha bellies to a mustard seed locally called Sasivekalu.

It features a spectacularly built 2.4-meter Ganesha statue, which depicts a snake around the stomach of Lord Ganesha. The history is from 1506 A.D. of the majestic pavilion surrounding the Ganesha statue. This temple makes Hampi a popular tourist attraction.

6. Lakshmi Narasimha Temple

The Lakshmi Narasimha Temple, also known as the Ugra Narsimha’s sculpture, is the largest monolithic sculpture in Hampi in the ruins of Hampi. It was installed in 1528 A.D., this 6.7-meter high statue.

This was vandalized by the Mughal invasion of the Kingdom of Vijayanagara in 1565. The statue of Lord Narasimha – a Lord Vishnu incarnation, and a half lion – shows the deity in its fearsome form sitting in a cross-legged position. Read Also: 15 Reasons Why You Visit Karnataka .

7. Queen’s Bath

This was vandalized by the Mughal invasion of the Kingdom of Vijayanagara in 1565. The statue of Lord Narasimha – a Lord Vishnu incarnation, and a half lion – shows the deity in its fearsome form sitting in a cross-legged position. Also, read Famous Destinations to Visit in Karnataka in October .

8. Matanga Hill

Matanga Hill provides panoramic views of the Hampi ruins and their surroundings. You can find Veerabhadra Temple right on the top of Matanga hill after walking up the hill for about 30 minutes.

This temple has a roof that is the best place for sunrise and sunset over the magnificent scenery of this historic town of Hampi. Read Also: Top 10 Historical Monuments Sites In Karnataka .

9. Tungabhadra Dam

The Tungabhadra Dam has pure natural happiness among popular attractions in Hampi and the surrounding areas. It’s the best spot to take some nice shots from your camera, with lovely flamingos playing in the beautiful garden on one side of Tungabhadra Dam. Also, read 10 Most Famous Hill Stations in Karnataka .

• 10 Days South India Package
• South India Trip for 12 Days
• 12 Nights 13 Days South India Tour
• South India Travel Package 15 Days
• Check More Itineraries for South India

10. Krishna Temple

Hampi Krishna Temple is one of the most famous plazas in Hampi, and its exquisite carvings draw people from all over the world. Krishnadevaraya designed the temple and shared his interest in art and culture. Read Also: 10 Famous 5-Star Hotels in Karnataka .

11. Sanapur Lake

Sanapur Lake is only 5 kilometers from the island of Hippie and is surrounded by cliffs and gravel. A watering system has been created in the pool, and the cool breeze is the ideal place where to relax. Watersports like cliff jumping and boating can also be enjoyed here. Read Also: Top 10 Places to Visit in Karnataka in November .

12. Hazara Rama Temple

Another draw in Hampi that highlights the royal age is the Hazara Rama Temple. The Temple is dedicated to Lord Rama and, by photography, the walls display the essential chapters of Ramayana. Over several decades, this impressive infrastructure has attracted tourists.

Best Time to Visit Around Hampi

The best time to visit Hampi is between October and February. This is when the weather is cooler and there are fewer crowds. The temple complex is open from 6 am to 6 pm, but it’s best to arrive early in the morning to avoid the heat. March to May is the hottest time of year, so it’s best to avoid visiting during this time. June to September is the monsoon season, so there is a risk of heavy rains.

Suggested Articles:

• 20 Best Tourist Places in South India
• Top 10 facts about Hampi, Karnataka
• Hassan 10 Best Tourist Places to Visit
• 20 Best Places To Visit In South India In January
• Top 15 Destinations to See South India In April
• Top 20 Most Famous Temples of South India
• Karnataka’s Top 10 Most Popular Temples
• Top 20 Holiday Destinations near Bangalore
• Best 100 Places to Visit in India

Tusk Travel Team

Tusk Travel is dedicated to delivering precise, genuine, and reliable travel guides through a dynamic team of writers, editors, and destination experts. We aim to provide comprehensive information in its simplest form, sharing insights to influence perspectives nationwide.

Related Posts

Top 9 Most Romantic Places in Delhi

Ultimate Guide to the Top Ten Water Parks in India

Delhi Top 10 Art Galleries: Locations and Nearest Metro Guide

Top 10 Places to Visit in Mysore, Karnataka

How to Spend a Night in Goa

Top 15 Famous Historical Places in West India: A Journey Through Time

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Name  *

Email  *

Add Comment  *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Post Comment

A Complete Hampi Travel Guide 2021: Hampi Itinerary & Tips

Hampi is an incredible UNESCO World Heritage Site located by the Tungabhadra River in Karnataka, India. The ancient city’s boulder-strewn landscape delights the eye; lush paddy fields and serene lakes soothe the soul, and the timeless ruins with their impressive history and architecture amaze the mind.

Here is a Hampi travel guide with a solid itinerary to maximize your time, details of how to get there, places to stay in Hampi, how to get around and tips for your visit!

Before we start, let us tell you that the face of Hampi has changed in the last year. If you’ve read or seen any content on Hampi before landing on our Hampi travel blog, then note that Hippie Island and restaurants like Mango Tree in Hampi don’t exist anymore. Because of this, your Hampi itinerary could look a lot different from what you had initially planned. Luckily for you, this blog post is from our visit after these changes so you’ll get the most updated information.

Brief Hampi History

Hampi was the capital city of the mighty Hindu Vijayanagar Empire for over 200 years (around 1336 AD to 1565 AD) covering all of southern India south of the Tungabhadra river. The city was an important centre of trade since it controlled both cotton and spice trade routes of Southern India and traded gold, pearls, and other precious items by the kilo. The rulers fortified the kingdom and used their wealth to build an impressive city with beautiful palaces, temples, monolithic statues, markets streets, and monuments.

After the death of the empire’s greatest king, Kishnadevaraya (reigning period 1509-1529), the kingdom soon fell to the combined armies of the neighbouring Muslim rulers of the Deccan. The city was ravaged and plundered and now lies in ruins.

In around 1 CE (the era of the Ramayana) this area was called Kishkinda – the kingdom of monkeys. The Hindu God Hanuman was born in the area!

When to Visit Hampi

Hampi’s main tourist season is in winter from October to February. To avoid crowds, you can also visit in March (explore early morning and evening) and September (rains slow down and Hampi is very green). Know that in the rainy season, however, you will not be able to take a coracle ride in the Tungabhadra due to the strong current!

We have only travelled to Hampi in these off-season months and it turned out to be awesome. Lots of peace when exploring the ruins.

How to Reach Hampi

Flight: Toranagallu (11 km), Bellary (61 km) and Belgaum (191 km) are the nearest airports to Hampi. However, since flights are limited to these locations, it would be best to fly to Bangalore (351 km) and then take a bus or hire a car and drive for around 6 hours to Hampi. Book your flight here .

Car: Hampi is at a drivable distance from major cities like Bangalore (351 km or 6 hours), Hyderabad (385 km or 7.5 hours), and Panjim Goa (346 km or 8 hours). We love this method of transport and have always gone on a Hyderabad to Hampi road trip. The drive is a pleasurable one with vast fields and bouldered hills. 

Bus: You can book an overnight bus to Hampi in all cities mentioned above like Bangalore, Hyderabad and Goa. You can book this on Redbus. If living in the neighbouring town of Hospet, you can catch a local KSRTC bus to Hampi which takes about half an hour.

Train: Hospet Railway Station, located about 12 km from Hampi is the nearest station. It is directly connected to major cities like Bangalore, Hyderabad, Goa, etc. From Hospet, you can take a local bus to Hampi which takes about half an hour.

Days Required to Explore Hampi

You need a total of at least three days to see the main sights of Hampi – Two days to explore the heritage area side and one to explore the other side of the river – Anegundi, Anjaneya Hill, etc.!

Four-five days is ideal for a slower, more comfortable, visit!

Places to Stay in Hampi

To make the most of your time in Hampi, it is best to stay at a distance of 0-10 km from Hampi – the closer the better! Know that Hampi isn’t a town in itself. Locals live in a small village called New Hampi but the location doesn’t have any hotels or accommodation. So, you will have to opt for the area near Hampi or at nearby villages.

We have stayed at below given (first two) Hampi resorts and hotels and highly recommend them in terms of location.

Clarks Inn – Located in Kamalapur Town 4.7 km from Hampi’s main attractions, it makes for an ideal place to stay. Small but well-appointed rooms with an in-house restaurant and a small pool! Perfect for those who’ll spend their days exploring and look for only basic comfort in their accommodation. We booked this for only Rs.2000 per night making it a super budget stay, but per our understanding prices are not so low during season time. Check prices and book property here .

Heritage Resort Hampi – Located 7 km from Hampi, this resort is a great mid-range option for families and couples looking for a relaxed and comfortable stay amongst nature. Large rooms, great food at the restaurants, happy hours, evening entertainment, amazing greenery (lots of mango trees) and a decent-sized swimming pool make this stay option one of the most ideal resorts in Hampi. Check prices and book this property here .

Evolve Back Hampi – For the ultimate luxury, opt for this Hampi resort located 9 km away. The architecture of the resort is inspired by that of the Vijayanagar Empire. You’ll feel like you’re staying in a palace. We haven’t stayed here but would love to someday! Check prices and book property her e .

If you’re on a tight budget and don’t care much about worldly comforts, opt for a homestay. You’ll not only save money but also have an authentic local experience.

How to Get Around Hampi

Having your own set of wheels is super convenient. However, if you can’t do that, hire an auto-rickshaw for the day.

You can also opt to hire rickshaws to transport you from one location to the other but this might be more time consuming and you may not find rickshaws outside all points of interest especially if travelling out of season.

Earlier, scooters used to be available for rent, but now due to the demolition of the hippie area, we are not sure if it is possible. It would be best to enquire about scooter hire at your accommodation or ask guides in the Hampi area on Day 1.

Hampi Itinerary – 3 Days

Here is a 3-day Hampi itinerary that will help make the most of your time.

Day one’s itinerary has been written assuming you will be reaching by mid-day or morning, checking into your accommodation and stepping out only after lunch.

If you type Hampi on Google Maps, it takes you to the main Hampi area consisting of Virupaksha Temple and Hemakunta Hills. This is the area you should explore today to get a flavour of what Hampi is all about.

Park your car at the Virupaksha Temple parking or take an auto till there and start your walking adventure for the day. You won’t need a vehicle till after sunset to go back to your hotel.

Sri Virupaksha Temple

Dedicated to Virupaksha, an incarnation of Shiva, this is the most popular and probably the oldest temple in Hampi as it was built in the 7th century (most other sites were built in the 15th century). It is a must-visit for two reasons:

• It is the only working temple in main Hampi
• You get to meet and get blessings from an adorable elephant called Lakshmi.

As you approach the temple, you’ll be welcomed by a beautiful gold Gopuram. Leave your shoes on the left side of the entrance (Rs.2), buy your ticket (Rs. 25 per person), and hire a guide (Rs. 200). You’ll start at a serene courtyard, admire vegetable paintwork on the roof of the main temple, gape at a fascinating opening in the wall that works like a pinhole camera, see a charming kund, and various temples dedicated to other Hindu gods.

The visit should take about half to one hour.

Hemakuta Hills

When we think about Hampi, the Hemakuta hills is what comes to mind. It is a hilltop (made of one huge rock) dotted with several temples and smaller boulders. While the most iconic place to visit here is the Moola Virupaksha Temple just a 3-min walk from Virupaksha Temple, we say don’t sweat it. Just climb the hill and explore on your own though we must mention we love the frangipani tree at the Hemakuta Hanuman temple. Watch the sunset sitting on one of the cliffside benches (google sunset point Hemkuta) or anywhere else that appeals.

Remember the sun doesn’t set at the horizon but much above it due to the haze in the area. Don’t miss the sunset thinking you have a lot of time. Also, as soon as the sun sets, get ready to leave. If you don’t, a police guard will usher you out.

Wondering why this is important? Well after sunset, bears and leopards freely roam the Hampi area. You wouldn’t want to serve yourself as dinner to these animals 😛

Vijaya Vitthala Temple

The Vithalla Temple is dedicated to Vittala, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. It is the most popular, beautiful and fascinating structure in Hampi and attracts a significantly large crowd. Therefore, it is best visited first thing in the day.

The temple opens at 8:30 AM so ensure you’re at the parking by 8:15 AM. Since the temple complex is at a distance of about 1.3 km from the parking, you will have to choose between the two options for getting to the temple – a 15-minute walk or a golf cart ride for Rs. 10 per person. We recommend you walk to the temple visiting various sites on the way and take a golf cart when exiting to save time and energy for the rest of the day.

While walking to the temple’s entrance, you will see the Pushkarni (water tank), Guduregombe Mandapa (temple), and lastly structures that used to be a marketplace. At the entrance buy a ticket (Rs. 40 per person). Keep the ticket safely as it is used at some other sites you’ll be visiting today as well.

On entering the walled temple complex through the gopuram gate, you’ll immediately notice the stone chariot that is featured on India’s Rs. 50 notes. A marvel! Further, you’ll see the Nritya/Ranga mandapa (dance hall) that has musical pillars. When tapped, these pillars that are made of a single piece of resonant stone, make musical sounds. It’s an absolute wonder! This mandapa is shut for maintenance so you may be shown this phenomenon at another mandapa.

After your visit, check out the King’s balance nearby (300 metres) or head directly to the Queen’s Bath (in the Royal Centre) which is about 5 km from here.

The visit should take about 1-1.5 hours.

Royal Centre

Hampi is divided into two – the Royal Centre and the Sacred Centre. Today, for the first half of the day, you’ll be exploring buildings in the royal centre that houses the palaces, durbars, tanks, residences, and baths used by the royals of the empire. Start at Queen’s Bath the first building in the Royal Centre area.

Queen’s Bath

The Queen’s bath makes for a short and interesting visit. Constructed in Indo-Islamic style, the structure has a simple exterior and an ornate interior with a colossal sunken bath. Due to its distance from the royal enclosure, it is believed to be a pleasure complex. Arched corridors and ornate balconies are what makes this place worth the visit. An owl and owlets are often found inside the empty bath. An additional delight!

After exploring the bath for about 15-20 minutes, head to the Royal Enclosure located 550 metres from the Queen’s bath. Better to take your vehicle instead of walking it if you have one!

A guide is not necessarily required to explore this structure and as such, you won’t find any outside it.

Royal Enclosure

The royal enclosure was the seat of power of the Vijaynagara Empire. In its heydays, this 59000 square meter area housed 45 buildings including the great platform, durbar halls, tanks, and underground chambers.

The main places to see in the Royal Enclosure are:

Mahanavami Dibba (Great Platform) – This 3 tier 8-meter-high platform is the only structure in the enclosure that still stands as it did back then. The raised platform was used by the king to view the Navami/Dussehra celebrations. There are beautiful war carvings at the lower sidewall of the structure.

The Underground Chamber  – This is where spies were held for questioning. It is constructed in a manner that left spies wondering where they are and was made soundproof with flowing water above.

The Stepped Tank  – This is a 5-tiered super-symmetrical and aesthetic 7-metre deep tank that was used for ritual bathing before prayers by the royals. It is different from other tanks in Hampi as it is made of black schist stones to heat and purify the water.

It’ll take you about 30-45 minutes to see the above three structures. Other structures in the enclosure are absolutely ruined so we did not see them. But if you wish you see them anyway then you’ll take about an hour!

Next, proceed to the Hazara Rama Temple located 280 metres from the Royal Enclosure.

Hazara Rama Temple

The Hazara Rama temple is a small but beautiful temple that was used only by the royal family. As the name suggests, it is dedicated to Vishnu in his aspects as Lord Rama. Since the geographical area is a part of the epic Ramayana, it isn’t tough to reason why there exists a temple entirely dedicated to showcasing Ramayana stories on its walls. The pictorial stories are almost like a comic strip carved along the exteriors of the main shrine. The temple also has black marble pillars that are unlike any other in the city.

The Hazara Rama Temple will take about 20-30 minutes to explore.

Zenana Enclosure

Now, proceed 500 meters along the dirt path to the Zenana Enclosure, a fortified and secluded area for the then royal ladies including the Queen. Per our guide, this structure was primarily used to house the royal women and protect them in times of war. The area was protected by eunuchs and the only man allowed inside was the king.

The main attraction here is the Lotus Mahal built in Indo-Islamic style. You aren’t allowed to step inside which doesn’t matter much as the beauty can be appreciated from outside itself!

You’ll take about 10 minutes here.

Elephant Stables

Just through a pathway from the enclosure, located right outside it, is the famed Elephant Stable. This structure used to provide shelter to the royal elephants, clearly showing their importance in the empire. The architecture has fluted arches topped with Jain, Hindu and Muslim style domes. The secular nature of this Hindu empire was something we appreciated a lot.

You can explore the stables and just sit in the garden and relax for a bit. It will take another 15-20 minutes to explore this area.

Lunch and Relaxation

It’ll be around lunchtime by now. So, head to your hotel, grab a bite and relax for a bit before heading back to explore.

Note that all the famous restaurants you must have heard of do not exist anymore so eating at your hotel restaurant is a good option. If you don’t want to head back to the hotel, ask a guide for information on where to eat.

Lakshmi Narasimha Temple

This temple is dedicated to Lord Narasimha, one of the ten avatars of Lord Vishnu, and Goddess Lakshmi as well who was his consort. It is the largest monolith statue in Hamp – an imposing sight! You’ll take about 5-10 minutes here.

Badavilinga Temple

Located a few steps away from the Narasimha Statue is this giant shrine for Shiva. At 3 metres, it is the largest Linga in Hampi and is made of impressive black stone. Another 5-10 minutes are required to admire this structure.

Kadalekalu Ganesha

Next visit the Kadalekalu Ganesha, a 4.6-meter statue, the belly of which resembles a Bengal gram. The temple is a beautiful stone structure decorated with ornate tall granite pillars (that reminded me of Roman ruins for some reason). This Ganesha statue was worshipped by the royals.

This structure is located on Hemakuta hills 450 meters from the Narasimha statue. It will take about 10 minutes to visit.

If you’re a devout Ganesh follower or simply would like to see another Ganesh statue, then you can also visit the Sasivekalu Ganesha – a 2.4-metre high statue of Ganesha that has a snake wrapped around it (to prevent it from bursting due to over-eating per mythology). This Ganesha statue was built for the common people of the kingdom. It is located just 170 meters away from Kadalekalu so you can visit both statues with just 15 minutes to spare.

Coracle Ride on the Tungabhadra River

The coracle ride on the Tungabhadra river was our favourite experience and we’re sure you will enjoy it too. The evening is the best time for a coracle ride as the area is in shade in the evening.

The round boat (coracle) is rowed on the river between massive boulder-strewn cliffs on either side. It is incredibly serene and so hypnotising that you’ll forget you’re in present-day India. You’ll see flowing water, boulders, temples perched precariously atop these boulders and some even submerged in the water. The boatman will tell you about these temples and tell you other interesting facts about the area. Then he will ask you for permission and spin the boat. Shut your eyes and enjoy as the world rotates around you!

We only did the half an hour ride and weren’t completely satisfied, so I suggest you do the whole one hour ride.

The coracle ride costs Rs. 400 per person for half an hour and Rs. 750 per person for an hour.

Sunset at Kamalapur Lake

For sunset, just sit on the benches on the banks of Kamlapur Lake (you’ll see this from the road itself while going from Hampi to Kamalapur) and enjoy as the sun dips and the birds fly by! You’ll only be able to do this if you have your vehicle as there is no transport available in the area.

Phew, that was a long day. It feels longer than it was but for sure it will be tiring. Sleep early to be rejuvenated for the next day’s adventures.

Matanga Hill

Do a sunrise climb to Matanga Hill that has a small Veerbhadra temple at the top. The view from the hill is incredible. You’ll see vast expanses of paddy fields, mountains, scattered boulders, Hemakuta Hills with all its temples, Virupaksha Temple and Achutaraya Temple. You might also be shown a cave on your way up. The hike to Matanga hill is not to be missed!

I suggest hiring a guide for this hike since the path is not defined. As it is just through rocks, it is exposed and slippery in some areas so it is ideal to have someone knowledgeable and confident guide you up. Besides that, the hike isn’t gruelling at all! It takes 40 minutes to reach the top. You will have to start the hike between 5:30 AM-6 AM but confirm the time with your guide first. The hike back down is is a relatively easy one through proper stairs.

It is always better to do this hike at sunrise than at sunset due to the danger of bears after dark!

Have Breakfast and Change

It’ll be around 8:30 AM-9 AM by now. Go back to your hotel to change out of your sweaty hike wear and have breakfast. If you want to catch a little nap (like we did) you can do that too and head out by 10:30 AM -11 AM. You will not be coming back to the hotel until after sunset!

If you don’t care about hotel breakfast, then explore Achyutara temple (below) first before going back to change, as it is located right beside Matanga Hill.

Achyutaraya Temple

We didn’t visit this temple ourselves (despite plenty of requests to our guide), however, it is a great place to visit as far as I know. It is a temple dedicated to Lord Tiruvengalanatha, a form of Vishnu. The pillars and walls of the temple have exquisite carvings and ornamentation. The temple is secluded so few people visit!

Park your car/ get off at the Virupaksha Temple parking. Now head toward the opposite side of Virupaksha temple. You’ll see the Hampi Bazaar on either side and the Monolithic Bull at the base of the hill before heading to explore the temple. The visit will take an hour or so.

Note that this temple cannot be visited after 5 pm as leopards have often been stopped after that time, so visiting during the daytime is ideal!

Lunch at Baba Café

Head to the other side of the river for a relaxing lunch at Baba café. This café is reminiscent of the hippie island days with a similar vibe. Due to it’s awesome location amongst nature, the cafe makes for a great place to have some beer and international fare.

Attractions around Anegundi

Visit temples at Anegundi only if you’re religious or into the Ramayana. We only visited these because our guide had planned today’s itinerary with no interference from us. As per us, these temples are not architecturally beautiful – just regular temples.  

• Chinthamani Temple: Chintamani Temple is a Shiva Temple visited by Ramayana enthusiasts. It is the spot from where Ram aimed and shot his arrow to kill Baali during his fight with Sugreev. The temple is worth considering for all due to its epic location beside the Tungabhadra.
• Pampa Sarovar Temple: Pampa Sarovar is a sacred lake for Hindus – one of the 5 sacred lakes (Panch Sarovar) in Hindu mythology. The temple is constructed where Pampa (a form of Parvati) punishes herself to show her dedication to Shiva. If you’re not into mythology, consider visiting only from November to December when lotuses are in full bloom at Pampa Sarovar Lake.
• Anegundi Fort: The Anegundi with its many gates, tombs and temples (Ganesha Cave Temple and Durga Temple) is a sprawling fort that once used to guard the region.

Another famous spot is Sanapur Lake. Again, we did not find it worth the visit. This is where cliff jumping took place. However, per our guide cliff jumping is now banned as several people have lost their lives while at it. If you wish to cliff jump, do ask the locals before attempting it. We did a coracle ride here too but it paled in comparison to the one on the Tungabhadra. Do a coracle ride here only in the Monsoons when coracle rides in the Tungabhadra are not possible due to the strong current.

You can do all the things mentioned above if they appeal to you. Else, simply drive around the area through lush paddy fields. This is the bit I loved. Riding a bike here (if available) is an excellent option!

Anjaneya Hill

This hill is known to be the birthplace of Lord Hanuman! There is a Hanuman Temple on top of the hill which takes about 2 hours to climb through a well-defined shaded path. Check the sunset time on google and start your hike up well in time to be able to explore the temple and see a spectacular sunset from the top!

This brings us to the end of the three days Hampi itinerary. If you have more time on hand you can consider visiting the  Krishna Temple near Kamalapur, the Underground Shiva Temple  or the  Tungabhadra Dam  at a distance of 27 km from Hampi. The dam’s premises has a Japanese style garden that makes for a pleasant visit.

Read our post on the 25 best places to visit in and around Hampi for more details or options for things to do.

Hampi Travel Tips

Photography : Drones, tripods, high-resolution cameras, and any out of the ordinary camera equipment is not allowed at Hampi’s sites. We carried our DSLR without issues, however. You aren’t even allowed to sketch, paint or draw at the sites. Per our knowledge, you can do all of this on the other side of the river – Anegundi and surrounds.

Guide : Hire a guide to understand the ancient ruins better. A full day guide cost around 2000 per day but due to COVID, some may ask about 1500 per day. However, while they make navigating the ruins of Hampi a breeze and make you understand the structures better, they also kind of put pressure on you to hurry up in order to show you as much as possible.

If you’re okay with that, do use full day guides. Honestly, we felt it was a bit rushed. 

Photographers, bloggers and vloggers would be better off hiring guides at specific structures. Follow this itinerary and hire guides at Vithalla Temple, Royal Center, and for the Matunga Hill hike. 

When hiring one, ensure he/she speaks your language fluently. Ours wasn’t very fluent in English or Hindi so sometimes it got very difficult to understand what he was explaining.

Google Maps : Download offline maps of the area on Google Maps to navigate easily. The internet is quite sketchy in Hampi.

Cash : Keep cash on you to pay for things like tender coconut, sugar cane juice, entry tickets, guide hire, coracle ride etc. While UPI is widely accepted, it doesn’t work a lot of times because of bad internet.

Shoes : Wear comfortable walking or sport shoes as you’ll be walking all day and hopefully even hiking. 

Clothes : Wear comfortable clothing in Hampi. There are no restrictions on what you wear to temples. However, it will be better to dress appropriately (cover midriff and knees) to not hurt the religious sentiments of worshippers. 

Day Bag Items : Important things to carry in your day bag for exploring Hampi:

• Sunscreen : Physical sunscreen without a white cast
• Some light snacks to eat in case you get hungry midway – We always carry Whole Truth Minis for a quick but healthy bite.
• A filled reusable water bottle (at least one each per person). We particularly like collapsible bottles to save space or the thermos type bottlesto keep water cold .
• A reusable straw for drinks on the trip. Think tender coconut and sugar cane juice. Yum!

Hope this Hampi travel guide mentions all that you were looking for. Comment below if you thought our Hampi travel blog post was helpful. Also, do tell us if we are missing any information you’d like mentioned in the post.

Pin It For Later

This blog post on the ‘Hampi Travel Guide and Hampi Itinerary’ has affiliate links that enable us to earn a small commission when you make a purchase, with no extra cost to you. We only recommend products and activities we like and those that might interest you. If you like any suggested product, do buy from the given links.

1 thought on “A Complete Hampi Travel Guide 2021: Hampi Itinerary & Tips”

Nice blog about hampi, worth reading your blog. Nice information you have provided about hampi. If you want stay in this beautiful place, connect with us to book a luxurious stay at evolveback hampi

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Timeless Places to See in Hampi, Karnataka – India’s Unforgettable Ruins

Lost in the lost kingdom of Hampi 

Everyone travels to Hampi, one of the best places to travel in Karnataka and a UNESCO World Heritage site, to see the ruins of the ancient Vijayanagar empire. They say Vijayanagar was once the richest empire in the world. But I didn’t visit Hampi just to see the ruins. My favorite part about Hampi was the nature that cradles Hampi in her lap as if sympathizing with her for the tragedies the empire suffered.

Also, this was not my first time in Hampi, and I was better informed about the place.

My first trip to Hampi from Bangalore was about a few years ago. Back then I had made a list of places to see in Hampi that included the main Hampi attractions such as the Virupaksha temple, the Vitthala temple, and the other ruins that form the groups of monuments at Hampi. That was a three-day Hampi trip from Bangalore that only left me wanting to see more of this archaeological wonder of the South.

When I traveled to Hampi the second time recently, I didn’t make a Hampi itinerary. Why?

When you Google search about Hampi, you are bound to get overwhelmed by the number of things to do in Hampi. Hampi images filled with historical buildings and unbelievable boulder arrangements amidst a lush spread of fat palm and tall coconuts would not only leave you amazed but bewildered.

I hear you.

Must Read : Finding Sloth Bears in Daroji Bear Sanctuary, Hampi

Please do not think that Hampi is the playground of Indiana Jones and that you won’t be ever able to see all the best places in Hampi.

The trick to enjoy Hampi is that don’t be meticulous about a “things to see” list and instead let yourself go with the flow . And mind you, you would never be able to see all of Hampi in a few days.

After reading the history of Hampi and a couple of the places to see around Hampi, I realized that the best way to explore Hampi is to get lost in Hampi.

I booked a beautiful cottage in the Sanapur area of Hampi (treated myself a little bit on my birthday), which is far off from the mainstream Hampi, and soon we set off on a Bangalore to Hampi road trip.

Also read: If you love nature, you should consider going to Parvati Valley in Himachal Pradesh, India

Statutory Warning: Such dosa pictures are going to pop up frequently in this Hampi guide so better get used to them. Or close this tab but where will you go then? 😉

What can you expect in this places to visit in Hampi travel guide?

• About the Bangalore to Hampi road trip.
• Where is Hampi and the History of Hampi.
• What are the places to see in Hampi

What are the different ruins in Hampi?

• Day one in Hampi.
• Day Two in Hampi.
• Day Three in Hampi.
• Day Four in Hampi.
• What is the best time to visit Hampi?
• How to reach Hampi?
• How to reach Hampi from Bangalore?

What clothes can you wear in Hampi, India?

• Which area to choose for staying in Hampi?
• What are the places to stay in Hampi?
• Optional – Books to read to prepare for your Hampi trip.

But not staying limited to the most recommended things to do in Hampi, I would take you on offbeat Hampi trails, too.

We would wander together in Hampi villages watching wild langur families drink water from tiny streams, admiring the sparrows that frolic around in lush paddy, taking a moment to appreciate the cows resting with their calves outside homes, petting the cat and kittens and dogs and puppies that are never prepared for a car in the village streets, gorging on yummy dosas that the local food shops will never let you have enough of, and gazing down on the lost kingdom of Hampi from the top of tall Hampi hills.

Oh, did I mention that Hampi is also a great place to chill by the Tungabhadra river or see sloth bears eat jaggery off boulders ?

I don’t know what is not there in Hampi.

Are you ready?

You can jump to the history of Hampi and Hampi itinerary directly. 

About the trip from Bangalore to Hampi by car

Even though my  nomadic lifestyle helps me travel slow and use public transport, I often return to Bangalore to be with my partner and meet my friends. And we often rent a car to go on a road trip from Bangalore as the amazing places to see near Bangalore are the best part of being in the city.

Karnataka (where Hampi and Bangalore both are) is a good state to drive for the roads are well-made, and palm and coconut trees fringe them on both sides.

On your way from Bangalore to Hampi by road, you will also get to see the infinite windmills dotted on the horizon making the drive pretty surreal after a while.

Bangalore to Hampi distance is about 340 km via NH50 and NH48. Thanks to the good roads, we did the drive in 6 hours (excluding the time we stopped to eat and relax).

On the way, we stopped at local Udupi and Shiv Sagar restaurants to stuff ourselves with crunchy dosas and soft idlis.

I mean how can you not. Have you looked at one of these crispy goodnesses?

Suggested Read: Road trip from Bangalore to Coorg – Another cultural and natural heaven of Karnataka

Something you need to know about the  road trip from Bangalore to Hampi   — You will have to pay at many tolls so keep that cash ready. 

How was the road trip back from Hampi to Bangalore? 

Gorgeous. If you are not in a rush, stop at one of the many dhabas in Tumkur and eat some dal rice and onion pakora. I bet you won’t regret the half an hour stop. 

Where is Hampi and Hampi history

Hampi is located on the banks of the river Tungabhadra in east Karnataka. Once the capital of the rich Vijayanagar empire in South India, Hampi is now known for the more than 1600 ruins, sculptures, and relics that have been discovered over centuries on either above the land or excavated from under the earth.

But how did these artifacts and historical monuments came to Hampi in the first place?

Many versions of the history of Hampi fill the internet. Also, Hampi has been mentioned innumerable times in Hindu mythology.

According to the  Hindu Puranas , the goddess Parvati (also known as Pampa) meditated on the Hemakuta hills in Hampi to persuade Lord Shiva to marry her. The Hampi river which we call Tungabhadra came to be known as the Pampa river. The Sanskrit word Pampa together with the Kannada word Hampa became Hampi. ( I don’t know what Hampa means, do you?)

In the  Kishkindha Kaannd of Ramayana (one of the many chapters of Ramayana), Hampi is suggested to be the place where Ram met the monkey king Sugreev and asked his help to free his wife Sita from Ravana’s captivity. The Matunga hill, where I will later send you to see a stunning sunset, is known to be the place where Ram crowned Sugriv as the king.

Relics and sculptures excavated at Hampi support these stories.

An insider tip — while you explore the ruins of Hampi, see the engravings, sculptures, and paintings on the walls of these remains closely. Most of them have Ram and Sita or Parvati and Shiva’s beautiful figurines carved out of stone. 

Relics dating as old as 3rd century BCE, some of them from the Ashoka empire, have been excavated in Hampi making us wonder since when has this place been inhabited by people from around the world.

But this is the story of an ancient Hampi. Post the mythological era, Hampi was the capital of at least four dynasties one of them being the Vijayanagar empire that made Hampi their capital in the 14th century. 

Insider Information: Anegundi, a tiny village that not many people even visit now, was the earlier capital.

The rulers of the Vijayanagar empire who were passionate about art, architecture, and literature  built many engraved and remarkable temples and other structures around Hampi.

The history and excavations say that  Hampi city was one of the world’s grandest cities filled with riverside markets, rich trade centers, stunning temples, and agricultural farms. Persian and Portuguese traders visited Hampi frequently to get a chunk of the trade hub of the world. 

But for how long could such a prosperous city protect herself? In the 15th century, Muslim looters and plunderers invaded the Vijayanagar empire, filled their caravans with all the gold and diamond they could get, and left Hampi in ruins.

Women committed  Jauhar to save themselves from the invaders, and we were only left with history. 

Though Vijayanagara kingdom wasn’t the only one who added to the Hampi heritage and many other dynasties contributed to the relics, now all those creations are scattered around the 16 square miles of the Hampi ruins area – these ruins form the Hampi Unesco site or the group of monuments at Hampi that attracts more than half a million tourists every year. 

Only in the 19th century did the lost kingdom of Hampi was found again by Alexander Greenlaw, a British East-India company soldier who photographed the ruins and Hampi found its way on a historian’s and a traveler’s map when the prints became popular later on. (I have heard that those prints can be found in the office of the Deccan Heritage Foundation.)

With so much to see, Hampi is nothing but stories written in stones.

Another place to visit in India if you love history and old monuments – Nawabi places to see in Hyderabad in 3 days

A question — Did you know that excessive mining of iron-ore and manganese has started to endanger the ancient sculptures at Hampi?

What are the places to see in Hampi?

This question is subjective as the things you see or do in Hampi depends on the time you have there. Traveling to Hampi for a month? That’s great, and the upcoming Hampi activities and places that I will talk about can keep you busy even for a month.

Going to Hampi for a day or a few days? I would say that o ne day in Hampi is not enough. I was in Hampi for about five days out of which I was doing honest Hampi sightseeing (if that’s a thing) for about four days.

But you don’t have to see it all for rather than worrying that you can’t see it all you have to have a great time exploring this marvelous gem of South India. I am going to talk about the things that I enjoyed doing and the places that I loved in Hampi below. You can choose one or many out of them as you like.

And if you ask me for the best p laces to visit in Hampi in one day, I would say that visit the Virupaksha and other temples nearby that I will describe on my day 3. See temples for half a day, relax by the riverside for some time, and then climb up the Matunga hill for a perfect sunset.

What about the places to visit in Hampi in two days? To spend two days in Hampi, you can take up any of my two days from the itinerary below. As per your priorities and places you like, mix up a few things to see in Hampi.

Suggested Read: Road trip from Bangalore to Panchapalli Dam and Bettamugilalam Village

Before moving onto possible itineraries let’s understand the ruins structure.

Hampi has three main ruins — the sacred ruins that are the main temples (Virupaksha, Vitthala, Achutharaya, and more) spread around the river, the urban ruins that are mostly from the Vijayanagar empire and cover a big complex — the lotus mahal, elephant stable, and the queen’s bath all are part of it, and the third is the riverside Hampi ruins that are scattered around the river in small sculptures, on boulders, and in hidden carvings.

When I visited Hampi, the riverside ruins were submerged underwater so I can only talk about the sacred and the urban ruins. 

What is the best way to trace these ruins?

In my day to day Hampi itinerary in the next section, I am listing down a few trails that I followed because they felt natural to walk.

Please note – I am not providing a trail map here as you can find one easily at your hotel or at the various Hampi tourist attractions. You can also click a picture of the Hampi monuments map at one of the ruins. I walked and kept finding the way to the next ruins and didn’t follow any map. Do what feels natural and easier for you. 

Choose a trail or a ruins area and off you go. Carry water, sunscreen, wear comfortable clothes, and simple footwear. 

Day 1 in Hampi 

Exploring the area around my cottage near the Sanapur lake, driving around in the villages of Hampi, lunch at Gangavathi, and climbing up Durga temple. 

I started my  Hampi trip by exploring the paddy fields and climbing up boulder hills around my stay in Hampi. I was staying near the Sanapur lake for I liked that area. More details on my choice of place and cottage are in the best place to stay in Hampi section below.

The Sanapur lake is popular for cliff jumping, but as I am still a novice swimmer, I walked around the lake and watched the idyllic boatmen chill next to their coracles. If you go cliff jumping, don’t get scared by the crocodile warning side on the lake for that is just to scare drunk men who have been known to jump in the lake for fun.

What about these giant boulders that you see scattered in Hampi?

Those are local granite boulders that have formed due to the erosion happening for millions of years that has transformed rocks into spherical boulders. Even a sister place of Hampi known as Ramanagra has similar granite boulders  off which Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra jump around freely in the movie Sholay. 

By looking at the Hampi boulder scene, you would also agree with my idea that Physics students should be brought to Hampi to do some real-life friction understanding. 

Before heading off to any ruins, we took our car for a spin in the Hampi villages and drove by lush paddy fields that were the playgrounds of gorgeous langurs and sparrows. 

When we got really hungry we made our way to Gangavathi, a small town near Hampi, for some heavy lunch, and then climbed onto the top of the Durga temple to digest the peppery mushrooms and spicy dal. 

After climbing some stairs and avoiding the guide who wanted to force his guidance upon us, we walked further up and watched the sunset from the top of the Durga temple. (I have nothing against guides but if they push too much, I never hire them.)

From up there you can see Pampa Sarovar, other temples, river Tungabhadra, and green paddy spread in chess-like squares all over Hampi. We watched the sunset from the top and then called it a day.

Summarizing what you can do on your day one in Hampi — Take it slow. Try to absorb the place for it’s quite random, to be frank. A lovely random though. 

Depending on where you are staying, drive or walk around green fields, watch nature do its thing, climb on the top of a hill, any hill, to watch the sunset and see Hampi from a bird’s eye view. This top view of Hampi will give you a good idea of how the ruins are spread or rather how the city is spread, and then when you explore it the next day, you won’t feel so overwhelmed. 

Another unusual landscape of India that you might like – Spiti Valley, Indian Himalayas

Day 2 in Hampi – Things to do in Hampi on your second day

Immersing in local food and admiring the Indian sloth bears in the Daroji Bear Sanctuary.

First things first. A few crispy dosas filled with spicy potatoes fried in curry leaves and a couple of plates of idli at a local food shop in Virupapur Gaddi helped us start our day. 

Soon we headed off to the Daroji Bear Sanctuary that was an hour away from Virupapur Gaddi and half an hour away from Kamalapur (if you are staying there). 

If you have less time and want to see the ruins first, just skip to what I did on the third day in Hampi for that is a ruin-filled day. 

Did you know that most of the caves within the intriguing Hampi boulders housed many leopards and bears when Hampi was reduced to a jungle and not many people visited or lived there? Now the animals have been restricted to national parks such as Daroji bear sanctuary. 

The ruins of Hampi  and the surrounding mischievous area that could have been straight out of an Ashoka war movie was once dense with Indian sloth bears, leopards, and wild boars. Over time, Hampi became popular, visitors started coming in, tourism helped people to settle down in the villages, and the animals became a threat to humans and vice-versa.

The wild animals were moved and restricted to the Daroji bear sanctuary that lies about forty-minutes away from Hampi and is one of the most-recommended yet offbeat places to visit near Hampi.

If you love wildlife, you should go to Daroji but not at 2 pm as many of the articles recommend. Though the sanctuary is open since 2 pm, you won’t see sloth bears that early for they only come out to eat around the evening when the weather is cooler. 

The staff of the sanctuary puts liquid jaggery and honey on many rocks in the park. Around 5 in the evening, you would see sloth bears venture out and lick the sweets off the rocks. 

Recommended Read: Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary, Hampi – Home of Indian Sloth Bear

Dinner was at a local place called Manju cafe which comes up as Mango Cafe in Google. Nice place run by a local lady but it is only for people who are in the Sanapur/Anegundi side. Here is the Google maps location for Manju cafe. 

There is a small Muslim shrine in front of the shop so you can also have a look at the religious rituals. I was in Hampi at the Muharram time and could see a regular rush of the devotees at the shrine.

Summarizing what you can do on your day two in Hampi — Eat and watch adorable sloth bears eat, too. 

Day 3 of Hampi itinerary

Ruin-Filled day.

This is when I finally went to the main ruins near the Tungabhadra river. 

As I was staying in Sanapur, going to Hampi sacred ruins or the main temples along the river bank meant always crossing over the Tungabhadra river and also the many villages of Hampi. Tungabhadra was at a high level in September when I visited for the monsoon had just finished its job, and ferries and coracles weren’t allowed to cross the river. 

So we drove straight off to the other side of the river and parked at Virupaksha temple . 

Virupaksha, a temple dedicated to Shiva as Virupaksha is another name of Shiva, is one of the most popular and revered temples in Hampi that has been there since the 7th century.

I won’t go into the many geometrical alignments of the temple but I can tell you that the grandeur of this temple blew away my mind (and I have seen a lot of temples). I am not a temple fan but when I witness a temple like Virupaksha, I know that I have seen one of the many manmade unique creations that would never be made again for the first time. 

The tower you see in the picture is only the first Gopuram(tower) and you will see another tall Gopuram one when you go inside. But first, you will pass through a courtyard, a three-headed Nandi bull, intricately carved stone pillars, langurs eating off bananas, and a plethora of people who come to Virupaksha to pray.  

There is also an inverted shadow of the gopuram inside the temple whose creation nobody has been able to figure out. 

As you walk further ahead and arrive at the backside of the temple, you can find the banana fields of Virupaksha that support the temple expenses. I loved that backyard with more wild monkeys, huge trees, stone-pillared columns, and an amazing view over the Tungabhadra. How it would have been to live there in the 14th century with all that prosperity?

Virupaksha also has an elephant that I didn’t see and, maybe for the good, as I don’t support the idea of keeping animals in captivity. Hate me as much as you can, but I can never justify keeping an animal restricted. 

From the back of Virupaksha, you can walk up to the Hemakuta hills which is where they say Parvati prayed to Shiva. And soon the views change and you see the two gopurams of Virupaksha in a row like dazzling pillars of gold standing tall above everyone. Indian classical music echoes in the area so you might want to sit down for a bit and soak in all the energy. 

I had left my slippers in front of the Virupaksha so while I ran around admiring the views my feet sizzled.

Insider tip – If you want to climb up Hemakuta hills, first get out of the Virupaksha mandir and then go there.

Also, as you get out of Virupaksha and walk straight ahead, you see the directions towards Hampi bazaar which was empty when I visited. I walked along another one of stone-arcaded galleries to find myself at signboards that marked Vitthala and Achyutharaya temple. 

I could have gone straight to the staircase that seemed tempting or towards the Matunga hill that stood on the right, but I turned towards the Vitthala temple trail. The 1.5-2 km walk alongside the river would have been pretty beautiful but water from the Tungabhadra had flown into the pavement, and I had to turn around again.

This time I took a mud trail on the right side of the path that brought me out at the monolith Nandi. From there I took the stairs up to arrive at the Achyutaraya temple.

As you can see in this picture every sight was getting prettier so I sat down for a while, read about Hampi, and then continued walking. Strolling under the shades of the stone-corridors supported by some 80 columns, I was in the complex of Vitthala temple.

Vitthala temple is popular for its musical pillars and stone chariot, and I didn’t spend enough time exploring and understanding the two. Until the next time then. 

From the Vitthala temple, I continued walking to many more temples and, finally, I was at the rowdy riverfront again that restricted us from walking on. 

When the river wouldn’t be flooded, you can go back to the Virupaksha the same way but I had to retrace the entire way. 

Insider tip: Have lunch at one of the local stalls in the Virupaksha parking space, The ladies there make fresh food and serve it with a smile. And outside Virupaksha temple, you can fill your water bottles from the filter machine. Two rupees for two liters. 

In the evening, we drove to the Urban set of ruins that encloses Queen’s bath, the Mahanavami platform, stepped tanks, and many other scattered ruins nearby.

While roaming around in the ruins, you will see a number of stepped tanks that were made to bathe in the royal era. 

The boundary walls that you can see in the image hold water ducts that are coming away from far off, and one can imagine if Tungabhadra was directly brought into the bathing stone pools. 

Don’t miss driving by or walking randomly to the top of a hill to watch the sunset. Matunga hill could be your choice for this day as you are in the area. We were pretty tired and a bit away from the Matunga hill so we just watched the sunset along some paddy fields. 

Summarizing the places to visit around Hampi on your third day — Though this was a long day, I loved every bit of the Hampi World Heritage site. But make sure you slow down near the sunset as Hampi sunsets are better than you have seen them at a lot of places.

READ NEXT: If you are road tripping in karnataka, do consider traveling to the  Kali Adventure Camp on the Kali river  in the Dandeli wildlife sanctuary. Ain’t not many places like these.

Day 4 of the Hampi trip – Things to see in Hampi when you have had an idea of Hampi.

Ruins and local food, but a slower day. 

We started off this day slowly and first enjoyed a late breakfast in Kamalapur only to go to Virupaksha temple side again (the previous day we had left Hemakuta hills early as our feet was burning).

Hiking up the Hemakuta hills for the second time was worth it for the panoramic views of Hampi from up there. (the featured image is clicked from the top of the Hemakuta hills.)

While coming down, you would come to another large complex of the Urban ruins and encompasses the two popular Ganesh – that is the Kadalekalu Ganesh and the Sasivekalu Ganesh.  

Insider tip – As you get down from the hill of Kadalekalu Ganesh, you will see a map of the ruins of that area. Remember to click a picture of that map and keep it with you. 

Now you can either choose to explore the ruins in the surrounding area or go to some other ruins. We drove to the Queen’s bath ruins area for we wanted to explore that more. 

After walking around in that area, hiking random hills to find scattered ruins, climbing up some temples on the way, we went to Lotus Mahal, the elephant stables, and the other temples that share the large complex of the stables. 

You will also find a big Hanuman idol in one of these complexes. 

Though we saw a lot of popular Hampi sites that day, my favorite was the scattered and unpopular sculptures and engravings that we discovered just by taking random turns on the hills.

Summarizing what to do in Hampi on your fourth day — Choose an area and explore more ruins. The space around Queen’s bath is a good place to start. 

I hope I have given you enough places to choose from on your Hampi trip so that you can make your own itinerary.

But remember that Hampi cannot be seen or even understood in one trip. When I researched the places around Hampi while writing this Hampi travel blog,  I found so many ruins that I hadn’t seen, wall paintings or sculptures that I had missed, or hilltops that I hadn’t climbed for I was already exhausted from the day’s explorations.

Well, there is always a second time.

Related Read:  Belligundi waterfall, literally silver falls, in Sharavathi valley, Karnataka  could be your next place to visit if you are in Karnataka and love to go on hidden paths in dense jungles.

While driving back to Bangalore, we stopped in Hospet at a place called Sai idli (in front of the Shan Bagh hotel) that our cottage owner had told us about. The place makes the softest idlis I have had to date.

What is the best time to visit Hampi?

I would be a bit biased while telling you about the best time to see Hampi for I went to Hampi in September when the rain gods had left Hampi lush and Tungabhadra overflown. The velvety greenery of the place after the rich monsoon, the cool weather with the hints of receding rains, and the occasional light showers added a romantic hue to Hampi. 

But because Tungabhadra was gushing in full flurry, you couldn’t go from one side of the river to the other just by a coracle; riverside ruins were submerged, and many places were closed down. 

Having said that, local places were functional and serving food, prices were down, Hampi wasn’t crowded, and overall the weather was just a cherry on the top. 

If you don’t want to visit Hampi just post-monsoon, you can choose to go there anytime from October to February/March post which Hampi would be too hot. 

How to reach Hampi, Karnataka?

Hampi by air — Hubli is the nearest airport to Hampi. At a distance of 164 km, you would take about 4.5 hours to reach Hampi by taxi or self-drive car.

You can also take a bus from Hubli to Hampi. Hop on to  Redbus  to book a bus from Hubli to Hampi or Hospet and Kamalapur — nearby towns and villages to Hampi. Even though Redbus shows Hampi as the bus dropping point, I am not sure if the bus takes you to the main Hampi area. Do check with the bus operator when you board the bus. 

Hampi by road — Either you can take a car and drive to Hampi from where you are. We drove to Hampi from Bangalore in about 6 hours.

Hampi by bus — Or you can also take a bus to Hampi or the nearby towns Hospet and Kamalapur. Check for the tickets on  Redbus .

Hampi by train — Nearest railway station to Hampi is the Hospet station that is about 11 km from Hampi. Go to  Irctc to book a ticket for Hospet. Hospet to Hampi is about half an hour’s journey.

How to reach Hampi from Bangalore? How to go to Hampi from Bangalore? How far is Hampi from Bangalore? What is Hampi to Bangalore distance?

Please see the Bangalore to Hampi road trip section to find answers to most of these questions.

Apart from driving to Hampi, you can also take a direct bus from Bangalore to Hampi. Or get into a train and get down at the Hospet railway station and then make your way to Hampi with a taxi or an auto-rickshaw (I have heard tuk-tuks connect these two places). 

Irrespective of common thinking, you are not expected to wear traditional clothes in Hampi. If you like Indian clothes, then feel free to wear them, but you don’t have to feel obliged to dress in Indian attire.

But as Hampi is a religious center and some people might find a very-short clothing offensive, I suggest a normal t-shirt/top and skirt or cotton pants/jeans would do no harm.

Which area to choose for staying in Hampi? From where would you be closest to the best places to visit in Hampi?

Along with the main ruins area, Hampi has many connecting villages and, so, naturally many places to stay. 

Some people choose to stay near the Hampi ruins and the main temples that we saw above. But I stayed on the other side of the Tungabhadra river, away from the Hampi main group of monuments.

Why? I love staying in areas away from the tourist action especially if I have a commute such as a beautiful car. 

Amongst the many places to stay near Hampi such as Kamalapur, Anegundi, and Hanumanhalli, I chose the Sanapur area for that is lush green. 

Sanapur was close to the villages of Anegundi, Virupapur Gaddi, Pampa Sarovar, Hanuman temple, Durga temple, and the Anjaneya Hill which I never climbed for I felt it was too crowded (rows of cars parked outside). I have heard that the views from the top of the Anjaneya hill are amazing, so now I am happy that I have a reason to go to Hampi again. 

Oh, they say that Virupapur Gaddi is the Hippie island of Hampi. But I didn’t choose Sanapur for its proximity to the Hippie island as I wasn’t planning to go there. 

My experience with hippie places is that you seldom get local and cheap food there. People live in their own world within the destination and go out to experience the place only to return to that world. But I wanted to be part of the real and local Hampi. 

Nature helped for in September, the time I went to Hampi, rains had overfilled Tungabhadra to the extent that she had overflown out of her basin to submerge most of the Hippie island. The road from Virupapur Gaddi to hippie island was also submerged; If the great man who sits in his restaurant just opposite the submerged road hadn’t warned us, we would have landed in the water instead of cutting a birthday cake later (hippie island has more bars and restaurants where we wanted to be for a small celebration on my birthday).

Hippie island might never open again for it violates the rules of UNESCO preserved places – you cannot have any construction within a particular radius of a UNESCO site.

A note to the authorities — Pease put a signboard on dangerous roads warning the people not to go any further. 

Sanapur was a great area to stay if your priorities are similar to mine. When you go towards Sanapur, you will see rolling paddy fields on both sides, palm trees will sway in a distance, dogs, and cats won’t buzz from the streets, kittens and puppies would play on the road, wild langurs will walk by casually, and steamy idly will make you so idyllic that world would seem like a good place again. 

Oh, if by chance you visit Hampi in the monsoon, the rain will wash away your leftover worries, in case there was any left.

What are the best places to stay in Hampi?

Update April 2024 : I stayed at the gorgeous Hotel Gowri in Hampi. I don’t recommend it anymore. On a recent stay in March 2024, I wanted to run away from the guesthouse, so poorly managed and malfunctioning it was.

Here are some of the other places to stay in Hampi. 

Places to stay that are away from the main Hampi. 

Hostel Wayfarers Hampi — Wayfarers seem a clean, hassle-free hostel with mix bunk and female dorm rooms, double room with a balcony, and tents next to the riverside. Located close to Anegundi so away from the main Hampi, this hostel has a restaurant and bar at the property though don’t expect any local food here. 

See the prices and book Wayfarers  here . Do opt for an airport shuttle while checking out if you are coming to Hampi by air. 

Places to stay near the Hampi ruins area. 

Gopi Guest House – Gopi is a place for people looking for simple and clean rooms near the Virupaksha temple and in the main Hampi ruins area. 

Gopi guest house comes with a rooftop with views of the river and a restaurant. 

See the prices and book Gopi guest house  here .

Archana Guest House river view — Located near the main temple ruins, Archana Guest House has double rooms with beautiful views over the river from the restaurant and room balconies. 

See the room prices and book Archana Guest House  here .

Shankar Homestay — If you are new to the Hampi area or India altogether, I would recommend staying at Shankar homestay for they have got amazing host reviews. 

Even though rooms do not have panoramic views of the river and the temples, set amidst a farmhouse Shankar homestay could be the nature break you are looking for. Only 2-3 km away from the main temples, Shankar homestay has double rooms and some of them come with a terrace. 

See the prices and book Shankar homestay Hampi  here  on Booking.

Stay options in Hampi for the Luxury lovers. 

Clarks Inn Hampi – Clarks Inn is a hotel located in the Kamalapur town of Hampi. Clarks Inn comes with a range of amenities to make you feel comfortable such as toiletries, hairdryers, wifi, hot shower, kettle in the room, et cetera. 

Check the prices of Clarks Inn and book it  here .  

Hyatt, Hampi – Located at a distance of about one hour from the main Hampi area, Hyatt is located in the Bellary district. Hyatt is always a recommended option for people who love to stay in comfort and choose a luxurious stay for their families. 

Hyatt comes with an outdoor swimming pool, a fitness center, and an all-day dining room. Go  here  to see the prices and book your stay in Hyatt. 

Books to read if you want to understand Hampi further

• H. Longhurst’s 1920s publication  Hampi Ruins Described and Illustrated  
• Hampi: A Story in Stone by John Fritz and George Michell
• Where Kings and Gods Meet: The Royal Centre at Vijayanagara, India by John M. Fritz ,  George Michell ,   M. S. Nagaraja Rao  
• New Light on Hampi: Recent Research at Vijayanagara by John Fritz and George Michell
• Hampi Research pdf published by Shodhganga gives a good historical summary of Hampi

Looking for historical places in Karnataka?  Go through these  Karnataka destinations  collected from my (scattered) ten years in the state.

Would you love to get lost in Hampi? Still confused about what to see in Hampi? Let me know in the comments.

Like my guide? Please pin it!

Want similar inspiration and ideas in your inbox? Subscribe to my free weekly newsletter "Looking Inwards"!

6 thoughts on “Timeless Places to See in Hampi, Karnataka – India’s Unforgettable Ruins”

Such a lovely collection of your experiences ! Very rich with detail and I experienced almost all of this during my visit to Hampi 🙂

Hi Arthy, I am glad you had a great time in Hampi.

what an extensive guide!! love your wrriting and also the pics

Thanks, Amruta 🙂

Wow, such a comprehensive guide. Never know about this place before. Thanks for sharing!

You are most welcome. Have fun there 🙂

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

• Tour Enquiry
• Sign up | Login
• My Bookings
• New User? Sign-up
• Domestic Tours
• South India
• Maharashtra
• Golden Triangle
• North India
• North East India
• International
• Maldives (Discontinued)
• All Domestic Tours
• All International Tours
• Offbeat Tours
• Domestic Cruise Tours
• Jungle Lodges by JLR
• Kabini River Lodge
• Bandipur Safari Lodge
• JLR Kings Sanctuary
• River Tern Lodge
• Kali Adventure Camp
• Hampi Heritage & Wilderness Resort
• K Gudi Wilderness Camp
• Car Rentals
• Destinations
• Tourist Places on Drive
• Driving Directions
• * Workation
• * Tour Plans
• List Property
• Places to Visit in Hampi

25 Top Tourist Places to Visit in Hampi

• Hampi Overview
• Top 25 Places to Visit in Hampi
• 11 Best Hampi Tour Packages
• Top Resorts in Hampi
• Best Time to Visit Hampi
• How to Reach Hampi
• Driving Directions to Hampi
• within 1 km
• within 5 km
• within 10 km
• within 20 km
• within 30 km
• within 40 km
• within 50 km

Vittala Temple / Vijaya Vittala Temple

#1 of 25 Places to Visit in Hampi

At a distance of 9 km (or 2.3 km by walk) from Hampi Bus Stand and 5.5 km from Kamalapura Bus Stand, Vittala Temple is an ancient monument located on the southern bank of the Tungabhadra River in Hampi. It is one of the largest and the most famous structures to visit as part of Hampi tour packages . The Vijaya Vittala or Vittala Temple is the most famous and popular tourist places to visit in Hampi . This temple is famous for its Stone Chariot and Musical Pillars. It was built around the 15th century AD during the reign of King Devaraya II (1422 - 1446 AD). Several portions of the temple were expanded and enhanced during the reign of Krishnadevaraya (1509 - 1529 AD). This temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu in the form of Vittala. The temple is well-known for its exceptional architecture and unmatched craftsmanship. This predominant monument of Hampi is a major .....

...read more

Virupaksha Temple

#2 of 25 Places to Visit in Hampi

At a distance of 400 m from Hampi Bus Stand, Sri Virupaksha temple is a Hindu temple located at the western end of Hampi Bazaar in Hampi. It is the most famous and important temples in Hampi, and among the must include places in Hampi Packages . Virupaksha Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva and is renowned as one of the most sacred pilgrimage in Karnataka . Virupaksha is an incarnation of Lord Shiva, and among all the surrounding ruins, this temple is intact and is still in use. This temple is also called the Pampapathi temple and is one of the most places to visit in Hampi . Situated on the southern bank of the Tungabhadra River, it is a part of the Group of Monuments at Hampi, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. According to history, this temple has been functioning uninterruptedly ever since .....

Sri Krishna Temple / Bala Krishna Temple

#3 of 25 Places to Visit in Hampi

At a distance of 500 m from Hampi Bus Stand, Sri Krishna temple is situated on the Hampi main road. Krishna temple is one of the important places to visit in Hampi , and among the Group of Monuments which is currently listed as a part of the World Heritage Monuments by UNESCO. The temple is situated close to the Virupaksha Temple . According to the history, Bala Krishna Temple was built by Krishnadevaraya of the Vijayanagara Empire in 1513 AD. He built this temple to commemorate his victory over Prataparudra Gajapati, the ruler of the eastern kingdom of Udayagiri (now Orissa) which is mentioned in the inscriptions on the slab. The main idol installed in the temple was the figure of Bala Krishna and now it is preserved in the State Museum at Chennai. This temple was built in Panchayathana style with two enclosures. Built-in the center of .....

Mahanavami Dibba / Dasara Dibba

#4 of 25 Places to Visit in Hampi

At a distance of 3.5 km from Hampi Bus Stand, Mahanavami Dibba or The House of Victory is a beautiful stone platform situated inside the Royal Enclosure in Hampi. It is also known as Dasara Dibba and is one of the most impressive structures to be visited during your Hampi Trip . Mahanavami Dibba was built by King Krishnadevaraya in 1513 AD after his conquest over the kingdom of Udayagiri, present-day Orissa. The grand platform was used as a stage by the kings to watch the army march past, the war games, and the royal procession that were held during the Mahanavami festival, also known as the Dasara festival, hence the name Mahanavami Dibba. It is one of the most fascinating Hampi tourist places . Dasara Dibba represents the typical Vijayanagara style of architecture. The stone platform is about 12 m in height. The huge structure is a square platform with .....

Hazara Rama Temple

#5 of 25 Places to Visit in Hampi

At a distance of 3 km from Hampi Bus Stand, Hazara Rama Temple is a beautiful temple located at the center of Royal Enclosure. The temple is dedicated to Lord Rama. Hazara Rama Temple was built in the early part of the 15th century by Devaraya II. The term Hazara Rama literally means a thousand Rama and refers to the large number of Ramayana panels depicted on the walls. This temple is believed to be the private temple of the kings and the royal family of Vijayanagara.. It was originally built as a simple structure within a rectangular complex. It consisted of only a sanctum, a pillared hall and an ardha-mandapa. Later the temple structure was renovated to add an open porch and beautiful pillars. The pillared hall has unique black stone pillars which are raised on a stone platform at the center of the hall. The interior of the temple has richly ornately columns. An empty pedestal with three holes signifies that the temple once had idols of Rama, Lakshmana and Sita. Hazara .....

Pattabhirama Temple

#6 of 25 Places to Visit in Hampi

At a distance of 1.2 km from Kamalapura Bus Stand and 5 km from Hampi, Pattabhirama Temple is situated near ASI museum in Kamalapura. Along with the Virupaksha and Vittala temples, the Pattabhirama temple represents the creative temple-building ventures of the Vijayanagara rulers. Though it contains two inscriptions of King Achyuta Raya, the temple is believed to have been constructed well ahead of his regime. Dedicated to Lord Rama, this temple is known for its intricate architecture. It was a prominent destination for devotees during the period of the Vijayanagara Empire. The Pattabhirama Temple is situated in the center of a huge rectangular enclosure. The east-facing sanctum has a three tier vimana with an antarala, maha-mandapa and ardha-mandapa. The large and square maha-mandapa is a finely built structure with tall and slender composite pillars of various types and is the best example of Vijayanagara style architecture. To the east of the ardha-mandapa is the usual .....

Hemakuta Hill Temple Complex

#7 of 25 Places to Visit in Hampi

At a distance of 600 m from Hampi Bus Stand, The Hemakuta group of temples is a cluster of ancient temples situated on the Hemakuta hill in Hampi adjacent to Virupaksha Temple . Hemakuta, literally meaning golden hillock is one of the most charming hillocks in Hampi. It is dotted by over fifty structures of different types including temples, mandapas, galleries, and gateways of various sizes. Hemakuta Hill offers an excellent view of Hampi Bazaar and Virupaksha temple. The Hemakuta hill has three entry points, one on the south-eastern side, one on the south, and the other on the eastern side of the hill which leads to the street near the Virupaksha temple. There are more than 35 temples on Hemakuta Hill. These temples are built in the pre-Vijayanagara and Vijayanagara periods (9th to 14th century AD). These are referred to as Jain Temples, but many of these temples are dedicated to Lord Shiva. Two of the .....

Ugra Narasimha / Lakshmi Narasimha Statue

#8 of 25 Places to Visit in Hampi

At a distance of 800 m from Hampi Bus Stand, Ugra Narasimha Temple is located south of Sri Krishna Temple in Hampi. The Lakshmi Narasimha statue is one of the most imposing sculptures found in Hampi . The specialty of the sculpture is that it is the largest monolith statue in Hampi with a height of 6.7 m. It was carved in 1528 AD during the rule of Krishnadevaraya. The protruding eyes and the facial expression are the basis for this name. This is considered to be among the most important monuments found in Hampi and is visited by a large number of people throughout the year. Lord Narasimha is sitting on the coil of a giant seven-headed Adisesha (guardian snake of Lord Vishnu) and the lions guard the sides of the idol. The heads of the snake act as the hood above his head. The Lord in this temple is in cross-legged yoga position with the belt supporting the knees. The original statue contained the image of goddess Lakshmi, consort .....

Hampi Bazaar

#9 of 25 Places to Visit in Hampi

Hampi Bazaar is located beside the Hampi Bus Stand and located in front of the Virupaksha temple. It is also known as Virupaksha Bazaar. About a kilometer long, the eastern side of the bazaar ends at the foothill of Matanga Hill. Hampi Bazaar is a unique attraction of Hampi. Both sides of the street have a series of very old pavilions, some single storied and others two storied. These buildings were once the part of a booming market and houses of the upper class merchants. The arcades are open structures with no doors. It was once a place where merchants used to sell precious stones, jewellery, silk clothes, etc. during Vijayanagara rule. It was also a market where cows and horses were traded. The Hampi Bazaar still functions as a market place, though it is no longer as attractive as it was. The western end of the street has been encroached by a number of shop owners and small restaurants. These shops that sell items like ethnic clothes, bags and pooja artifacts. A huge Nandi, .....

Lotus Mahal

#10 of 25 Places to Visit in Hampi

At a distance of 500 m from Hazara Rama Temple, 3.5 km from Hampi Bus Stand and 2 km from Kamalapur Bus Stand, Lotus Mahal is situated within Zenana Enclosure, a secluded area reserved for the royal ladies of the Vijayanagara Empire. This is also known as Chitragani Mahal and Kamal Mahal. Lotus Mahal is the primary attraction of the Zenana Enclosure. Shaped like a lotus flower from the top, the archways of the structure resemble petals of a lotus and provide the whole structure the shape of a half-open lotus. The central dome is carved in the shape of a lotus bud. Lotus Mahal is built in Indo-Islamic style. The two storied structure is symmetrically laid out, with equal projections on four sides. The base of the structure resembles Hindu temple style while the upper superstructure is Islamic in architecture with pyramidal towers. The upper floor of the Mahal has balconies with arched windows. The arches of the ground floor are recessed and ornate. The walls are protected .....

#11 of 25 Places to Visit in Hampi

At a distance of 22 km from Dharwad, 57 km from Gadag, 76 km from Dandeli, 100 km from Belgaum, 102 km from Sirsi, 104 km from Badami, 147 km from Gokarna, 169 km from Karwar, 177 km from Panjim, 183 km from Shimoga, 205 km from Murudeshwar, 210 km from Ballari, 361 km from Mangalore, 406 km from Bangalore, 435 km from Mysore, and 527 km from Hyderabad, Hubli, officially known as Hubballi, is a city in the Indian state of Karnataka. It is one of the must include places in Karnataka tour packages , and among the best places to visit near Kolhapur . Hubli or Hubballi is one of the fastest-growing cities in the state of Karnataka, and the second-largest city in the state after Bangalore. Lying on the 'Golden Quadrilateral' this multi-faceted city is also known as the cultural, educational, and music capital of the state. The city boasts numerous monuments and monasteries, ..... Distance (From Hampi): 170 Kms Trip Duration (From Hampi - Including Travel): Full Day .....

Malyavanta Raghunathaswamy Temple

#12 of 25 Places to Visit in Hampi

At a distance of 2.5 km from Kamalapura Bus Stand and 6 km from Hampi, Sri Malyavanta Raghunathaswamy temple is located atop the Malyavanta Hill. This temple is dedicated to Lord Rama. Malyavanta Raghunathaswamy Temple was constructed by Krishnadevaraya of Vijayanagara Kingdom. According to mythology, Lord Ramachandra and his brother Lakshmana stayed here during the rainy season, in their search of Sita. This 16th century temple was built around a huge boulder in Dravidian architectural style. The east facing temple consists of a sanctum, porch, a large pillared pavilion and a large pillared hall with a large courtyard. There are two gopuras at the temple's entrance. The main shrine consists of Lord Rama, Lakshmana and Sita's idols with the idol of Lord Hanuman kneeling close to them, all carved out of a single boulder. A gap found on the floor is filled with water, which is said to be made by Lakshmana with his arrow. Right behind the temple is a cave temple dedicated to .....

Achyutharaya Temple

#13 of 25 Places to Visit in Hampi

At a distance of 1 km from Hampi Bus Stand & 500 m from Hampi Bazaar, Achyutharaya temple is located between the Gandhamadana hill and Matanga hill. It is one of the last grand creations of the Vijayanagara dynasty before the fall of the empire. This temple has been built during King Achyuta Deva Raya, by an officer Salakaraju Tirumaladeva. Achyuta Deva Raya was the younger brother of Krishna Deva Raya and succeeded him in 1529. The main deity of the temple is Lord Tiruvengalanatha, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. The temple was originally named Tiruvengalanatha temple but gradually came to be known as Achyutaraya Temple The temple was built in Vijayanagara style architecture. This temple complex has two enclosures, each marked by an entrance tower. The main temple is situated within the second enclosure. The main temple consists of a garbhagriha, an antarala, sukanasi, a rangamandapa and an ornate Kalyana mandapa. The Kalyana mandapa of the temple is a spacious structure .....

Kadalekalu Ganesha Temple

#14 of 25 Places to Visit in Hampi

At a distance of 250 m from Hampi Bus Stand, The Kadalekalu Ganesha temple is situated on the slope of the Hemakuta Hill in Hampi . It is a remarkable monolithic statue and one of the most popular tourist sites in Hampi. Kadalekalu Ganesha is one of the largest statues of Lord Ganesha in Hampi. The giant Ganesha statue is 4.6 m (15 feet) tall and was carved out of a single boulder. The belly of this statue resembles a Bengal gram (Kadalekalu in Kannada) and hence the statue has been given the name of Kadalekalu Ganesha. The temple of Kadalekalu Ganesha is a beautiful stone structure. A sanctum is built around the statue. The pillared hall in front of this sanctum is decorated with tall and beautiful pillars. The sculptures on the pillars are depicted with mythological characters. The pillars are constructed in the typical Vijayanagara style of architecture. One of the pillars has a carving depicting naughty infant Krishna hiding .....

Royal Enclosure

#15 of 25 Places to Visit in Hampi

At a distance of 3.5 km from Hampi Bus Stand and 2 km from Kamalapur Bus Stand, The Royal Enclosure in Hampi is a huge fortified area that was once the heart of the Vijayanagara Empire. This was the place where the royal family of the Vijayanagara Empire used to reside and the durbar used to be performed. Spread over an area of 59,000 square meters, it is believed to have once housed over 45 buildings, all used by the royal family. This center was separated from the main Hampi center by an irrigation canal. The sprawling area was protected by double walls. It had three entrances, two on the northern side and one on the western side. The Royal Enclosure contains the ruins of several palace bases, water tanks, temples, ornate platform and canals and many other structures. Unlike the temples, which were constructed with stone, many of the palaces were built out of wood. The most impressive structure in the Royal Enclosure is the Mahanavami .....

Stepped Tank

#16 of 25 Places to Visit in Hampi

At a distance of 100m from Mahanavami Dibba and 3.5 km from Hampi Bus Stand, The Stepped tank is located in Durbar Area in Royal enclosure of Hampi. This famous Stepped Tank was excavated by Archeological Survey of India during 1980-1983. This tank is very ornate and one of the most beautiful monuments of Hampi. The Stepped Tank is constructed using finely finished blocks of black stones. This Tank was probably used by the royals for religious purpose. The beautiful tank is about 22 square meters and about 7 meters deep. It has five distinct tiers, each fitted with steps set in a pleasing pattern. The marks on the tank and individual blocks indicate the direction of flow of water. The water to this tank was drawn through the intelligently designed stone channels which are well preserved till date. Timings: 6 AM to 6 PM

King's Audience Hall / Durbar Hall

#17 of 25 Places to Visit in Hampi

At a distance of 3.5 km from Hampi Bus Stand and 2 km from Kamalapur Bus Stand, The King's Audience hall, also known as Durbar Hall is located inside the Royal Enclosure at Hampi. It is a ruined structure whose remnants can be spotted on the western side of the Mahanavami Dibba or Dasara Dibba. The King's Audience Hall was built during the time of the Vijayanagara Empire. According to the famous historian Abdul Razzak, who visited Hampi during the reign of Devaraya II, the King's Audience Hall was one of the most magnificent buildings in Hampi during that time. It is believed that this is the place where the king addressed his administration and the public. The King's Audience Hall was a huge building built with huge blocks of stone and wood. The structure has a ruined stone stairway at the rear of the hall that suggests it might have been a two storied building. The super structure is not present right now. Vestiges of pillar sockets and bases show that it was originally a .....

King's Balance

#18 of 25 Places to Visit in Hampi

At a distance of 10 km from Hampi Bus Stand (or 1.5 km by walk) and 6 km from Kamalapur Bus Stand, King's Balance is located southwest of Vittala Temple , at the end of the Kampa Bhupa's Path in Hampi. It is one of the best places to visit in Hampi. King's Balance is also called Tula Bhara or Tula Purushadana. It is regarded as one of the unique monuments of Hampi. It consists of two lofty carved granite pillars about 15 feet high supporting a stone beam about 12 feet in length. It has three hoops on the underside from which the balances or scales are hung. One of the pillars has a bas-relief depicting a king and two queens, possibly Krishna Deva Raya and his consorts. The structure appears like an archway. According to the legend, the balance was used by the king to weigh himself with gold, gems, silver, and precious stones and distributed to the temple priests on certain occasions like Solar .....

Queen's Bath

#19 of 25 Places to Visit in Hampi

At a distance of 1 km from Kamalapur Bus Stand and 3 km from Hampi Bus Stand, Queen's Bath is located close at the entrance of the Royal Enclosure in Hampi. The Queen's Bath is believed to be constructed by Achyuta Raya for the women of the royal family of Vijayanagara. Built in Indo-Islamic style, the Queen's Bath is an elaborate structure with a simple exterior and an ornate interior. It is a rectangular building and is surrounded by ornate balconies, each having a set of three windows. Each arched bay surrounding the bath is decorated with intricate carved stucco ornamentation on the ceilings and the vaults placed above the arched bays. The depth of the pool is 6 feet and has stone steps leading to the bottom of the tank. This 30 square meter structure is surrounded by a moat on all sides and a bridge like structure is made to reach the pool. Probably this was designed to prevent people from entering the area when the royals were bathing. The Queen's Bath is an empty .....

Zenana Enclosure

#20 of 25 Places to Visit in Hampi

At a distance of 500 m from Hazara Rama Temple, 3.5 km from Hampi Bus Stand and 2 km from Kamalapur Bus Stand, The Zenana enclosure is located near the Royal Enclosure at Hampi. This was a fortified and secluded area reserved for the royal ladies of the Vijayanagara Empire. The structures of the Zenana Enclosure are designed in the Indo-Islamic style of architecture. Zenana Enclosure has several structures such as the Lotus Mahal, Basement of the Queen's Palace, Water Pavilion, Treasury Building and the Watch Towers. The major attraction inside the enclosure is the Lotus Mahal. Apart from this, there are remains of water pavilion with a decorated platform in the center and Elephant Stables. The Queen's Palace is located at the middle of this area. This is the largest palace base excavated in the Hampi ruins so far. The Royal Treasury Building is a rectangular structure that is located in the north-western corner of the enclosure. The enclosure is surrounded by a fortifying .....

Elephant Stables

#21 of 25 Places to Visit in Hampi

At a distance of 500 m from Hazara Rama Temple, 3.5 km from Hampi Bus Stand and 2 km from Kamalapur Bus Stand, Elephant Stable is an ancient monument located just outside the Zenana Enclosure in Hampi. The Elephant Stable is an impressive structure that was used to provide shelter for the royal elephants of the Vijayanagara Empire. It is one of the very few structures not suffered the damage during Deccan Sultanate attack on Hampi and is a major attraction among the tourists. This is a beautiful example of Indo-Islamic architecture. There are 11 domed tall chambers. The whole building looks symmetric with respect to this central hall. The center chamber is specially decorated and big. The other 10 domes represent the Islamic style of architecture. Each of the domes was decorated with ornate plaster on the interior as well as the exterior. Metal hooks on the inside roof can be seen. The elephants were tied to these hooks from the center of the ceiling. At the rear of .....

Vira Harihara Palace

#22 of 25 Places to Visit in Hampi

At a distance of 3 km from Hampi Bus Stand, Vira Harihara Palace is an ancient structure located within the fortified area of the Royal Enclosure, south of Hazara Rama Temple in Hampi. Only the ground level of the structure can be seen today. The base of this palace, along with a number of other residential structures is located inside a compound. The area was also called the Mint, based on the mention in one of the chronicles by the travelers who visited this capital in the 15th century. It is believed that the palace belonged to Harihara Raya II, the third king of the Vijayanagara Empire. The Palace is said to have been constructed in the 14th century. After Harihara II, the palace was used by the subsequent kings of the Vijayanagara Empire. The entry to the building is through the eastern side of the wall. The original boundary walls protecting the palace still remain. The tiered foundations showcase the architectural skills of the Vijayanagar craftsmen. It is believed that .....

Matanga Hill

#23 of 25 Places to Visit in Hampi

At a distance of 1 km from Hampi Bus Stand, Matanga Hill is located at the eastern end of the Hampi Bazaar. It offers a breathtaking view of the ruined city and the beautiful landscape below. Matanga Hill is one of the major places to visit in Hampi. Being the highest point in Hampi; this is the best spot to get an aerial view of Hampi and its surroundings. There is a small temple on the top of Matanga Hill. On the way down there is a small cave marked where it is believed that Sugriva, ruler of Kishkinda, used to hide. According to mythology, Matanga Hill is one of the holy places described in the epic Ramayana as the base of Saint Matanga. It is also the place where Sugriva benefited from the magical protection of the sage Matanga who had placed a curse of death on Vali, if he dared enter the area of Matanga Hill. Being the highest peak in Hampi, the hill is a trekker's delight and offers pleasing views of the entire town below. There are many trekking paths that .....

Archeological Museum

#24 of 25 Places to Visit in Hampi

At a distance of 300 m from Kamalapur Bus Stand and 4 km from Hampi Bus Stand, The Archaeological Museum at Kamalapur is dedicated to the ruins of Hampi and surrounding places. The sculptures from various locations of the Hampi ruins were collected by British officers and housed earlier at elephant stables. The first museum of Archaeological Survey of India was established here in 1972. The antiquities were shifted to a modern building at Kamalapur. This museum exhibits elegant replicas of Krishnadevaraya and his queens greeting the visitors at the entrance. The Museum houses a large collection of sculptures and artifacts spread across four galleries. The first gallery of the museum contains two scaled models of Hampi along with all historical monuments. The larger model presents a complete topography of the region along with the monuments and temples located on it. It also displays the hills and rivers in Hampi. It provides an excellent idea about the various attractions .....

Mahadeva Temple - Itagi

#25 of 25 Places to Visit in Hampi

At a distance of 26 km from Koppal, 43 km from Gadag, 70 km from Hampi, and 79 km from Badami, Mahadeva Temple is an ancient temple situated at Itagi in the Koppal district of Karnataka. It is one of the popular heritage temples in Karnataka, and among the popular places to visit near Hampi as part of Hampi Tour Packages . Dedicated to Lord Shiva, the Mahadeva Temple at Itagi was built in the year 1112 CE by Mahadeva, a commander (dandanayaka) in the army of the Western Chalukya King Vikramaditya VI. It was constructed on the general plan of the Amruteshwara Temple at Annigeri. The Mahadeva Temple has the same architectural components as Amruteshwara but there is a difference in their articulation. The well-executed sculptures, finely crafted carvings on walls, pillars, and the tower make it a good example of complete Western Chalukyan art which speaks volumes about the taste of the Chalukyan artisans. An inscription dated 1112 CE .....

Most Asked Questions on Hampi

The best time to visit Hampi is from October to March. This is also the time for exploring the archaeological ruins of Hampi. This is the busiest season in Hampi and often hotels run full and tourist places are crowded.

Hampi usually requires complete 2 days to visit the most important attractions. Hampi can be mixed with near by wonderful destination like Badami, Pattadakal, Aihole by adding few additional days to your trip.

Budget of Hampi trip depends on the trip duration and category of hotel you choose for your stay along with the kind of vehicle you prefer. Hampi tour packages offered by Trawell.in start from as low as INR 7250 per person for a 2D/1N trip and from INR 9000 per person for 3D/2N vacation.

Ensure to cover most important places to visit in Hampi like Vittala Temple, Virupaksha Temple, Sri Krishna Temple, Mahanavami Dibba, Hazara Rama Temple, Hemakuta Hill Temple Complex, Lotus Mahal and Hampi Bazaar. If you have time, you can dedicate a day to visit near by places like Badami, Pattadakal. Hampi is famous for archaeological ruins belonging to the erstwhile medieval Hindu kingdom of Vijaynagar.

Hampi is a must include place in many treveller's list as this world heritage site is famous worldwide for its incredible hitorical ruins, sprawling landscape of enormous boulders and fascinating rock formations. Once the flourishing kingdom of mighty Vijayanagara kingdom, it is housed as many as 2,000 spectacular monuments. It is also packed full of exciting things to do and see like coracle ride on Tungabhadra River and do some trekking to Matunga hill to witness mesmerizing sunrise and senset.

Top 5 Hampi Packages

Hampi blogs.

Hampi Related Pages

Similar Pages:

Places to Visit in Agra | Places to Visit in Jaipur | Places to Visit in Khajuraho | Places to Visit in Mahabalipuram | Places to Visit in Aurangabad | Places to Visit in Mysore | Places to Visit in Chittorgarh | Places to Visit in Thanjavur | Places to Visit in Ahmedabad | Places to Visit in Gwalior | Places to Visit in Sanchi | Places to Visit in Ramappa Temple

Near By Places

Similar Places

100% SECURE PAYMENTS

Domestic & international cards accepted.

Our WhatsApp Numbers

International tours, +91-8217845740, south india tours, +91-7995649483, goa, maharashtra, gujarat tours, +91-7032828835, north india tours, +91-9535139583, rest of india, +91-7799591230, request quote, travellers #.

Explore Tour Packages

Planning a Trip?

Discover affordable tour packages, need customized tour request quote, login / sign-up, your sign in was successful itinerary will be downloaded shortly., sign up with trawell.in.

Already Created Account? Login Here

Sign in with Trawell.in Account

Forgot Password?

New User? Sign Up Here

Activate Your Trawell.in Account

Your account is activated successfully. Login Here

Reset Your Trawell.in Password

Your password has been reset successfully. Login Here

Booking Policy

Framing Adventures | One Click At A Time

10 Splendid Places To Visit In Hampi (+ 5 Epic Things To Do)

Did you know that Hampi was once the richest city in India with marvellous temples, trading markets and massive fortifications? It used to be one of the largest cities in the world and the capital of the Vijayanagara empire in the 14th century.

However, in 1565, the Deccan Muslim rulers destroyed the city and looted its wealth leading to the fall of the Vijayanagara empire.

What remains now is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the world’s largest ‘open-air’ museum.

Huge boulders and archaeological ruins with a rich history mark the entire landscape of Hampi today. The city’s architecture is so unique that you’re bound to feel intrigued and curious as soon as you land in Hampi.

I visited Hampi with my friends for a few days, and in this guide, I walk you through the 10 splendid places to visit in Hampi   that you can include in your itinerary. I’ve also included the 5 epic things to do in Hampi to make your trip more engaging.

Where is Hampi?

Flanked by the Tungabhadra river, Hampi is an ancient city located in the central part of Karnataka. The closest city to Hampi is Hospet, at a distance of 13 km.

Due to its geography, the distance from Hyderabad (372 km) and Bangalore (342 km) to Hampi are similar.

On the other side of the Tungabhadra River is Hippie Island, also known locally as Virapapur Gadde. As the name suggests, it is a completely different place from Hampi in that it attracts a lot of solo travellers and backpackers, especially from foreign countries. 

10 splendid places to visit in Hampi

The good thing about Hampi is that you can dedicate different days to covering different areas of Hampi.

For example, you’ll find all the major attractions in the central area of Hampi.

The remaining attractions are located in the Kamalapura area which you can cover on the second day.

You can dedicate the third day to exploring Hippie Island opposite Hampi.

Depending on where you’re staying, you can decide how you want to cover the destinations in Hampi. Having said that, let’s take a look at the top 10 places to visit in Hampi (in chronological order) according to different areas for your convenience.

Top 5 places to visit in central Hampi

1. vijaya vittala temple.

While Vijaya Vittala Temple is 11 km away (half an hour) by road from central Hampi, I’ve included it here as it’s similar to other places in central Hampi. After covering the Vijaya Vittala Temple, you can come back to central Hampi and cover the remaining four places.

Also, if you’re staying at Hampi or Hippie Island, you can also hire a ferry to the Vijaya Vittala Temple as it’ll save more time as compared to driving around.

This temple is one of the two main temples in Hampi. It was built in the 15th century AD and is dedicated to Lord Vishnu.

There is a large gopuram (temple tower) at the entrance of this complex and a stone chariot in the middle flanked by small temples across the complex. 

The architecture of this well-preserved temple will make you wonder how the engineers at the time were able to create such complex structures without access to modern technology or machinery.

Beautiful inscriptions and carvings on the temples and structures here showcase many events from Ramayana, different avatars of Vishnu, foreign traders in Hampi and so on.

Fun fact:  The stone chariot, which is the highlight of this temple, is depicted on the INR 50 note.

Another attraction of this place is the musical pillars. You can create music by tapping your hands on the musical pillars.

I suggest you hire a guide for this place as without one, you won’t be able to appreciate the genius architecture behind this place. You can hire a guide from the temple complex itself.

It is recommended that you visit this temple early in the morning to avoid crowds.

From the parking lot, there is a distance of 1 km to the temple complex that you can cover either on foot or by hiring a battery-operated buggy.

The ticket you purchase here can also be used to visit other sites in Hampi, like Lotus Mahal, Elephant’s Stable and the Archaeological Musem (more on them later).

2. Virupaksha Temple

One of the most popular places to visit in Hampi is the Virupaksha Temple.

It is the only functioning temple in Hampi and the oldest functioning one in India.

Built-in the 7th century AD, this temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, was continuously expanded throughout the centuries, especially during the reign of the Vijayanagara empire.

Virupaksha Temple is a massive complex overlooking the Tungabhadra river and comprises two gopurams (temple towers), one at the entrance and one at the back.

You’ll be blown away by the complex Dravidian architecture and the intricate carvings on the structures here. To have the best experience, I suggest you hire a guide here as well to give you some historical, architectural and scientific context behind this temple.

Do not forget to visit the ‘hidden spot’ which has an ancient pin hole from where you can see the inverted shadow of gopuram! It is at the back side of the temple.

Prayers happen a couple of times a day, and you can even offer bananas to the temple elephant called Laxmi and receive blessings in return.

If you can, try to come early in the morning because this place becomes crowded as the day passes, especially in the evening.

3. Kadalekalu Ganesha and Sasivekalu Ganesha

Carved out of a single block of granite stone, the 15 feet monolithic statue of Lord Ganesha kept at the Kadalekalu Ganesha Temple is one of the largest in the world, and is another example of the creativity and technique of craftsmen in the ancient era.

The statue is kept in a sanctum with pillared halls.

The belly of Ganesha looks like Kadalekalu (Bengal gram), hence the name. If you notice carefully, the leg of the statue is missing as it was destroyed during the Muslim invasion.

This temple was believed to be meant for the King and his guests. 

Close to 300 metres from the Kadalekalu Ganesha Temple is the  Sasivekalu Ganesha  Temple. The statue of Ganesha here is almost half the size of the one found in the other place.

Unlike the other statue, this one is enclosed within an open pillared pavilion. Due to the Muslim invasion, you can see the lower left hand and the trunk of the statue missing.

Its name is inspired by the resemblance between Ganesha’s belly and a mustard seed known locally as Sasivekalu.

This temple was believed to be meant for the public.

You can visit both these places on Hemakunta hill, a rocky terrain close to the Virupaksha Temple.

4. Lakshmi Narasimha Temple and Badavilinga Temple

Lakshmi Narasimha Temple  is the largest monolith statue in Hampi.

Built during the 15th century AD, this beautifully-sculpted statue showcases Lord Narasimha, one of the reincarnations of Lord Vishnu, as a half-man and half-lion sitting in a cross-legged position.

It depicts Lord Narasimha in a terrifying form posing on the coil of a giant seven-headed snake called Adishesha. The heads of the snake act as the hood above his head. 

Originally, the statue also had Goddess Lakshmi sitting on the Lord’s lap, but it was vandalised and damaged in the year 1565 during the Muslim invasion. If you look carefully, you can spot the goddess’ hand still resting on his back. 

You can find the separate sculpture of Goddess Lakshmi in the archaeological museum (more on this later) at Kamalapura.

The Badavalinga Temple is right next to the Lakshmi Narasimha Temple. This is another temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.

It is a lingam carved out of a single black stone inside a closed chamber. It is submerged in water courtesy of a water canal flowing from Tungabhadra and there is an opening at the top that lets in the natural light.

You can visit both these places together and they’re within 1.5 km of Matanga Hill. 

5. Matanga Hill

A trip to Hampi is incomplete without hiking to Matanga Hill. It is one of the most popular places to visit in Hampi to catch a sunrise/sunset.

Located in the centre of the town near Hampi Bazaar and Virupaksha Temple, it is the highest point in Hampi from where you get a panoramic view of the ruins of Hampi, including the Virupaksha Temple, Monolith Bull and the Tungabhadra River. 

You will forget the pains of climbing this ‘hill’ once you experience the stunning views from the top. I call it a ‘hill’ because it is a heap of rocks and boulders assembled that appear like one. 

It’ll take you around 20-30 minutes to reach the top as you traverse through the carefully-assembled rocks and boulders.

While you can expect some crowds, the best time to visit this place is during sunrise and sunset when the landscape brightens up with various hues of blue and orange in the sky along with the ruins of Hampi in the foreground.

Top 5 places to visit in Kamalapura (5 km from Hampi)

6. hanuman temple (anjaneya hill).

One of my favourite memories from the trip was the climb and the spectacular landscapes we saw from Hanuman Temple.

Much like Matanga Hill, this is another spot in Hampi famous for its stunning sunrise/sunset views. 

Hanuman Temple is located on top of Anjaneya Hill and it attracts a lot of pilgrims as it is known as the birthplace of Lord Hanuman.

To reach the temple, you need to climb close to 600 steps, some of which are steep and others that are high and narrow.

But the entire effort will be worth it once you reach the top because you’ll see the Tungabhadra river flowing between rocky hills surrounded by paddy fields and both the Virupaksha and Vijaya Vittala temples.

Anjaneya Hill is located at a distance of 2 km from Virupaksha Temple. To reach here, you have to cross the Tungabhadra river by boat or drive to Hippie Island by road.

Beware of your belongings as this temple is host to many monkeys.

The best time to visit this place is during sunrise or sunset and the time taken to reach the top is approximately 20-30 minutes.

Note : While Anjaneya Hill is less than 20 km away from Kamalapura, I’ve included it here so that you have another place to witness an amazing sunrise/sunset on the day you visit Kamalapura. The remaining four places are in Kamalapura.

7. Zenana Enclosure

The Zenana Enclosure was a private walled compound with a serene setting reserved for the royal ladies of the Vijayanagara empire. 

Note : The ticket that you purchase from here can be used interchangeably at the Vijay Vittala Temple, Zenana Enclosure, Lotus Mahal, Elephant’s Stable and at Hampi Archaeological museum for a day.

While you can take some visit all the attractions here, make sure you visit the following places at all costs:

Lotus Mahal

Lotus Palace is a two-storied architectural marvel that resembles the shape of a lotus in bloom from the top. It was a secluded area designated for the royal women of the Vijayanagara Empire.

It used to have channels of water running through the arches of the palace meant to keep the queens cool during the hot summers.

Watch Tower

The troops used to guard the Zenana Enclosure from the watch towers. These towers also served as a vantage point for the ladies.

You can not climb it but can take pictures.

Elephant Stables

Close to the Lotus Palace is the Elephant Stables. It is one of the few structures in Hampi that were not attacked. 

The Elephant Stables were used to provide shelter to the royal elephants of the Vijayanagara empire.

Eleven dome-shaped chambers with lofty arched doorways were used to house the elephants. You can also see the provision for the metal hooks that were used in tying the elephants.

There is an open ground in front of the building that was used for elephant parades.

8. Royal Enclosure

The Royal Enclosure was the heart of the Vijayanagara empire. The royal family used to reside here.

The Royal Enclosure used to house several palace bases, water tanks, temples, canals, secret passages, etc. that are in ruins today.

This is another place where you need a guide for a more immersive experience.

While there are many structures in this huge complex, some of the important ones are:

Mahanavami Dibba/Dasara Dibba

Dussehra was the most celebrated event of the year for the royal family.

The Mahanavami Dibba was a three-tiered stage which served as the viewing platform for the kings and queens to watch cultural events celebrated during Dussehra.

You get a panoramic view of the expansive area within the royal corridor from here.

The sides of the walls demonstrate how Dussehra was celebrated here. You’ll find carvings of horses, warriors, elephants, various hunting scenes, mythology, dance postures, etc. that tell the cultural tale of a bygone era.

If you’re still not convinced by the creativity and genius of the craftsmen at that time, visit the step well.

Made from black stone, it is a well that is symmetrical in shape and the steps are made in a way such that water flows naturally to the bottom of the tank. It is one of the best architectural places to visit in Hampi that make use of an efficient water management system.

It is no wonder then that it is one of the most photographed attractions in Hampi. 

The step well was a sacred place for the royals. They used to take bath here before visiting any religious place.

Hazara Raama Temple

The Hazara Rama Temple is another architectural marvel like Virupaksha Temple and the Vijaya Vittala Temple that deserves your attention.

Dedicated to Lord Rama, it portrays the story of Ramayana through the stone carvings inscribed on its walls and pillars. 

This temple was meant for the royal families only.

9. Queen’s Bath

One of the lesser-known places to visit in Hampi is the Queen’s Bath, close to the Royal Enclosure.

It is a rectangular-shaped building with a pool in the middle and an open-air ceiling. It is built around a water canal with a garden in the front.

It was used as a bathing place for the queens of the Vijayanagara empire.

There is also a separate room for dress changing. 

Fun fact:  There was an ancient canal system that was used to transfer water in the bath chamber and another canal that would take out the used water.

10. Hampi Archaeological Museum (Kamalapura)

Once you’re done seeing all the ruins in Hampi, you can visit the Hampi Archaeological Museum. It’ll give you a summary of all that you learnt about Hampi and help you delve deeper into its history.

The museum houses four different galleries, each covering different aspects of Hampi.

You can find several artefacts here like sculptures of deities, paintings, ancient coins, armoury and photos of Hampi during excavation.

Watch out for the miniature model of the entire geography of Hampi!

You can visit this museum on all days except Fridays when it’s closed to the public.

5 epic things to do in Hampi

The best thing about Hampi is that it is not limited to its rich history and architectural ruins. As a traveller, there are other things that you can indulge in that will make your experience in Hampi more immersive.

Here are the top 5 things to do in Hampi apart from visiting the ruins:

1. Explore Hippie Island, Hampi

In what is a complete contrast to the ruins and heritages of Hampi, Hippie Island is a small island across the Tungabhadra river with a very laid-back and chilled-out vibe. It will remind you of Gokarna , a beach town in Karnataka which has a similar vibe and culture.

You can expect more foreigners here than Indians during the peak season.

Hippie Island, known officially as Virupapur Gadde, can be accessed by boat from Hampi. It takes only 5-10 minutes by boat and the rates are reasonable. The boating service is available only till 5:30 pm after which it might become difficult and costlier to get a boat.

You have the option of accessing Hippie Island by road but keep in mind that it takes close to 45 minutes to reach here.

Hippie Island runs across the Tungabhadra river and is characterised by paddy fields and coconut trees. There are lots of various homestays, restaurants and shops to keep you occupied.

You can shop for clothes and ornaments, get massages, indulge in yoga and play music among others.

Update : Read this article to know the latest information about Hippie Island .

2. Take a coracle ride in the Tungabhadra river

A coracle is a round boat made with bamboo strips. It can carry 6-8 people at a time and has been around since the time of the Vijayanagara empire.

The ride through this boat is pretty scenic. You will get to see some temples and caves during the ride. 

It typically lasts for less than an hour. Try to bargain because the rates quoted by the boat owners are usually high.

The best time to do this will be during sunrise and sunset.

3. Try bouldering in Hampi/Hippie Island

If you love outdoor adventures, this one’s for you! Bouldering is one of the most popular things to do in Hampi/Hippie Island.

There are shops in Hippie Island run by professional people that help you climb boulders with proper gear. You don’t need to be an expert to indulge in this sport as anyone can do this.

You can check out the Tom and Jerry climbing shop, now known as Golden Boulders , located close to the entrance of Hippie Island.

4. Jump from a cliff into the Sanapur Lake

Cliff jumping is one of the best ways to cool off after visiting the ruins. You can find multiple locations at Sanapur Lake from where you can dive into the water.

Make sure that the level of water is high enough and that you know swimming. You can ask the locals for the diving spots and it is preferable to do it in a place where people are already diving.

5. Stroll at Hampi Bazaar

Hampi Bazaar was one of the first open malls in history that is flanked on one side by the Virupaksha Temple and on the other side by Matanga Hill. It is a one-kilometre-long stretch and has pavilions on both sides of the street.

It used to be the main market during the Vijayanagar empire where merchants used to sell jewellery, ornaments, precious stones, horses, etc. Take a walk through these ruins to be reminded of their rich history.

Note : You can also do this activity while you visit central Hampi.

How to reach Hampi?

There is no direct connectivity to Hampi. You need to get down at Hospet (which is at a distance of 13 km from Hampi) if you’re coming by public transport.

You can find public buses that travel from Hospet to Hampi frequently. You also have the option of hiring an auto from here.

The nearest airport to Hampi is Bellary, 60 km away. If you’re unable to find a flight to Bellary, the next best option would be to take a flight to Bangalore and take the Hampi Express at night from there.

Hospet is the nearest railway station to Hampi. 

There are frequent trains from Bangalore to Hospet every week. Hampi Express is the most convenient option for you if you are travelling from Bangalore to Hampi since you arrive at Hospet in the morning itself.

Similarly, you can find trains from Goa, Hyderabad and Chennai as well.

Hospet is well-connected to different towns and cities in Karnataka by both public and private buses. You can find inter-state buses from Goa, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra as well.

How to travel in Hampi?

The best way to travel around Hampi is by hiring a two-wheeler, especially if you’re a solo traveller. You can rent a scooter at Kamalapura or Hampi Bazaar. You can also enquire at the place you are staying for a scooty.

The only drawback of hiring a scooty is that you’ll have to search for guides at every destination to know more about that particular place instead of hiring a guide for a full day.

Alternatively, you can hire autos/taxis to take you around Hampi. As they’re locals, they’re well versed with the history of Hampi and can double up as your guide.

In our case, we hired a cab from our homestay and a separate guide (who the driver knew).

There are no fixed rates so you would need to bargain with the driver.

At Hippie Island, hiring two-wheelers is the most common practice and it is available almost everywhere.

Best places to stay in Hampi

Most of Hampi’s tourist accommodations are located in the Hampi Bazaar. Apart from that, you can find a few homestays in Kamalapura and many low-cost hostels and homestays on Hippie Island.

Homestays in Hampi

Gopi homestay.

Although this place is a bit far away from the centre of Hampi, you will have a peaceful stay here. The hosts are friendly and will help you sort out your travel plans.

There are no restaurants available nearby but you can always have their home-cooked food. And their breakfasts are complimentary. They have a separate kitchen in case you would like to cook something on your own.

They have an open terrace from where you can get great views of the surroundings.

Srinivasa Homestay

It is located in a village near major tourist attractions with great surroundings. They have a terrace from where you can get scenic views of the village.

The rooms are clean and spacious.

The host is helpful and they provide delicious home-cooked food. They will also help you with your travel plans. 

Abhi Homestay

The host is very hospitable and goes out of their way to help you. You get delicious home-cooked food as well.

The homestay is at a peaceful location. It is near the main tourist attractions of Hampi.

Hostels in Hampi

Murali homestay.

They are located at Hippie Island so you would need to cross the Tungabhadra river or come by road from Hampi to reach here. They will also pick you up from Hampi at an additional cost.

They have mixed dorms apart from private rooms and can also help you with renting a scooty.

The views from the property are picturesque and you will get good home-cooked food here.

Rambo Homestay

It is another homestay located on Hippie Island close to Sanapur Lake. The location of this homestay is beautiful as it is nearby the lake and paddy fields

The host is very helpful and will pick you up from Hampi if you want. You can rent scooters here as well.

The ambience of this place is very laid back and they provide good food at reasonable rates at their restaurant.

Best restaurants in Hampi

Mango Tree Restaurant

If I had to suggest only one restaurant in Hampi, this would be it. You will end up having food from here multiple times because the quality of the food is amazing.

They have a variety of cuisines including Italian, European, Israeli, Chinese and Asian.

Mango lassi is a must-have here.

Note : You will find a lot of restaurants in Hampi, especially on Hippie Island that have good reviews online but from personal experience, the quality of the food that you get at most of these restaurants belies their online ratings.

Best time to visit Hampi

Being a dry region, Hampi has very hot and dry weather in general. The summers in Hampi can go up to 40 degrees.

However, you’ll find that tourists are also less during this time.

In terms of weather, the best time to visit Hampi is from October to March. While the weather remains warm during the day, it is certainly more pleasant as compared to the summer season.

Best travel tips for Hampi

Following are some tips to keep in mind to ensure you have a great experience in Hampi:

• As you will be walking around Hampi from one place to another under the harsh sun, it is imperative to carry a hat to protect your head and sunscreen to protect your skin.
• Make sure to hydrate yourself regularly as you will get tired easily.
• Avoid cotton clothes and wear active and breathable clothes to avoid getting drenched in your sweat.
• Wear sports shoes to walk around comfortably as you will need a good grip when climbing boulders and rocks.
• It is highly recommended to hire a travel guide while visiting the ruins of Hampi. They can tell you the story behind a place and give you some context. You can hire guides from the tourism office at Virupaksha Temple or enquire at the place you are staying.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is hampi popular for.

Hampi is an ancient temple town located in central Karnataka that was once the richest city in India and the second largest medieval city in the world after Beijing. 

It was the capital of the Vijayanagara empire and used to attract a lot of traders from Persia, Portugal and other countries worldwide.

It was destroyed and looted in 1565 by Muslim rulers after which the entire city has remained in ruins.

Hampi is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for the architecture and history of its ruined temples and monuments that were constructed under the Vijayanagara empire.

Which are the top 5 places to visit in Hampi?

Following are the top 5 places to visit in Hampi based on my experience: 1. Virupaksha Temple 2. Vijaya Vittala Temple 3. Hippie Island 4. Hanuman Temple (Anjaneya Hill) 5. Zenana Enclosure

Is 2 days enough for Hampi?

Two days are enough if you plan to visit the architectural ruins and temples of Hampi. 

However, you need to ensure that you follow a strict schedule so that you’re able to cover all the places in 2 days. This is because some places require more time to cover compared to others.

Also, ensure that you’re hiring a guide to give you context about the history and architecture of all the ruins you visit in Hampi.

Which are the places to visit in Hampi in 2 days?

If you plan to visit Hampi for a weekend, the following are the places to visit in Hampi in 2 days (in chronological order): 1. Vijaya Vittala Temple 2. Virupaksha Temple 3. Kadalekalu Ganesha and Sasivekalu Ganesha 4. Lakshmi Narasimha Temple and Badavilinga Temple 5. Matanga Hill 6. Hanuman Temple (Anjaneya Hill) 7. Zenana Enclosure 8. Royal Enclosure 9. Queen’s Bath 10. Hampi Archaeological Museum (Kamalapura)

Which are the places to visit in Hampi in 3 days?

Following are the places to visit in Hampi in 2 days (in chronological order): 1. Vijaya Vittala Temple 2. Virupaksha Temple 3. Kadalekalu Ganesha and Sasivekalu Ganesha 4. Lakshmi Narasimha Temple and Badavilinga Temple 5. Matanga Hill 6. Hanuman Temple (Anjaneya Hill) 7. Zenana Enclosure 8. Royal Enclosure 9. Queen’s Bath 10. Hampi Archaeological Museum (Kamalapura)

If you have one more day to spare, you can do the following activities for the third day: 11. Explore Hippie Island, Hampi 12. Take a coracle ride in the Tungabhadra river 13. Try bouldering on Hippie Island 14. Jump from a cliff into the Sanapur Lake 15. Stroll at Hampi Bazaar

Hampi is a magical city that’ll take you back to the Vijayanagara empire leaving you with rich memories of an era gone by. Nowhere in India will you see a landscape and a history as striking as the one you see in Hampi.

Apart from visiting the famous ruins of the city, you can also explore other activities like exploring Hippie Island, taking a coracle ride and jumping off a cliff.

Also, while you visit the ruins, make sure you hire a guide who’ll give you context for all the places you visit. You can ask for the same from the place you’re staying at.

Depending on what you’re looking for, all the homestays and hostels will also help you hire a cab/auto or rent a scooty.

You’ll find a lot of homestays and hostels at Hampi at reasonable rates. This will be especially useful for people who love to travel solo or backpack.

Lastly, while you can visit Hampi in the summers and expect a lesser crowd, the weather is much more favourable during winters.

With that said, I hope you found this extensive guide on ‘the 10 best places to visit in Hampi’ useful.

If you have any questions, do let me know in the comments! 

Jerry quit his 9-5 job to become a digital nomad and travel the world. Through Framedventures, he helps people have experiential and immersive travel adventures across India. He has travelled to 15+ states/UTs in India so far. Besides travelling, he's also passionate about landscape photography. Connect with him on his social media channels to get his latest travel updates!

You May Also Like

5 Amazing Things To Do In Munroe Island: India’s Hidden Venice

Top 15 Places To Visit In Meghalaya: A Unique Road Trip

7 places to visit in Rameshwaram for a memorable trip

Ismail Lakdawala

Hi Jerry! Wonderful article! So detailed and so helpful to every traveler to get a complete picture!

Really loved it, and a huge thanks for linking our article for Hippie Island updates as well! Means a lot 💯

Keep creating! Let’s do a collab post soon!

Best, Ismail From Xplore The Earth

Hey Ismail! Thanks a lot.😃

Your article was very helpful as well as I wasn’t aware of the Hippie Island update.😁

Yes, let’s do a collab one day.✌️

Samir Kumar Basak

Excellent description. I have a plan to visit soon. It will help me lot. Thanks for your effort.

Hey Samir! Glad I could help.😇

Have an amazing trip in Hampi!

Akhila Jenny Ravikumar

Hey Jerry, you have written an awesome content on Hampi. The blog is really helpful for anyone planning a trip to Hampi. You have captured stunning pictures of Virupaksha Temple and Vijaya Vittala Temple.

Thank you Akhila for the awesome feedback!😄 Are you planning to visit Hampi anytime soon?

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

You will be redirected to your dashboard shortly. We will also call you back in 24 hrs .

• 29 Most Riveting Places To Visit In Hampi That Are A Must In 2024!

23 Mar 2023

Located on the banks of the River Tungabhadra, Hampi is a small yet enchanting temple town bounded by the intriguing historical ruins of Vijayanagara city in the state of Karnataka. With a host of tourist places to see in Hampi, this dreamworld made of boulders, monoliths, and ruins of ancient edifices is a delight for tourists and thus is considered among best places to visit in Karnataka . The various engrossing places to visit in Hampi see a perennial influx of history-buffs, families, and photography enthusiasts. The status of the UNESCO World Heritage Site further accentuates the eminence of Hampi as one of the most popular historical and religious tourist places in India.

29 Best Places To Visit In Hampi

While visiting this heritage land, make sure to not miss out on these places and witness the architectural beauty of Hampi.

1. Vijaya Vittala Temple

Image Source Vijaya Vittala Temple is a 15th-century structure that is also considered the largest of all historical structures in Hampi. This humungous temple is dedicated to Lord Vittala- an incarnation of Lord Vishnu- and is a must-visit amongst all Hampi tourist places. The extraordinary stone chariot , arrays of huge pillars in the temple halls, and intricate sculptures are the true embodiments of the bewitching architecture of the centuries-old Vijaya Vittala Temple. Timings: 08:30 am to 5:30 pm (all days) Entry fee:

• INR 10 for Indian nationals and US $5 for foreign nationals
• Video camera fee- INR 25
• Still camera fee- Nil

Visit duration: Approximately 2 hours Tip: Visit as early as possible to avoid crowds and to witness the best views of the temple.

43 Famous Historical Places In India To Visit

South Weekend Holiday Packages On TravelTriangle

Delightful South Weekend Tour 3D/2N Package @ Rs 4,999

Plan your trip today!

South Weekend Family Tour Package 3D/2N @ Rs 4,999

Get quotes from multiple travel experts.

Exciting South Weekend Tour 4D/3N @ Rs 6,999

Compare & customize quotes before booking.

South Weekend Tour 5D/4N Packages @ Rs 9,999

Have Questions? Talk to our travel experts today.

Enchanting South Weekend 5D/4N Packages @ Rs 12,999

Best prices guaranteed. EMI option available.

See more at TRAVELTRIANGLE.COM

2. Sri Virupaksha Temple

Image Source Believed to be the oldest functioning temple in India, Sri Virupaksha Temple is a 7th-century Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Virupaksha, an incarnation of Lord Shiva. The temple is also considered one of the most significant religious places to visit in Hampi and attracts a huge number of pilgrims from all over India. The sprawling campus of the Virupaksha temple houses a huge courtyard, huge gateway towers, and other old-style structures that will leave you in an awe of its immense grandeur. Timings: 06:00 am to 6:00 pm (all days) Entry fee:

• INR 5 for Indian nationals and US $5 for foreign nationals
• Video camera fee- INR 500
• Still camera fee- 50
• Local guide fee- INR 50
• Shoe safekeeping- INR 10

Visit duration: Approximately 1.5 hours Tip: Hire a guide to show you around the major attractions of this temple including the underwater Shiva Temple within the Sri Virupaksha Temple complex.

3. Hanuman Temple

Image Source Hanuman Temple is another famous religious site located on the top of the Anjaneya Hill which is considered as the birthplace of Lord Hanuman. About 4 km from Hampi village, one has to cross a river using a small boat with paddles and then climb up the stairs to reach the Temple. The serene and picturesque ambience of this temple offers mesmerizing views of sunrise and sunset, making it one of the perfect places to see in Hampi and around. Timings: Open all days dawn till dusk Entry fee: None Visit duration: Approximately 30 – 45 minutes Tip: Beware of the monkeys in the temple premise and do not tease the animals.

14 Itineraries Including Best Honeymoon Places In And Around Karnataka

4. Hemakuta Hill Temple Complex

Image Source Hemakuta Hill is a wonderful place lined by a number of Hindu temples, ruins of fortified walls, and broken pathways. Mula Virupaksha Temple in Hemakuta Hill Temple complex is one of the most prominent places to visit in Hampi. Timings: Open all days from sunrise till sunset Entry fee: Nil Visit duration: Approximately 3-4 hours Tip: Don’t miss the sunset view from Hemakuta Hill.

5. Sasivekalu Ganesha Temple

Image Source Located on the south side of Hemakuta Hill, the Sasivekalu Ganesha Temple derives its name from the resemblance between Ganesha’s belly and mustard seed which is locally known as Sasivekalu. It houses a 2.4-meter statue of Ganesha spectacularly carved out of a boulder stone depicting a snake around Lord Ganesha’s stomach. The history of the magnificent pavilion that surrounds the statue of Ganesha dates back to 1506 A.D. making this temple a famous tourist attraction in Hampi. Timings: 06:00 am to 6:00 pm (all days) Entry fee: Nil Visit duration: Approximately 45 minutes Tip: Visit Kadalekalu Ganesha located on the northern slope of Hemakuta Hill.

15 Best Places To Visit In Karnataka In Winter: Take Your Pick!

6. Lakshmi Narasimha Temple

Image Source Within the ruins of Hampi, the Lakshmi Narasimha Temple- also known as the Statue of Ugra Narsimha- is the largest monolith statue in Hampi. This 6.7-meter high statue was built in 1528 A.D. which was vandalized in 1565 during a Mughal raid over the Vijayanagara Kingdom. The statue of Lord Narasimha- an incarnation of Lord Vishnu and a half-man, half-lion- depicts the deity sitting in a cross-legged position in its fierce form. Timings: 06:00 am to 6:00 pm (all days) Entry fee: Nil Visit duration: Approximately 1 hour Tip: Carry battery backup for your camera as the place is quite photogenic.

7. Queen’s Bath

Image Source Probably, a royal bathing complex for the erstwhile king and his wives, this majestic and enormous ancient building sets the clock back and is one of the major places to see in Hampi. The beauty of the ruins of Queen’s Bath gets to you the moment you lay your eyes on the unbelievable architectural style of this ancient royal pool. A huge courtyard in the front with a dome-shaped roof, balconies with small windows, and a rectangular pool made of bricks in the middle with open blue sky greet you at the Queen’s Bath in Hampi. Timings: 06:00 am to 6:00 pm (all days) Entry fee: Nil Visit duration: Approximately 30-45 minutes Tips: Carry adequate cash with yourself. Purchase stone carvings and sculptures made by local artists here.

8 Temples In Madurai That Will Make You Fall In Love With City

8. Riverside Ruins

Image Source An array of 108 Shiva Lingas carved on the flat rocky surface and a finely rock-carved sculpture of Lord Vishnu in a reclining position make Riverside Ruins one of the most enticing places to visit in and around Hampi. A number of small shrines, statues, pavilions, and carved artefacts within this cluster of ruins make it a perfect place for photographers and historians. Exploring historical ruins is one of the best things to do in Hampi  and while visiting this spot, you can surely treat the history buff in you. Timings: 06:00 am to 6:00 pm (all days) Entry fee: INR 30 Visit duration: Approximately 30-45 minutes Tip: Hire a local guide to help you explore the Riverside Ruins

9. Hampi Bazaar

Image Source

Located in the foothill of Matanga Hill, Hampi Bazaar is one of the popular Hampi sightseeing places. It is an ancient street stretching over a kilometer and lined with ruins of pavilions. Hampi Bazaar once used to have bustling shops, restaurants, and residences on both sides of it. At one end of the Hampi Bazaar, you can find a huge Nandi bull with a photo gallery on the other side. The lavish pavilion in front of the Nandi bull statue plays host to the famous annual Hampi Bazaar. Shopping at local stores and eating at restaurants are the best things to do in Hampi at night.

Timings: 06:00 am to 11:00 pm (all days) Entry fee: Nil Visit duration: Approximately 1-2 hours Tip: Explore the tourist spots of Hampi Bazaar on a rented bicycle.

Visit These 26 Tourist Places In South India During Summer

10. Archaeological Museum

Image Source The Archaeological Museum in Hampi is one of the most noteworthy Hampi tourist places having four different art galleries that house a wide variety of artefacts. Ancient coins, statues, paintings, metal plates, armoury, and sculptures of various Hindu deities can be found here. All four sections of this museum are worth exploring and a treat for history buffs and kids. Timings: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm (all days, except Friday) Entry fee: INR 5/per person (Free entry for children under the age of 15 years) Visit duration: Approximately 1.5- 2 hours Tip: Do not click pictures outside the museum as photography is allowed only in the open lawn outside the art galleries.

11. Matanga Hill

Image Source Matanga Hill offers panoramic views of the historical ruins of Hampi and its surroundings. After trekking up the hill for around 30 minutes, you will find Veerabhadra Temple sitting right at the top of Matanga Hill. This temple has a rooftop, which is unarguably the best place to witness sunrise and sunset over the lovely landscape of this historical Hampi town. Timings: Dawn to dusk (all days) Entry fee: Nil Visit duration: Approximately 3 hours Tip: Carry a mini torch/flashlight as Matanga Hill and the paths leading up to the hilltop aren’t well lit.

16 Super Amazing Weekend Getaways From Mysore For Your Trip!

12. Daroji Bear Sanctuary

Image Source Daroji Bear Sanctuary is a protected forest area where you can witness lovely Indian Sloth bears strolling around or climbing up the trees or playing around with each other. Established in 1994, this sanctuary also houses leopards, hyenas, jackals, spotted deers and various other species of animals and plants making it one of the most favourable places to see in Hampi for nature and wildlife lovers. Timings: 06:00 am to 6:00 pm (all days) Entry fee:

• INR 50 per person for Indian national
• INR 300 per person for foreign national
• Parking fee-INR 500 per car

Visit duration: Approximately 3 hours Tips: Wear good sports/hiking shoes. Also, carry adequate drinking water with you. You can see bears marching down from nearby hillocks in the evening.

13. Tungabhadra Dam

Image Source Among famous attractions in Hampi and surrounding places to visit, the Tungabhadra Dam pure natural bliss. With lovely flamingos playing around the beautiful garden on one side of Tungabhadra Dam, it’s the best place to take out your camera for some great shots. Timings: 08:30 am to 6:30 pm (all days) Entry fee: Nil Visit duration: Approximately 1.5 – 2 hours Tip: Watch out for the beautiful music fountain that starts around 7:00 in the evening.

21 Historical Places In Karnataka Every History Buff Should Visit

14. Hippie Island

Hippie Island is one of the sightseeing places in Hampi, known for its astounding beauty. As the island is named after a vibrant culture, you can enjoy vacationing here in the lively ambiance of this island. Located across the Tungabhadra River, the initial name of the island was Virapapur Gadde.

Timings: Daily 7:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Entry fee: NA Visit duration: 4-5 hours  Tip: Don’t miss mesmerizing views of sunsets along with the live jam sessions conducted on the beach

15. Gagan Mahal

Gagan Mahal is a magnificent architecture that dates back to the 16th century. However, the significant areas of this palace are currently ruined but the palace is worth visiting. You can also head to the nearby popular attractions including Sabari Caves, Nava Brindavana, Sarovar Laxmi Temple, Durga Temple, etc.  Timings: 24 hours Entry fee: NA Visit duration: 1 hour  Tip: The place is like a paradise for history lovers.

38 Romantic Honeymoon Places In South India That Cast Utter Magic

16. Krishna Temple

17. Sanapur Lake

25 Incredible Places To Visit In December Near Bangalore For A Refreshing Getaway

18. Hazara Rama Temple

19. Elephant Stables

35 Exotic Places To Visit In December In India To Enjoy A Surreal Vacation!

20. Stepped Tank

21. Monolithic Bull

Hampi Ranked Second In New York Times ‘Places To See’, Making India Proud

22. Kamal Mahal

23. Zanana Enclosure

Hampi Utsav: 10 Reasons You Must Be A Part Of The Festivities

24. Kadalekalu Ganesh

Kadalekalu Ganesh is a crucial religious attraction in Hampi. Visitors will experience traditional stone architecture in this temple. There is a 15 ft long monolithic stone statue of Lord Ganesha which is believed as the largest in the world. Add this sacred spot to your list of places to visit in Hampi in one day to seek the blessings of the ‘Vighnaharta.’

Timings: 6:00 am to 6:00 pm Entry Fee: NIL Visit Duration: 1-2 hours Tip or places to visit: Lotus palace, Virupaksha Temple, Hampi Bazaar, and Hippie island are a few attractions that tourists can plan to visit while on a trip to Kadalekalu Ganesh.

25. Tiruvengalanatha Temple

Image Credits: Ms Sarah Welch for Wikimedia Commons Also known as Achyuta Raya Temple, it is one of the popular and stunning places to visit in Hampi . This temple was built in 1534 AD and was named after the main deity who is a form of Lord Shiva. This temple was a few of those last temples built during the Vijayanagara Empire. Sitting between Gandhamadana and Matanga hills, the temple, however, lies majorly in ruins that were as a result of attacks on it by the Bahmani Kingdom. Timings: Daily 8:30 am to 5:30 pm Entry fee: None Visit duration: 1-2 hours Tip: Make sure you wear modest clothes that are not at all revealing as a token of respect to the religion.

Guide To Hampi Temples: Relishing Ancient Era Temples And Historic Sites

26. Hemakuta Hill Temple Complex

Image Credits: Dineshkannambadi for Wikimedia Commons Hemakunta Hill Temple Complex is home to many temples that are dedicated to Lord Shiva. Located in the southern region of Hampi, these temples are amongst the most ancient ones that can still be visited in Hampi. This is what makes the complex amongst the top places to visit in Hampi . A lot of these temples were constructed between the 9th and 14th centuries, even before the famous Vijayanagara Empire that ruled Hampi. Timings: Daily 6:00 am to 6:30 pm Entry fee: NA Visit duration: 2-3 hours Tip: Do not forget to carry your cameras to capture the beauty of these places

27. Krishna Pushkarani

Image Source One of the most sacred places in Hampi, Krishna Pushkaranis takes you back to ancient times. This famous tourist spot allows one to get a glimpse of the architectural style of the Vijayanagara era. You will find many such Pushkarnis all around the city. Located near Krishna Bazaar, this remarkable water tank is one of the best places to visit in Hampi. Timings: Open throughout the day Entry fee: None Visit duration: Approximately 20-30 minutes Tip: While visiting here, don’t forget to explore nearby Krishna Bazaar

Coorg In Monsoon: Witness The Best Of Greens At This Paradise Of South India

28. Prasanna Virupaksha Temple

Image Source One of the most famous temples in Hampi , Prasanna Virupaksha Temple was built during the reign of the Vijayanagara Empire. The temple is dedicated to Prasanna Virupaksha, who was an avatar of Lord Shiva. Surrounded by lush greenery, this striking temple boasts an alluring architecture that intrigue visitors. Besides this, the central part of the shrine is always immersed in water that makes the temple all the more special. Timings: 6:00 am to 6:00 pm Entry fee: None Visit duration: Approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour Tip: Spend some time on the lush green lawn of the temple

29. Laughing Buddha Cafe

Image Source Hampi boasts numerous cafes where vacationers can spend some cosy time and among the best ones is the Laughing Buddha Cafe. While offering spectacular views of the Tungabhadra River, this lively cafe serves some mouth-watering meals along with refreshing drinks. You can savour your meal while enjoying light music in the background. The cafe impresses visitors with its menu that includes a wide range of sizzlers, curries, and pizzas, and Israeli cuisine as well. Timings: 8:30 am to 10:00 pm Entry fee: NA Meal for two: INR 1,000 approximately Tip: To treat your tastebuds, try some Israeli delicacies

10 Legendary Lost Cities In India That Were Later Discovered

Best Time To Visit Hampi

Hampi tourism is at its peak, from October to February, as the weather is pleasant and great for sightseeing.

The month of January/February also is an ideal time to visit Hampi, owing to the cultural extravaganza that takes place in Hampi Utsav .

How To Get Around In Hampi

Shopping In Rajkot: Top 9 Places For Those Who Love All Things Handicraft

How To Reach Hampi

By Air- Hubli Airport and Belgaum Airport are two major domestic airports located at distances of 144 km and 215 km from Hampi, respectively. Bangalore Airport is the nearest international airport which is about 350 km from Hampi. By Road- Hampi is among beloved weekend getaways from Bangalore and is well connected to Hospet, Hassan, Mysore and other nearby cities by road as buses ply regularly. Tourists travelling to Hampi by road can also avail taxis that are available from nearby towns and cities. By Train- Hospet Junction- the nearest railway station to Hampi, is about 13 km away.

The aforementioned places to visit in and around Hampi, give you every reason to skip mountains and beaches. Especially if you are an architecture and history buff, these places will surely intrigue you and allow you to have a memorable vacation. Plan your vacation to Hampi with TravelTriangle and enjoy your enthralling vacation! For our editorial codes of conduct and copyright disclaimer, please click here .

Frequently Asked Questions About Places to Visit in Hampi

What is Hampi famous for?

If you are a history buff who likes to explore the heritage relics, then Hampi should definitely be on your list. The scenery of Hampi feels right out of a history book. It is a place for free souls and hippies. Enjoy the nature scenes of the place, camping under the stars, and take a boat ride on the river. Hampi can be so much fun for adults as well as for kids.

What is there do in Hampi?

There are so many things to do in Hampi . For starters, visit each and every temple and ruins Hampi is famous for. All those relics that you see on Indian rupee notes are from Hampi. The charming town is located by the banks of the Tungabhadra River. Taking a coracle ride on the river is a one-of-a-kind experience. You will feel free-spirited in Hampi. Such is the nature of this place. You should also attend the Hampi Utsav that is a celebration of colour and culture.

How do I cover Hampi in 2 days?

You can easily cover Hampi in 2 days. Just get a scooter or a bike on rent and roan around Hampi at your leisure. Start with Virupaksha Temple, Vijay Vittala Temple, and hill temple Complex on day 1, visit the Hampi bazaar to buy some souvenirs from your vacation. On day 2, you can cover Queen’s Bath, Hazara Rama Temple, Stepped Bank. If you have time, you may cover a few more attractions in Hampi before you leave.

How many days are sufficient for Hampi?

Two days are sufficient to visit this World Heritage Site. The place is full of historic monuments and to visit the places nearby two days are sufficient.

When is the best time to visit Hampi?

October to February is the best time to visit Hampi as the temperature is pleasant to explore the city. One can also visit during the monsoon season but should be careful as it gets quite slippery.

Is Hampi safe to travel alone?

Hampi is quite a safe place for solo travellers. As far as the safety of female solo travellers are concerned, one should be cautious in any part of the world.

Where should I stay in Hampi?

Some of the best Hampi hotels are Kishkinda Heritage Resort, Clarks Inn Hampi, Hotel Gowri and Thilak Home Stay to enjoy a luxurious stay.

What are the best places to visit in Hampi?

The best places to visit in Hampi include Hanuman Temple, Hampi Bazaar, Tungabhadra Dam, Stepped Tank, Kamal Mahal, Daroji Bear Sanctuary, and more.

Spellbinding Cochin Family Tour 2D/1N Package @ Rs 2,750

Himachal Family Tour Package 4D/3N @ Rs 8,750

Exciting Andaman Family Trip 5D/4N @ Rs 10,250

Gangtok & Darjeeling Tour Package 5D/4N @ Rs 13,000

Wonderful Goa Family Package 3D/2N @ Rs 6,500

Best prices guaranteed.

Riveting Rajasthan Vacation 3D/2N Package @ Rs 6,499

EMI option available.

Enchanting Uttarakhand Tour 4D/3N Package @ Rs 7,199

Explore best destinations with our experts.

Thrilling weekend full of fun.

Marvelous Gujarat Tour 3D/2N Package @ Rs 4,999

Talk to our experts today.

People Also Read:

Places To Visit In Vishakhapatnam Places To Visit In McLeodganj Places To Visit In Mahabaleshwar

Recent Posts

52 Lieux touristiques près de Chennai pour profiter d’un merveilleux voyage

Voici les 26 meilleurs endroits à visiter en avril 2024 si vous vous demandez où aller

37 Meilleurs endroits à visiter en mars dans le monde pour satisfaire votre envie de voyager en 2024

Lieux à visiter en février dans le monde pour une tournée internationale romantique en 2024

30 Meilleurs endroits à visiter en février en Inde en 2024

34 superbes escapades de week-end au départ de Gurgaon lors de vos vacances extravagantes en 2023

Trending Blogs

20 Mysterious Places In India To Visit In 2023 More Bizarre Than The Bermuda Triangle

10 Scariest Roads In India That Are A Driver’s Nightmare

101 Places To Visit In India Before You Turn 30 in 2024

35 Exotic Places To Visit In December In India 2024 To Enjoy A Surreal Vacation

60 Best Honeymoon Destinations In India In 2024

95 Best Honeymoon Destinations In The World In 2023 For A Romantic Escape!

Best Places To Visit In India By Month

Best places to visit outside india by month.

• TravelTriangle
• topical »
• Tour Packages
• Honeymoon Packages
• Family Packages
• Budget Tour Packages
• Luxury Tour Packages
• Adventure Tour Packages
• Group Tour Packages
• Kerala Tour Packages
• Goa Tour Packages
• Andaman Tour Packages
• Sikkim Tour Packages
• Himachal Tour Packages
• Uttarakhand Tour Packages
• Rajasthan Tour Packages
• Tour Packages From Delhi
• Tour Packages From Mumbai
• Tour Packages From Bangalore
• Tour Packages From Chennai
• Tour Packages From Kolkata
• Tour Packages From Hyderabad
• Tour Packages From Ahmedabad
• Kerala Tourism
• Goa Tourism
• Sikkim Tourism
• Andaman Tourism
• Himachal Tourism
• Uttarakhand Tourism
• Rajasthan Tourism
• Hotels in Kerala
• Hotels in Goa
• Hotels in Sikkim
• Hotels in Andaman
• Hotels in Himachal
• Hotels in Uttarakhand
• Hotels in Rajasthan

The Revolving Compass

To share our love for travel….countless soul enriching experiences

A complete guide to visit Hampi Karnataka

Huge Royal Enclosures that speak luxury !

International Trade Markets from before the era of Christ !

Temples with architecture most brilliant and stunning !

Spread over acres and acres of land & spanning thousands of years !

Welcome to Hampi – the largest open air museum of India . If you like visiting historical places you will definitely be in for a treat at Hampi – the UNESCO World Heritage site of Karnataka, India. Which once flourished as one of the richest kingdoms in the world. And was the epitome of cultural and architectural brilliance. In fact, the kingdom of Hampi had markets where international traders came for trade, had cultural events where artists from across the world were invited. The era of the Vijayanagara Empire in Hampi was one of the most glorious for India.

Table of Contents

About Hampi  – the largest open air museum of India

History of hampi – ramayana era.

Although most of the glorious structures of Hampi are attributed to the Vijayanagara Empire . But actually, it’s past goes back upto the era of Ramayana. And even the Puranas. It was then called “ Pampa Devi Tirtha Kshetra” . Because it is believed, Pampa Devi , a form of Goddess Parvati , resided in this region. Goddess Parvati did meditation for years and attended spiritual power while staying in this region. And this is where Shiva and Parvati got married. Also, when they got married, it is believed that showers of gold from heaven blessed the region. Forming the “Hemkuta Hills” which you will see right besides the Virupaksha Temple in Hampi.

In fact the word “ Pampa ” is a sanskrit word which over time transformed into “ Hampa ” – a kannada version. And finally this place came to be known as Hampi. Even the river Tungabhadra on whose bank Hampi is located was called Pampa River for the same reasons.

Another legend from Ramayana states that this is where Vali and Sugriv got into a fight. The two of them threw huge boulders on each other. And that is what explains the huge monolithic granite boulders that you see all around Hampi.

How interesting!!

History of Hampi – The grandeur of Vijayanagara Empire

As early as 2nd century BC, Hampi was part of the great Maurya Empire of emperor Ashoka . The evidence of which is found in the form of coins and artefacts excavated in Hampi. Later, it was also ruled by the Chalukyas and Hoysala . In fact, it was the Chalukyas who commissioned land for construction of Virupaksha Temple in Hampi.

During the 13th to 15th Century, Hampi saw a rise in power. As the Vijayanagara Empire flourished in this region. The Vijayanagara Kings were not only progressive. But also great patrons of art. As a result, art, architecture and creativity flourished in their kingdom. The result of which is the numerous ancient temples, large and small with intricately carved pillars and painted ceilings like none other. And enormous royal structures all around Hampi including palaces, markets, stables for horses and elephants, stepped water tanks, water reservoirs and a lot more.

Hampi was so prosperous that traders from as far as Persia (current day Iran) and Portugal traveled here for trade and business deals. There were huge markets setup in this area for encouraging smooth trade. As of today, we can visit seven such huge markets in Hampi. In fact, as per some writings and accounts of travellers, Hampi was the second most prosperous and largest town of this era, after Beijing.

Alas, from around 15th Century, the Muslim Rulers of the North attacked Hampi several times. And finally defeated the then king of Hampi. What followed was reckless plundering and looting of the vast empire of Hampi that continued for over 6 months. At the end of which, the kingdom was completely abandoned. And turned into a ghost town. And became what we today know it as – the monuments of Hampi or the UNESCO World Heritage site in Karnataka.

The cultural heritage tour of Karnataka – Hampi, Badami, Pattadakal & Aihole

Hampi is often visited along with Pattadakal, Aihole and Badami as a cultural circuit of North Karnataka. Aihole is fondly called the “school of temple architecture” in India. As it is a very interesting place where one can see prototypes of several famous temples of India. It is believed that the art of temple architecture started here, and a lot of practice was done on prototypes.

PS: Visiting Aihole – the birthplace of temple architecture in India

Pattadakal, on the other hand, just 10km from Aihole, is called the “University of Temple Architecture in India”. As the artists gained perfection, they created huge and stunning temples. Which stand today in the Pattadakala Temple Complex . This is another UNESCO World Heritage site in Karnataka.

And around 10km to Pattadakal is Badami – the sandstone hill surrounded valley of Malaprabha river where you will see rock cut cave temples of Badami like nowhere else. The beautiful Bhootnath Temple on the banks of Lake Agastya . And several other architectural wonders to discover in Badami will await you.

Often one can do a trip to Hampi, Badami, Pattadakal and Aihole together. Wherein one can base themselves in Hampi for 3-4 days. And then shift to Badami for couple of more days. From Badami, one can visit Pattadakal and Aihole on a day trip. And spend the other day exploring Badami. We visited Badami, Pattadakal and Aihole on a separate road trip from Bangalore. Here’s the details of our trip to Badami, Pattadakal and Aihole .

Badami, Pattadakal and Aihole region was like the cultural centre which flourished in parallel to the kingdom of Hampi which in turn was the main business hub.

Where to stay in Hampi

Hampi has definitely been gaining a lot of popularity over the last few years. As, when we visited here almost a decade back there was hardly any stay option in Hampi. But, now, it abounds with all kind of accommodation options from humble guesthouses, bed and breakfast, homestays to hotels and luxury resorts. Couple of properties that we have personally stayed in Hampi include –

• Royal Orchid Hampi
• Hotel Malligi Hampi

Our stay experience was good at both of these places. But will definitely prefer Royal Orchid as it was more comfortable and had a lavish breakfast spread.

Some other accommodation recommendations from our guide to visit Hampi, which are worth considering include the following –

Luxury accommodations :

• Welcomheritage Shivavilas Palace Hampi
• Evolve Back Hampi
• Hampi Heritage Resort
• Hyatt Palace Hampi

Hotels and homestays with good ratings and proximity to the ruins :

• Clarks Inn Hampi
• Arjun Homestay Hampi
• Gopi Homestay

Here’s a complete list of accommodation in Hampi and the nearby town of Hospet for you to explore.

How to reach Hampi

The ruins of Hampi are located almost 10km from the town of Hospet in Karnataka.

Hospet railway station is located some 15-20km from the ruins of Hampi. There are many hotels in Hospet town as well including some of the above mentioned luxury hotels. In fact, both the times on our trip to Hampi, we stayed in Hospet. You can book an overnight train from Bangalore to Hampi or Hyderabad to Hampi. And from the railway station get an autorickshaw to your accommodation.

Hampi and Hospet are well connected to other towns of Karnataka as well as Andhra via road network. We did a road trip from Bangalore to Hampi. We followed this route on our Bangalore to Hampi road trip :

Bangalore -> Neelamangala -> Tumkuru -> Chitradurga -> Hospete -> Hampi

The highway from Bangalore to Hospet is in excellent condition.

Hospet also has a domestic airport now. So, one can also fly to the town of Hospet and then visit Hampi from there. Although the number of flights are limited. Bangalore and Mysore have more options of flights compared to Hospet.

When is the best time to visit Hampi

Winter months from November to February are considered best to visit Hampi.

However as per my guide to visit Hampi, you will find the pre-monsoon season also an excellent time to explore Hampi. As mostly skies are overcast during this time. And with the pleasant monsoon winds blowing, it really makes for a very nice weather to visit Hampi.

Summer months of March – May are best avoided. As the temperature in this region crosses 40 degrees.

In monsoon season, there is a risk of flooding in Hampi if all of a sudden very heavy rain happens. So, monsoon season should also ve avoided if possible. However, monsoons are often characterised by intermittent dry spells. And you can definitely check the weather forecast and visit Hampi in those dry spells.

How to explore the places to see in Hampi

As per our guide to visit Hampi, you can divide the places to see in Hampi in these major groups.

• Virupaksha Temple and it’s surroundings (Part of the ruins of Hampi Kingdom)
• Vithala Temple and it’s surroundings (Part of the ruins of Hampi Kingdom)
• Royal Enclosure of Hampi (Part of the ruins of Hampi Kingdom)
• Hippie Island Hampi across the Tungabhadra River
• Newly added places to see in and around Hospet Town (Zoo, Park near Tungabhadra Dam etc.)

Each one of these is geographically a little distant from the rest. And contains a lot of places to see. So, you can visit each region separately.

You can easily drive to the above three regions in which I have divided the ruins of Hampi. Near each region, you will find a car parking spot where you can park your vehicle and then walk around.

While another good option is to hire a local autorickshaw for a complete day and hop between places using it. Many a times, the autorickshaw drivers are very well informed. Thus, they can act as your guide as well.

To reach Hippie Island, you can either go via road. Or, take a ferry across the Tungabhadra River on the other side.

As per this guide to visit Hampi, the best is to take breaks between exploring each of the above regions of the ruins of Hampi. As each of these are very extensive. And can be overwhelming with their details.

How many days should I spend in Hampi

This really depends on what all you want to do on your Hampi Trip. If you want to skim through each of the historical ruins then you can visit them all in 2 days. So, you can visit Hampi even over a weekend. Take an overnight train on Friday night. Visit the ruins throughout Saturday from early morning to late evening. Visit the Hippie Islands on Sunday and then take an overnight train back home.

But, if you really want to explore the architectural details of the ruins of Hampi. Then, as per our guide to visit Hampi, you should dedicate a day each to Virupaksha Temple and it’s surroundings , Vittala Temple and it’s surroundings and the Royal Enclosure of Hampi . And then another day to spend some time on the Hippie Island of Hampi .

My first trip to Hampi was very overwhelming. As back then I didn’t have much idea on how to go about exploring the different areas of Hampi. Basically I was unprepared for Hampi. As a result, I mostly explored around Virupaksha Temple and a little bit of the views of Tungabhadra river. But not much beyond that.

Although on my second trip, a 3 days Hampi trip itinerary, I could systematically cover most of the ruins of Hampi across the above 3 trails, I could still not cover Hippie Island. So, I would say, make at least 5 days trip to Hampi to see all the important places to see in Hampi . And experience all that Hampi has to offer.

Guide to visit Hampi – Recommended Hampi Trip Itinerary

As per our guide to Hampi, we recommend two Hampi trip itineraries for you –

Option 1: Take an overnight train from Bangalore to Hampi. Explore the most popular ruins and structures of Hampi. Take an overnight train back to Bangalore on Sunday night.

Option 2: To explore all that Hampi has to offer, follow this itinerary:

Day 1-3 : Explore each of the trails of Hampi each of the days – (1) Virupaksha Temple and around (2) Vithala Temple and around (3) Royal Enclosures of Hampi. Stay in a guesthouse or homestay near the Virupaksha Temple. This way you will get to experience the local life of Hampi more closely. Also, enjoy the hospitality of the locals. And all the ruins are almost walkable from the guest houses.

Day 4: Take a coral ride in a traditional round bamboo boat on the river Tungabhadra from the ferry point near Virupaksha Temple. Enjoy the scenery, the islands on river Tungabhadra. And finally go to Hippi Island. Enjoy overnight on this side of Hampi. You can soak in the natural beauty, absorb the vibes of hippie island and enjoy some delicious food in some of the best cafes on this side of Hampi. You can stay overnight on this side of Hampi. At Hampi Boulders Resort or one of the several guest houses on this side of Hampi.

Day 5: Today, move to the town of Hospet. Visit the Tungabhadra Dam, the park near the dam, the zoo etc.

Day 6: This can be the last day of your trip to Hampi. Enjoy a relaxing day in one of the many luxury resorts of Hampi.

Best places to have food in Hampi

Hampi has really evolved over the years as a tourist destination. It has several places to enjoy all kind of cuisines. From humble homemade food that you will get in the lanes behind the Virupaksha Temple. To one of the most luxurious spreads at resorts like Evolve Back and Shivavilas Palace, you will be spoilt by choice.

As per our guide to visit Hampi, you can enjoy north Indian, south Indian, Italian, Continental, Chinese, Tibetian and spanish delicacies in the food outlets of Hampi. Some of the places to eat in Hampi which are highly recommended as per our guide to visit Hampi include –

Happy Buddha Cafe on the other side of the river

Gopi’s Guest House near the Virupaksha Temple

The in-house restaurant at Royal Orchid Hospet where we had enjoyed an enormous spread at very reasonable price.

Naivedyam Restaurant in Hospet Market

PS: Some of our links are affiliated, this means we will earn a commission when you buy a service or product by clicking those links. However, this will have no extra cost for you.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

By using this form you agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website. *

30 places to visit near Hampi

Hampi tour guide

Hampi, located in the state of Karnataka, India, is a captivating destination that holds immense religious and historical significance. As a Hindu pilgrimage site, Hampi is known for its numerous ancient temples and sacred sites, attracting thousands of devotees every year. One of the most prominent attractions in Hampi is the Virupaksha Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva. This temple, with its towering gopuram (gateway tower) and intricate carvings, is a testament to the architectural brilliance of the Vijayanagara Empire.

Apart from its religious importance, Hampi is also a popular tourist destination due to its rich heritage and stunning landscapes. The ruins of Hampi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offer a glimpse into the glorious past of the Vijayanagara Empire. Visitors can explore the remains of palaces, royal complexes, and other structures that showcase the grandeur of the empire. Additionally, Hampi is surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty, with its picturesque landscapes, rocky hills, and the Tungabhadra River flowing through it.

Overall, Hampi is a place where history, spirituality, and natural beauty blend harmoniously, making it a must-visit destination for both pilgrims and tourists alike.

• Badami : Known for its rock-cut caves, ancient temples, and red sandstone cliffs, Badami is a historically significant town located around 3 hours from Hampi.
• Aihole : Renowned as the “cradle of Indian architecture,” Aihole is a historical site with over 120 stone and cave temples dating back to the 6th century.
• Pattadakal : Acknowledged as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Pattadakal is famous for its series of nine Hindu temples and a Jain sanctuary representing a harmonious blend of architectural forms.
• Anegundi : Situated on the northern bank of the Tungabhadra River, Anegundi is an ancient village with mythical significance and a serene riverside setting.
• Tungabhadra Dam : A popular spot for scenic views and leisure activities, the Tungabhadra Dam offers breathtaking landscapes and a serene environment.
• Hampi Bazaar : This bustling market area is dotted with antique stores, handicraft shops, and vibrant street vendors, offering a glimpse of local culture and traditional crafts.
• Daroji Bear Sanctuary : Located around 15 kilometers from Hampi, this sanctuary is home to a significant population of sloth bears and various species of flora and fauna.
• Vijaya Vittala Temple : Known for its iconic Stone Chariot and musical pillars, this temple is a masterpiece of Dravidian architecture and a testament to the artistic excellence of the Vijayanagara Empire.
• Sanapur Lake : A tranquil and picturesque lake where visitors can enjoy coracle boat rides and witness mesmerizing sunsets against a backdrop of surreal rock formations.
• Kamalapuram Museum : Housing a diverse collection of sculptures, inscriptions, and artifacts excavated from the ruins of Hampi, this museum offers valuable insights into the region’s rich heritage.
• Matanga Hill : A popular vantage point offering panoramic views of the Hampi ruins, temples, and the scenic beauty of the surrounding landscape.
• Queen’s Bath : An architectural marvel, the Queen’s Bath is a royal enclosure featuring an ornate bathhouse with striking Indo-Islamic influences and well-preserved ornamental features.
• Ugra Narasimha Statue : A colossal monolithic statue of Lord Narasimha, renowned for its intricate carvings and imposing presence, representing the fierce aspect of Lord Vishnu.
• Hazara Rama Temple : Adorned with elaborate bas-reliefs depicting the Ramayana epic, this temple is dedicated to Lord Rama and is known for its intricate friezes and finely carved pillars.
• Hemakuta Hill Temples : A cluster of ancient temples and shrines set amidst rocky outcrops, offering a serene and spiritual ambiance, especially during sunrise and sunset.
• Achyutaraya Temple : A remarkable architectural marvel with intricate carvings and towering gopurams, this temple is dedicated to Lord Tiruvengalanatha, a form of Lord Vishnu.
• Underground Shiva Temple : An intriguing subterranean temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, known for its unique architecture and mysterious underground chambers.
• Lotus Mahal : A mesmerizing blend of Indo-Islamic architecture, this ornate pavilion within the Zenana Enclosure features delicately carved arches, lotus-shaped domes, and elegant balconies.
• Elephant Stables : A fine example of Indo-Islamic architecture, these majestic domed chambers were once used to house the royal elephants of the Vijayanagara Empire.
• Laxmi Narasimha Temple : Featuring an imposing monolithic statue of Lord Narasimha in a seated posture, this temple is a significant religious and artistic marvel.
• Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary : A haven for nature enthusiasts and wildlife lovers, this sanctuary offers opportunities for wildlife spotting and conservation awareness.
• Kishkindha Heritage Village : A cultural and heritage village showcasing traditional architecture, folk art, and local customs, providing an immersive experience of ancient Indian village life.
• Chandramouleshwara Temple : A lesser-known gem with exquisite carvings and a serene ambiance, dedicated to Lord Shiva and boasting intricate architectural details.
• Sanapur Hanuman Temple : Nestled amidst scenic surroundings, this temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman offers a peaceful retreat and an opportunity for spiritual reflection.
• Lakshmi Narasimha Temple : Housing a colossal monolithic statue of Lord Narasimha, this temple is a prominent landmark with intricate carvings and religious significance.
• Kadalekalu Ganesha : A monolithic statue of Lord Ganesha adorned with intricate carvings and surrounded by lush greenery, representing artistic excellence and religious devotion.
• Vitthala Temple : Known for its iconic stone chariot and intricate carvings, the Vitthala Temple is a masterpiece of Dravidian architecture and a testimony to the skilled craftsmanship of the Vijayanagara Empire. Visitors can marvel at the ornate pillars and the musical pillars that resonate with melodious tones when tapped gently.
• Zenana Enclosure : This secluded area within the royal complex housed the women of the Vijayanagara court. The impressive Lotus Mahal, with its graceful arches and open pavilions, is a highlight of this enclosure, offering a peek into the royal lifestyle.
• Hampi’s Underground Siva Temple : An architectural marvel, this underground temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is a unique and intriguing site. The temple’s unusual layout and hidden chambers add a sense of mystery to the spiritual experience.
• Hemakuta Hill : A sacred site dotted with ancient temples and shrines, Hemakuta Hill provides a serene setting for spiritual contemplation and offers panoramic views of the Hampi landscape, especially at sunrise and sunset.
• Hampi’s Riverside Ruins : Along the banks of the Tungabhadra River, explorers can discover the remains of ancient structures, including the remnants of a spectacular riverside market and bathing ghats, providing a glimpse into the vibrant commercial and social activities of bygone eras.

With an array of historically and culturally significant sites within close proximity to Hampi, visitors have the opportunity to delve deeper into the region’s rich heritage and architectural wonders. Whether it’s exploring the rock-cut caves of Badami, marveling at the architectural splendor of Pattadakal, or immersing oneself in the tranquil ambience of Sanapur Lake, the vicinity of Hampi offers a diverse and enriching travel experience.

Find cheapest Pilgrimage Tour package, Book cheapest Temple tour packages

• https://templeyatri.in/destination/tamilnadu-temple/south-tamilnadu-tour-packages-from-chennai/
• https://templeyatri.in/destination/tamilnadu-temple/tamilnadu-tour-package/
• https://templeyatri.in/destination/kedarnath-travel-guide/kedarnath-tour-package/
• https://templeyatri.in/destination/chardham-travel-guide/10-days-chardham-tour-package-from-haridwar/
• https://templeyatri.in/destination/chardham-travel-guide/11-days-char-dham-tour-package-from-delhi/
• https://templeyatri.in/destination/chardham-travel-guide/char-dham-yatra-package-from-haridwar/
• https://templeyatri.in/destination/haridwar-travel-guide/haridwar-rishikesh-mussoorie-tour-package/
• https://templeyatri.in/destination/rameshwaram-temple/rameshwaram-kanyakumari-tour-package/
• https://templeyatri.in/destination/rameshwaram-temple/madurai-rameswaram-kanyakumari-kovalam-trivandrum-5-days-tour-package/
• https://templeyatri.in/destination/varanasi-travel-guide/2-days-kasi-yatra-tour-package/
• https://templeyatri.in/destination/vaishno-devi-travel-guide/vaishno-devi-patnitop-tour-package/
• https://templeyatri.in/destination/vaishno-devi-travel-guide/vaishno-devi-amritsar-tour-package/
• https://templeyatri.in/destination/ujjain-travel-guide/indore-ujjain-omkareshwar-tour-package/
• https://templeyatri.in/destination/omkareshwar-travel-guide/indore-ujjain-omkareshwar-maheshwar-mandu-tour-package/
• https://templeyatri.in/destination/somnath-temple-travel-guide/dwarka-porbandar-somnath-tour-package-from-ahmedabad/
• https://templeyatri.in/destination/tirupati-balaji-travel-guide/3-days-tirupati-vellore-tour-package-from-chennai/
• https://templeyatri.in/destination/tirupati-balaji-travel-guide/3-days-tirupati-tour-package/
• https://templeyatri.in/destination/varanasi-travel-guide/4-days-varanasi-prayagraj-ayodhaya-tour-package/
• https://templeyatri.in/destination/varanasi-travel-guide/prayagraj-varanasi-gaya-ayodhaya-tour-package/
• https://templeyatri.in/destination/somnath-temple-travel-guide/somnath-dwarka-sasan-gir-girnar-junagadh-gujarat-tour-package/
• https://templeyatri.in/destination/somnath-temple-travel-guide/somnath-dwarka-diu-sasan-gir-junagadh-gujarat-tour-package/

Send Your Enquiry

• Destination
• Buddhist Tour in India
• Religious Festivals of India
• Holidays in India
• Travel Tips
• Pilgrimage App
• Jyotirlinga Yatra
• Char Dham Yatra
• North India Tours
• South India Tours
• East India Tours
• West India Tours
• Devi Darshan Tour Packages

Call Us: +91-8826094899

Mail Us: [email protected]

Best Places to Visit in Hampi

Hampi, previously Vijayanagar, is one of the most astounding tourist places in India. The rich history of Hampi makes it a place worth visiting in one’s lifetime. Hampi was the main capital of the Vijayanagar Empire. It was founded by Bukka and Harihara in the year 1336. The empire flourished for around 200 years before falling to Muslim rulers in North India during 1565 in the battle of Talikota. The Vijayanagar Empire saw its Golden era during the rule of King Krishna Deva Raya of the Tuluva dynasty. Hampi is a land of grandeur where mythology and history merge. Hampi is basically a cluster of zones and villages that are interconnected by roadways and sometimes by ferries. The important areas of Hampi include the sacred center, the Royal Center, the Islamic quarter, the Kamalapura and the Anegondi.

There are innumerable places to visit in Hampi. If you are a photography enthusiast, or an archaeology enthusiast then Hampi is a place that you must visit. The aesthetically beautiful Hampi tourist places are a photographer’s paradise. The history laden places in Hampi has numerous unique Vijayanagara style architectural monuments and temples which are a must see for history and architecture enthusiasts. If you think that Hampi has only temples and monuments to offer, then you need to take a look at the beautiful boulder lined hills along the Tungabhadra River. Backpackers can derive the ultimate thrill by setting on foot along the Tungabhadra and devour in the beautiful sight. The best way to discover Hampi is by taking a walk among the ruins and losing your self in the beauty of the bygone era. In Hampi, you will be on an endless trail of discovery, and before you can realize, you will be absorbed in this fascinating place. You can know more about Hampi tourism from the internet and plan your tour.

Hampi is generally hot and dry. The summers last from March to June and the temperature can shoot up to 40 degrees, which dissuades outdoor activities. Monsoon lasts from June to August and is the perfect time for you if you love the rain. The outpour washes down the dry earth, monuments and the trees. A lush green scenic beauty is unleashed, and you can absorb in the freshness and revel in it. Winter lasts from November to February and is the most ideal time to visit Hampi. The temperature hovers below 34 degree centigrade and can fall as low as 12 degrees at night time. The winter month are pleasant and sees the maximum footfall. Hampi is easily accessible from all major cities and towns. You can look up Hampi Karnataka India map to get the detailed location of the place. You can also consult the various Hampi maps that enumerate the rail, road and air connections to get to Hampi.

There are multiple routes to reach Hampi. Whether you travel by rail, bus or car your main point of entry to Hampi is the sleepy town of Hospet. Hospet is well connected with major cities and towns like Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Mysore, Bangalore, Hubli, Belgaum, and Bijapur etc. To reach Hampi you need to reach Hospet as it is the nearest town to Hampi with railway station and bus stop. Your travel to Hospet may require multiple modes of transport as there are no direct connections. Once you reach Hospet, you can take a local bus or auto rickshaw to Hampi which is 14km away from Hospet.

If You are in Hampi, Then the Ten Main Attractions that You Must See are as Follows:

Table of Contents

The Kodandarama Temple

This temple has immense religious significance. This temple is renowned more for its religious importance than for architectural significance. It is visited by many faithfuls who come for pilgrimage in Hampi. Kodandarama temple, when literally translated from the local dialect means crowned Rama. This temple has important mythological implications. It is said that Lord Rama killed Vali in this very place and crowned Sugreeva. The humble shrine has more stories to tell than it meets the eye. This temple harbors a sacred bathing spot which is one of the holiest pilgrimage spot for the Hindus. The proof of this temple being a holy spot for centuries is evident long the ancient pavilions, which are next to this temple, where pilgrims used to rest. Enclosed in the sanctum of this temple are three tall statues of Lord Rama, Sita and Lakshmana. The idols were carved on a huge boulder at the hill side.

The temple sanctum as well as the pillared pavilions was added around the idols at a later stage. If you visit Hampi during monsoon you can see water rising and reaching up to the temple courtyard. The only way to reach this temple is via foot or on a bicycle. From the Virupaksha temple you need roughly 45 minutes to reach Kodandarama temple on foot. Before visiting this sacred temple you should keep in mind that it is an active religious place and therefore must maintain decorum and etiquette suitable for places of worship. If you are in Hampi, then make sure that you do visit this beautiful temple.

The Bhima’s Gateway

The Bhima’s gateway is abounding with the tales from Mahabharata. The BhIma’s gateway is one of the many gateways to the city. This gateway arouses interest on account of its style of construction and the carvings engraved on it. This gateway is an example of the Vijayanagara Military architecture. As is evident from the name, this gateway has been named after Bhima, a legendary character from the Mahabharata. A figure of Bhima is carved on the gateway. The gateway draws attention towards it because of its tricky design. It is impossible to cross the archway in a straight line. You have to enter this archway through a western arch and as you walk straight ahead you will encounter a huge wall like structure. To go around this wall like structure you need to go right then left and then finally turn left to exit at the north.

The importance of this construction is that it was used to tackle invading armies and catch them off guard. It was not an easy task for elephant mounted armies to go around this puzzling gateway. This gave the defending army to launch a counter attack. The Bhīma’s gateway is also renowned for the carvings. These carvings typically depict scenes from the epic Mahabharata. These scenes are carved as murals on the gate. A visit to this gateway is a must if you are in Hampi. There is no entry fee. Most of the temples are all clustered together so you can easily visit other sites from the gateway.

The Badavilinga Temple

This temple is close to the Lakshmi Narasimha temple, and you can visit both of them together. The Badavilinga temple is located close to Narasimha statue. The main Linga is housed is a chamber that has an opening in the front portion. There are umpteen numbers of Shiva Linga all over the country, but what makes the Badavilinga temple stand apart is that it is the largest monolithic Linga in Hampi. The name of this temple has a unique origin. It is said that this temple was commissioned to be built by a local peasant woman, and therefore it has been named Badavilinga as Badva when translated from the local dialect mean poor. If you take a close took at the shrine you can see three eyes carved on it, which depicts the three eyes of Lord Shiva.

An important piece of Hindu mythology is ingrained in all temples of the Lord Shiva. Based on the Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva volunteered to take the impact of the flowing Ganges on to his head to prevent its destructive forces from splitting the earth. To depict this all temples dedicated to Lord Shiva have a pot with dripping water over the Shiva Linga. The Linga in the temple is housed in a sanctum which is always filled with water and has a channel for the water to flow. You may have seen a Shiva Linga umpteen times all over India but make sure you catch a glimpse of the deity at Hampi as it holds a special place and importance for the local people here.

The Chandikesvara Temple

This temple is well known for its typical Vijayanagara style architecture. It is a Vaishnava temple and is not used for religious purpose at present. This temple is noteworthy for its pillared front hall. The temple is designed like a campus and has pillars decorated with various themes, acting like a porch to the temple campus. There are two shrines within the temple compound. The main shrine is located in the centre while the other shrine is located at the North West. At present, the shrines are devoid of idols. It is believed that the central shrine had a Vaishnava idol and the second shrine was dedicated to a goddess.

The decoration and architecture at the temple has typical Vaishnava theme. The main hall of the temple has pillars depicting Vaishnava themes such as Garuda-the eagle, Kamadhenu-the godly cow, Hanuman and many other Vaishnava themes. All the pillars are connected by lotus bud tipped capitals with the granite beams that support the roof. If you go to the southwest of the temple’s compound you can spot the ruins of the hall that is believed to have served as a sanctuary for the pilgrims. This temple is easily visible from the main road to Hampi as its porch protrudes on to the main road. This is one of the most easily accessible temples in Hampi, and so tourists should pay close attention to avoid missing it. There is no entry fee, and there is no bar on photography.

The Krishna Bazaar

The Krishna bazaar is associated with the Krishna Temple and is a relatively new excavated site. The Krishna bazaar is low lying in comparison to the area close to the temple, which is built on elevated ground. While going to the Krishna bazaar you will have to tread some broad steps which lead to the bazaar from the temple. Being low laying the Krishna bazaar got covered with silt over time and later it got converted into a banana plantation. It was due to the excavators efforts of the  that this historically important place was excavated, and today this once busy and crowded market place is for all to see. If you are an archaeology enthusiast then this site will certainly interest you.

If you enter from the side of the Krishna temple you can spot many interesting excavations such as rows of pavilions along the bazaar street, cobbled pathways and other interesting structures. An interesting structure among these ruins is the Pushkaran or the sacred tank. There is a small pavilion at its centre, and there are innumerable carved aquatic devices to feed water into the tank. Near the bazaar, there is a large rectangular pavilion curved out of a huge boulder, and there is a small rectangular opening at the top. It is said that devotees used to offer food grains in this box. If you visit Hampi then ensure that you don’t go back without visiting this newly excavated Krishna Bazaar as it has many interesting sights to offer.

The Virupaksha Temple

The Virupaksha temple Hampi dedicated to lord Shiva is one of the most important and famous temple in Hampi. The Virupaksha temple is one of the oldest functioning temples in Hampi. The temple was constructed in the 7th century AD. The temple has been used for religious purpose uninterrupted since the time of its construction. This grand temple is attributed to the Vijayanagara kings from the 14th century. Having stood the test of time, the Virupaksha temple testifies the rich history of this region. Initially when the temple was construct it was very modest and had only a few idols of god and goddesses. With the passage of time as various dynasties came to power, the Hindu kings added to the temple by building towers, pillars and even a temple kitchen.

Today the temple has many shrines, which were added during the years. The interior of the temple has carvings that testify how different rulers had molded it. The carvings differ in genre. Each of the carvings have some or the other story behind it. The carving sequences portray historical and mythological tales. The Virupaksha temple has so much of history associated with it that you should go there with enough time to explore the place as much as possible. Inside the temple, you can find a shrine for the Virupaksha and a shrine for the sage Vidyaranya. If you visit the place in the morning or in the during the evening hours, you will be able to catch a glimpse of the rituals. The temple opens early morning and entry fee along with fee for still camera, and video camera is levied.

The Stone Chariot

The stone chariot, located inside the Vittala temple, is one of the major attractions of Hampi. The stone chariot is not a chariot per se, but it is a shrine that is built in the fashion of a chariot. The chariot appears as a monolithic structure, but in reality it is built of innumerable pieces of granite, craftily joined together to make it appear as though carved out of a single boulder. The shrine lies in the axis of the Vittala temple and faces its sanctum. The shrine once contained the icon of the Garuda who is known as the lord of eagles. The Garuda is considered as the mount of Lord Vishnu who is the other form of Lord Vittala. The entire chariot is built upon a rectangular platform which has mythical battle scenes carved all around it.

The wheels of the chariot are decorated with concentric floral motifs. It is thought that the wheels were once free to move. The undercarriage of the carriage sports beautifully carved paintings, and they were preserved from the wind and rain owning to their position. This shows that the entire Vittala Temple might have been beautifully painted, but time weathered them out. There are two elephants positioned just in front of the chariot. There were many other structures associated with the chariot but with time they just disappeared. The earliest photograph of the chariot bears testimony to this fact. If you visit Hampi, then you should visit this shrine as it is one of the most beautiful carving of the bygone era.

The Vijaya Vittala Temple

This temple is a must visit for all tourists to Hampi. It has been declared as a World Heritage site by UNESCO. The sheer beauty of the temple architecture keeps you mesmerized. The Vittala temple was built around the 15th century and with the passage of time came under the reign of several Hindu rulers. The temple was molded, and various structures were added to by various kings and the remains of the Vittala temple that we see today bear a testimony to the rich history of the bygone era. The temple is built within a large campus area, and it is bounded off by compound walls and gateways. Within the boundary wall of the Vittala temple, there are numerous temples, pavilions and halls. This temple has some exquisite pillared halls and some of the granite pillars have extraordinary sculptures and carvings on them.

The Stone chariot is situated within the compound of the Vittala Temple and is the main tourist attraction. The temple is mainly dedicated to the Lord Vittala who is another incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Lord Vittala was primarily worshipped by the cattle herds. One of the unique characteristics of the pillars at the Vittala temple is that it is said the pillars give out melodious sounds on striking them and hence they are called the musical pillars. However, being delicate, tourists are prohibited from touching them. The remains of erstwhile Vittalapura Township can still be seen surrounding the temple. You can take photographs of the beautiful architecture of this temple.

The Kadalekalu Ganesha Temple

The Kadalekalu Ganesha temple is one of the major attractions of this region. The Kadalekalu Ganesha is one of the largest Ganesha idol in this region. This huge Ganesha idol was carved out of a single large boulder at the slopes of the Hemakuta Hill. It is said that the belly of the statue resembles Bengal gram, and therefore the name Kadalekalu was given to it. In front of the temple, there is an open porch, and it is adorned with slender long pillars that are so typical of the Hampi architecture. Each of those pillars are beautifully carved and decorated with mythical themes. The scenes depicted include that of infant Krishna hiding on a tree and his hiding the clothes of the courtly women.

The Kadalekalu Ganesha statue is 4.5 meters tall and one of the largest in Hampi. A sanctum is built around this statue. The pillared hall in front of this sanctum is every bit as mesmerizing as the statue itself. You do not have to pay any entry fee to visit this beautiful temple. If you love moving around with your camera, then you can make the maximum utilization at the Kadalekalu temple. There is no prohibition on photography, and you can capture the beauty of the temple without any restriction. From the pillared hall, you can get a great view of the Hampi bazaar and the foothills of the Matanga hill. If you are visiting Hampi then make sure that Kadalekalu temple is on your list of the must see temples in Hampi.

The Courtesan’s Street

The courtesan’s street is near the Achyuta Raya temple. The importance of the courtesan’s street lies in the fact that it signifies the important trading centre that Hampi used to be in the bygone days. There are many pillars on either side of the street that were once part of the pavilion. The street is said to be 50 meters wide and about half a kilometer long. The street testifies that Hampi was an important commercial and trading center at one point of time. As you stand on the courtesan street you can see the unfinished pillars on one side of the street. There is also a small tank in the north end portion of the street which is said to be connected to the Achyuta Raya temple. You can find pillars near this tank with elephant carvings on their base.

The courtesan’s street was the trader’s and merchant’s hot spot, and they came from different places all over the world to trade in various items ranging from gems to items of necessity. The Courtesan’s street is accessible on foot. In fact as already mentioned, Hampi is best discovered either on foot or on a moped. The courtesan’s street as well as other temples, pavilions and shrines keep the rich history of Hampi alive. Hampi is full of interesting archaeological excavations. Some of the sites in Hampi are still under excavation and history keeps unfolding with time. Hampi is dotted with umpteen numbers of temples, and though there are only ten most interesting places mentioned here, you can discover a lot more when you visit Hampi.

If You Visit Hampi, Then You can Lodge With any of the Following Hotels:

Hotel Mayura Bhuvaneshwari

Hotel Mayura Bhuvaneshwari is located at Hampi, and it is a government of Karnataka Undertaking. It is one of the finest hotels in Hampi and the location is convenient as due to is good connection with all the major tourist spots in the city. The hotel is well connected with Hospet via road and rail. Once you reach Hospet you can avail of either train or road transport and reach the hotel which is at a distance of 15km from Hospet. The hotel provides all basic amenities. You can choose from the standard non-A/C room, the A/C semi deluxe room, deluxe room and presidential suite. There is 24 hours water supply so you need not worry about the availability of water. There is attached bathroom and T.V in all rooms. Additional the hotel has a bar and a restaurant. The rate varies with the type of room that you opt for.

The Malligi Hotel

The Malligi hotel is one of the best options you have among all the Hampi hotels. The hotel excels in its service to customers. The classic atmosphere and elegance of the hotel adds to its beauty and charm. If you opt to stay in this hotel then be ready to get top notch hospitality. This hotel is very conveniently located at the intersection of Hampi road and Bellary road. If you come to Hampi by bus then you can reach the hotel within minutes on foot, and if you arrive by train it is a 10 minute drive from the station. Malligi provides top class amenities for all its guests. You can rejuvenate at your private guest room, cool off at the pool or unwind at the spa. You can avail of the great dining experience at their restaurant.

The Royal Orchid Central Kireeti

The Royal Orchid Central Kireeti is another great option you have when travelling to Hampi. The hotel is located just one km from Hospet and at a distance of 25 km from the world heritage site of Hampi. It is a relatively new 5 star resort promoted by the Royal Orchid groups of hotels. It is a contemporary hotel which provides modern facilities like swimming pool, spa, 24 hour coffee shop, as well as a business center. There are 135 rooms and you can choose from among the deluxe rooms, Executive suite or the presidential suite. Apart from all the basic facilities, the hotel provides amenities like LCD TV, DVD player, Electronic safe Deposit, bathrobes, Tea-Coffee maker, mini bar and high speed Wi-Fi in all rooms. The rates differ with the type of room that you avail of, and they include breakfast. Hotel Royal Orchid is a great option if you travel to Hampi.

Vijayshree Heritage Resort

One of the best resorts in Hampi is the Vijayshree Heritage Resort. This resort is easily accessible from Hospet. Whether you travel by air, rail or road, you can easily reach the resort from Hospet. There are a number of facilities at the Vijayshree heritage resort which you cannot avail of at any other resort. There are forty five cottages from which you can choose. You can opt for a royal apartment with Jacuzzi. There is a swimming pool and also a pool for children. There is the facility of 24 hour café, in-house laundry and dry cleaning, 24 hours energy back up, Nirvana Health Spa, beauty salon, snooker desk, Wi-Fi connectivity and a host of other such facilities. You may request for themed dinner and can also avail of other facilities that are available on request. The Vijayshree resort gives holistic services, which are bound to make your stay in Hampi worthwhile and thoroughly enjoyable.

The Hotel Krishna Palace

The hotel Krishna Palace is another good option when you visit Hampi. The hotel is situated in Hospet and is easily accessible form the Bus stand and is at a distance of 1km from the railway station. The hotel provides luxury with a traditional touch. Apart from the basic amenities the hotel provides facilities like beauty salon and many others. You can avail of rooms according to your convenience and the rates vary accordingly. You can choose to dine at Fiesta- the restaurants at the hotel which provides the finest quality meal. You can enjoy yourself at their bar with the finest cocktails. Alternatively you can also choose to avail of their banquet hall facility which can easily accommodate up to 250 people. Hotel Krishna palace is one of the finest serving hotels in Hampi, and if you visit Hampi then Hotel Krishna Palace can be worth your consideration.

Suggested Tour:

• South India Temple Tour Package

Recent Post

How to Plan Chardham Yatra from Bangalore

Planning a Char Dham Yatra from Surat

Pilgrims to Access Badrinath and Hemkund Sahib via Helicopter

Kedarnath Helicopter Service Fare to Rise by 5%

POPULAR POSTS

Asthi Visarjan Places in India You Must Know About

Mahakaleshwar Temple Aarti & Darshan Timings

How to Reach Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga

Popular category.

• Pilgrimage Destination 38
• Travel Tips 21
• Kedarnath Dham 14
• Chardham 12
• Travel News 10
• Badrinath Dham 10
• Yamunotri Dham 9
• Vaishno Devi Temple 8
• Gangotri Dham 8

Hampi: The Perfect Itinerary For An Epic Trip

The mere mention of Hampi evokes thousands of feelings in our hearts. Once the capital of the esteemed Vijayanagara Empire, Hampi has now enlisted as a UNESCO World Heritage Site thanks to her architectural and sculptural remains.

Table of Contents

Know before you go: all about Hampi:

Hampi was originally known as Pampakshetra. It was named after Pampa, a reincarnation of Sati. Pampa had fallen in love with Shiva, who was then meditating at Hemkuta Hill. Eventually, Shiva was impressed by Pampa’s dedication and married her. In fact, Shiva is known as Pampapati in Hampi. Also, Hampi is a contorted term derived from the word ‘Pampa’.

In Ramayana, Hampi was called Kishkindha. It was the kingdom of monkeys. It was from here that Rama embarked on his mission to rescue Sita from Lanka.

Historically, Hampi was the capital of the mighty Vijayanagara Empire. It was the second largest city of the Medieval Age. It was also the richest city in the contemporary world. Foreign visitors from Persia, Italy, Portugal, and Russia have left chronicles of a prosperous city, which was conquered by the Deccan Sultanate troops in 1565 CE, ravaged for six months, and then abandoned.

Know more about Hampi from our previous blog post here .

Where is Hampi located:

Hampi is located in central Karnataka, near the state border with Andhra Pradesh. It is situated on the banks of the Tungabhadra River. It is 376 km from Bengaluru and 165 km from Hubli.

How to reach Hampi:

• By air: The nearest airport is at Torangallu (32 km from Hampi), which, in turn, is well–connected with Bengaluru by air.
• By rail: Hospet (13 km from Hampi) is the nearest rail station.
• By bus: Overnight bus services are available from Bengaluru.

As for us, we reached Bengaluru from Kolkata by flight. Then, we boarded the train from KSR Bengaluru station. We reached Hospet at 7 AM after an overnight journey. From Hospet, we took an auto to Hampi. The auto charged INR 250.

What is the best time to visit Hampi:

Given its rocky terrain, Hampi remains excruciatingly hot during most part of the year making it extremely difficult to explore the ruins. Hence, it is best to visit Hampi from October to February. The temperature remains moderate and the chances of rainfall are almost nil during this time.

How to travel within Hampi:

The most convenient way to travel in and around Hampi is by auto. The daily fare of an auto is around INR 1000. Don’t forget to bargain a bit.

You can rent a scooter and bike at INR 200 – 300 per day depending on the type of vehicle.

You can also rent bicycles at INR 100 – 150 per day.

Where to stay in Hampi:

We stayed at KSTDC Mayura Bhuvaneshwari at Kamalapura. The room was decent and provided with all amenities. We also loved the food here. The staff are cordial too. You can check the current room rent and book rooms from here .

The Clark’s Inn Hampi is another good option for accommodation. This hotel is located just opposite the Archaeological Museum.

Books on Hampi:

We will suggest reading about the Vijayanagara Empire before travelling there. It will help you to understand the history of Hampi and thereby feel this amazing place. Read “A Forgotten Empire” by Sewell and “Hampi Vijayanagara” by Fritz & Michell.

What are the things to do in Hampi:

1. The best and most important thing to do here is obviously to explore the countless ruins of the Vijayanagara Empire.

2. Sunset in Hampi is regarded as one of the best in Asia. Watch beautiful sunsets from Hemkuta, Matanga, and Anjanadri Hills.

3. Take a coracle ride on the Tungabhadra River, especially during the sunset.

4. Don’t forget to visit the Archaeological Museum. True, Hampi is often considered an open museum. Yet, its museum houses some spectacular and important relics of Vijayanagara.

5. Explore the rural side of Hampi. The paddy fields, coconut groves, and banana plantations add to its idyllic beauty.

6. If you are up for an adventure, you can go rock climbing in Hampi.

7. Hampi is also known for birding.

8. You can also visit the Daroji Bear Sanctuary to see sloth bears.

How many days are enough for Hampi:

No matter how many days you stay at Hampi, you will end up wishing to spend a few more days there. Alas! If only, our bosses at work understood!

Ideally, 3 days will be sufficient to explore Hampi. We spent 3 days and covered even some of the off-beat places here.

In this blog, we will share our very own itinerary. Along with that, we will also chalk out itineraries for 2 days and 1 day. You can modify them at your convenience.

On our first day, we started our exploration by visiting the following places in and around Kamalapura:

1. Vijaya Vittala Temple:

This is one of the most important temple ruins of Hampi. It is considered a masterpiece of Vijayanagara temple architecture. Since it remains crowded for a good part of the day, we visited around 7 in the morning.

On entering through the eastern ‘gopuram’, the magnificent stone chariot grabs all the attention. The stone chariot believed to be inspired by Konark’s Sun Temple, is undoubtedly one of the most popular tourist attractions here.

Later, we took the dirt road on the left of the Vittala Temple and reached the King’s Balance . The Vijayanagara emperors are believed to have had themselves weighed on this balance against gold and precious stones, which were later distributed among temple priests.

2. Malyavanta Hill:

This place is laced with tales from Ramayana. Rama is believed to have spent four months here while looking out for Sita. The relief carvings of Shiva lingams and Nandis found on the hill were worshipped by him. We were also captivated by the panoramic view of Hampi from above Malyavanta Hill.

The summit of Malyavanta has the beautiful Raghunatha Temple. It is only in this temple that Rama can be found worshipped in a seated position.

3. Bhima’s Gate:

Next came Bhima’s Gate. A slab carved with Bhima, Mahabharata’s hero, was found here, hence the name.

4. Ganagitti Jain Temple:

An inscription of 1385 CE on the ‘dipa-stambha’ mentions that this Jain temple was built by Irugappa, a general of Harihara II. The structure of this temple is quite simple and austere in style with plain outer walls.

5. Pattabhirama Temple:

Our next stop was Pattabhirama Temple, which is one of the largest temple complexes in Hampi.

The temple was dedicated to Lord Rama. It was probably built by Achyutaraya of the Tuluva dynasty. It once formed the nucleus of an urban cluster called Varadevi Ammana Pattana, named after one of the queens of Achyutaraya.

A short walk from the temple brought us to its ‘pushkarini’. We also visited the Domed Gateway nearby, which once served as an entrance to the urban cluster from the southeast.

Post-lunch, we decided to explore the Sacred Cluster of Hampi.

6. Narasimha Monolith:

This colossal statue, standing at 6.7 meters high, is extremely popular among tourists. It was commissioned by Krishnadevaraya in 1528 CE. The Narasimha is seated cross-legged beneath the Sheshanaga.

Originally, there was a statue of Lakshmi seated on the lap of Narasimha. Sadly, nothing is left of the figure of the goddess.

7. Badavi Linga:

Right next to the Narasimha statue, there is a monolithic Shiva linga, which is about 3 meters tall.

8. Krishna Temple:

This is another significant temple ruin of Hampi. It once formed the epicentre of the Krishnapura urban cluster.

The temple was commissioned by Krishnadevaraya in 1515 CE to celebrate his victory over the Gajapati rulers of the then Orissa. During its heyday, this temple housed a granite icon of infant Krishna, which was brought from Udaygiri.

9. Virupaksha Temple:

It is one of the few intact and active temples in Hampi, which remained unscathed from the destruction caused by the Sultanate. During the Vijayanagara Empire, it was the main temple and principal centre of pilgrimage. Even today, throngs of pilgrims visit this temple every day.

The temple is dedicated to Shiva, who is venerated as Virupaksha and Pampapathi here. Along with him, his two consorts – Pampa and Bhuwaneshwari – are also worshipped here.

10. Kadalekalu Ganesha:

After Virupaksha Temple, we went to the Hemkuta Hill. Here, we first visited Kadalekalu (roughly translated to gram seed) Ganesha.

The 4.5-meter-high statue has been carved out of a massive single boulder.

11. Sasivekalu Ganesha:

This is another prominent monolithic statue of Ganesha, rising at 2.4 meters. The word ‘sasivekalu’ locally means mustard seed.

An inscription nearby informs that a merchant engaged in the business of mustard seed had commissioned this temple.

• The first day of exploring Hampi ended with catching the sunset at Hemkuta Hill.

The first half of the second day was reserved for exploring the Royal Enclosure area.

1. Queen’s Bath:

One of the most attractive structures of the Royal Enclosure, the building is influenced by Indo-Islamic architecture.

The name, however, seems to be a misnomer. It was probably used by male courtiers and their female companions.

2. Mahanabami Dibba:

This raised platform was used by the Vijayanagara emperors for receiving honourable guests, watching army processions, games, and cultural performances, and most importantly celebrating the Navaratri festival.

Nothing exists in the upper portion of the platform. Only the base has survived the trial of time. It has countless carvings, which depict the day-to-day lives of the Empire.

From the top of the platform, the entire Royal Enclosure and palace area can be clearly seen. You can also check out the remains of various structures that have been excavated over the years.

3. Hazara Rama Temple:

This temple is another excellent specimen of Vijayanagara temple architecture. As it is located right in the middle of the Royal Enclosure, it is believed that the temple was exclusively used by the King.

This temple was built by Devaraya I of the Sangama dynasty in the early 15th CE. It was dedicated to Rama. The outer walls of the main temple have three tiers of carving, featuring 108 scenes from the Ramayana.

4. Zenana Enclosure:

This is a high-walled compound, which has two excavated palace structures and watchtowers. Contrary to popular belief, historians believe that the women of the Vijayanagara court did not live there. Since it is located in the vicinity of elephant stables and parade ground, the kings and their commanders most likely used it.

5. Lotus Mahal:

The Lotus Mahal is the most attractive structure inside the Zenana Enclosure.

It is characterized by a cluster of nine pyramidal towers and lobed arches.

6. Elephant Stable:

This is another specimen of Indo-Islamic architecture in Hampi. It comprises eleven chambers, each of which could accommodate two elephants.

After having our lunch and a bit of rest, we started the second phase of our exploration.

7. Coracle ride on Tungabhadra:

The coracle ride on Tungabhadra is one of the pleasant experiences in Hampi.

8. Kodandarama Temple and riverside sculptures:

The Kodandarama Temple is another active temple of Hampi. It is dedicated to Rama and his consort, Sita.

The surrounding area has many sculptures, notable among them are countless miniature lingas and a set of carvings portraying the avatars of Vishnu.

We also visited a cave temple, which remains submerged during the monsoon. It has interesting carvings of Shiva, Veerbhadra, a half-man and half-bull form of Nandi, etc.

9. Achyutaraya Temple:

It is also known as Tiruvengalanatha Temple. It was built in 1534 CE, not by Achyutaraya as the name suggests, but by his brother-in-law.

The temple is in a dilapidated state, although its grand scale and magnificence can still be asserted.

10. Matanga Hill:

We ended our day with another glorious sunset, watching it from the top of Matanga Hill.

We started our third day by visiting the Archaeological Museum in Kamalpura. It has a fascinating collection of artefacts excavated from various sites of Hampi. The museum is divided into three galleries: the Shaiva Gallery, notable for life-size sculptures of Virbhadra and Bhairava; the Vishnu Gallery, showcasing statues of Garuda, Hanumana, Vishnu, and so on; and the General Gallery, displaying coins, weapons, copper plate inscriptions and such other artefacts of Vijayanagara Empire.

Afterward, we went to Anegundi, which was the first capital of Vijayanagara rulers. Anegundi is located on the northern bank of Tungabhadra. It is also believed to be the monkey kingdom of Kishkindha, as mentioned in the Ramayana.

The places of interest in Anegundi are as follows:

1. Anjanadri Hill:

It is believed to be the birthplace of Hanuman, the monkey god. You need to climb 575 steps to reach the top, which has a temple dedicated to Hanuman.

The Anjanadri Hill is also one of the best places to enjoy the sunset in Hampi. We were also amazed by the panoramic view of Hampi that this hill provided.

2. Anegundi Fort:

This was a fortified citadel, which housed a Durga temple and a Ganesha temple.

3. Pampa Sarovar:

This is a holy lake, where Pampa performed penance to show her devotion to Shiva.

4. Sanapur Lake:

It is one of the most scenic places in Anegundi. This natural lake is surrounded by stunning boulders and rocks, which further add to the charm of this place.

We loved this place as it was far less crowded than the rest of Hampi. We found it perfect for enjoying a bit of tranquillity. Also, coracle rides are available here.

Anegundi is also known for its picturesque rural beauty. It is dotted with paddy fields, banana plantations, and coconut groves.

2-days itinerary for Hampi:

If you are visiting Hampi for two days, you can opt for our plan for the first two days, following it to the T. You will have to give Anegundi a miss in that case.

1-day itinerary for Hampi:

In case you have only one day to explore Hampi, we suggest visiting only the most important places. It will be impossible to cover all the places in a go.

Start early with Vijaya Vittala Temple. Then proceed to the Royal Enclosure and visit the Queen’s Bath, Mahanabami Platform, Hazara Rama Temple, Lotus Mahal, and Elephant Stable.

Grab a quick lunch and start exploring the Sacred Cluster. Start with the Narasimha monolith and continue with the Krishna Temple, Virupaksha Temple, Kadalekalu Ganesha, and Sasivekalu Ganesha. Finish your day’s trip by watching the sunset from Hemkuta Hill.

Things to remember:

1. The monuments in Hampi remain open from 6 AM to 6 PM.

2. The Archaeological Museum remains open from 10 AM to 5 PM. It is closed on Fridays.

3. Entry fees are required for visiting Virupaksha Temple, Vijaya Vittala Temple, and Zenana Enclosure. For the rest of the monuments, entry is free.

4. Drones and tripods are not allowed in Hampi.

5. The weather in Hampi is quite hot even at the end of October. Hence, we suggest starting as early as possible. Explore until lunch and take a break afterwards as the sun remains harshest between 12 PM to 3 PM. Start travelling again after 3 in the afternoon.

6. Though Hampi is known for mesmerizing sunsets, you can catch the sunrise from Matanaga Hill. However, the climb is a bit difficult as there is no paved way. It will be tricky to climb the precarious stairway before sunrise.

7. It is unsafe to travel around Hampi after sundown. Bears and leopards lurk around the hills and caves in the darkness.

8. Though the ambience of Hampi is quite chilled out, we suggest dressing modestly as most of the monuments in Hampi are religious in nature.

9. Carry an umbrella, wear hats and sunglasses, and drink plenty of water. Keep yourself hydrated with coconut water, which is easily available in Hampi.

10. Carry sufficient cash as ATMs in Hampi are mostly non-functional.

11. Both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food options are available in Hampi. The restaurants around Hampi Bazar however serve only veg. Some of the best eateries in Hampi are Mango Tree, Gopi Roof Restaurant, Ganesh Old Chillout, Funky Monkey, The Bridge, and Laughing Buddha.

12. We would suggest taking a guided tour of Hampi. It will make your tour more organized and you will get to know countless titbits about Hampi. We hired Mr. Bhanu. He was an excellent guide. He charged us INR 2000 per day. His contact number is 09449409070.

For reading about the Great Living Chola Temples of Thanjavur, visit our latest blog here .

The Floating Pebbles

Related posts.

Kalimpong: Romancing the Vibrant Hill-station

Kamakhya Temple: The Legendary Temple of the Bleeding Goddess

Majuli Island: The Vanishing River Island of India

Thank you for the detailed information. Beautifully captured pictures!

Thank you for your appreciation!

Places to Visit near Hampi

Top hotel collections.

Backpacker hostels

Best Places

Here is the list of 11 Places to Visit near Hampi

1. davangere, karnataka.

Known For : Kunduvada Kere Bagali Sri Anjaneya Swamy Temple

Steeped in rich past, culture and heritage, Davanagere is a place to witness the beautiful architectural marvels. Linked to many Chalukya Dynasty and Tipu Sultan, this place today is best known for its cotton mills and thus often referred to as the 'Manchester of East'. Located in the heart of the state of Karnataka, it lies on the National Highway 4 and well connected to neighboring cities and states.

Distance from Hampi: 133 km

Best Time: October to March

11 Davanagere Attractions

2. Aihole, Karnataka - The Temple Complex of Karnataka

Known For : Durga Temple, Aihole Lad Khan Temple Ravanaphadi Cave Temples

Well known as the temple complex of Karnataka and home to about 125 Chalukyan temples, this city is a splendid touristy destination. True to its sobriquet, it is home to hundreds of temples each of which has a distinctly beautiful structure. Located in Bagalkot district of Karnataka at a distance of around 510 km fromÊBangalore, Aihole is known for its Chalukyan architecture.

Distance from Hampi: 139 km

23 Aihole Attractions

3. Gagan Mahal, Bijapur

Built by Adil Shah I in 1561, Gagan Mahal or endearingly known as Heavenly Mahal (Sky Mahal) is known for its architectural finesse and design. Boasting of three arches, the two stoteyed monument had the Darbar Hall on the ground floor and the upper storey was supposed to be the residence for the royal family.

Distance from Hampi: 215 km

4. Daroji Bear Sanctuary, Hampi

Established in 1994, this sanctuary was converted from a thorny forest to a lush green area which is now inhabited by Sloth Bears. Approximately 120 sloth bears accompanied by various other wildlife species like jackals, leopards and wild boars are found here.  

Distance from Hampi: 22 km

Top Hotels In Hampi

₽ 1,297 onwards

₽ 498 onwards

₽ 1,109 onwards

₽ 554 onwards

₽ 1,149 onwards

5. Gooty Fort

Situated 300 meters above the ground level, overlooking the small town of Gooty, the Gooty Fort has long been a significant strategic position for the rulers that have seen their kingdoms flourish in this part of the country. The fort is named after the view of the town it commands. The name Gooty is derived from the town's previous original name, Gowthampuri. 

Distance from Hampi: 143 km

6. Sri Krishna Templei

This famous temple in Hampi is known for its stunning carvings of Lord Krishna and Indian mythology along with architecture unique to King Kishnadevaraya. It is a must-visit for both devotees as well as architecture lovers. The temple is dedicated the child version of Lord Krishna or Bala Krishna.

7. Mantralayam, Andhra Pradesh

Known For : Raghavendra Swami Temple Panchamukhi Anjaneya Temple

Mantralayam is a holy town situated 74 km from Kurnool district in Andhra Pradesh and 250 km from its state capital, Hyderabad. It is located near the border of Karnataka and on the banks of the river Tungabhadra. Mantralayam is known for Sri Guru Raghavendra Swami, a saint who entered into a samadhi alive in front of his disciples in 17th Century. 

Distance from Hampi: 159 km

2 Mantralayam Attractions

8. Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh - The Heritage Haven of Andhra

Known For : Ahobilam Temple ISKCON Temple, Anantapur Bugga Ramalingeswara Swami Temple

Anantapuram is the headquarters of Anantapur District in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. Anantapuram is not a cosmopolitan city. Neither is it a village. It is one of those towns in transition, that is at the confluence of the past and the future. Anantapuram reverberates with flashes of India's glorious history and the true ethnic traditions and values of India. 

Distance from Hampi: 160 km

Best Time: November to February

12 Anantapur Attractions

9. Bara Kaman, Bijapur

Built in 1672 AD by Adil Shah II, Bara Kaman is an unfinished structure situated in Bijapur. The structure was supposed to have twelve arches vertically and horizontally surrounding the mausoleum of the king and his wives. However, the mausoleum and the arches was left unfinished as Adil Shah II was murdered by his own father and the construction of Bara Kaman was left incomplete as he did not want Bara Kaman to lessen the architectural marvel of Gol Gumbaz.

10. Badami, Karnataka - The home of cave temples

Known For : Cave Temples Agastya Lake Badami Fort

Located in a valley of rugged red sandstone, surrounding the Agastya Lake, Badami (formerly known as Vatapi) is an archaeological delight owing to its beautifully crafted sandstone cave temples, fortresses and carvings. Once the royal capital of the Chalukyas, Badami continues to enjoy a unique place, being the home to a number of examples of Dravidian architecture which sustains and enhances instances of both south and north Indian style of architecture. 

Distance from Hampi: 141 km

Best Time: October to Apr

14 Badami Attractions

11. Monkey Temple, Hampi

On top of the Anjaneya Hill, at a distance of 2 kilometres from the Virupaksha Temple , the beautiful Yantradharaka Hanuman Temple also known as the Monkey Temple is present inside a cave. The temple being 500 years old is dedicated to Lord Hanuman. Sri Vyasaraja, who was the Rajaguru of the Vijayanagara Kingdom and a Dwaita philosopher, was the one to install the idol of Lord Hanuman in the temple. 

Distance from Hampi: 8 km

This post was published by Harshitha

Share this post on social media Facebook Twitter

Comments on this post

Browse hotel collections, by hotel type.

Best Resorts in Hampi

Best Homestays in Hampi for a Heritage Vacation

Best Hotels In Hampi for an Offbeat Vacation

Guest Houses In Hampi

Camping In Hampi

By Budget Category

Backpacker Hostels in Hampi

Lodges In Hampi

Budget Hotels In Hampi

By Star Category

3 Star Hotels In Hampi

With Specific Facilities

Resorts In Hampi With Swimming Pool

Pet-Friendly Hotels In Hampi

Top Places in Hampi

Get the best offers on Travel Packages

Compare package quotes from top travel agents

• India (+91)

*Final prices will be shared by our partner agents based on your requirements.

Log in to your account

Welcome to holidify.

Forget Password?

Share this page

• Middle East

© 2024 - All rights reserved. Designed and developed by Fork Media Group

My 3-Day Budget Trip Itinerary To Hampi With Friends Under ₹15000 Per Head

Although on my wishlist since about 3 years, when I declared my vacation spot to be Hampi, I was surprised to know not many people are aware of this paradise! Here’s a glimpse into my budget trip to Hampi vacation if you’re wondering where and what is Hampi. Once you know, there’s no turning back.

Also Read: 5 Things To Do At Hippie Island In Hampi

How It Happened? Sitting in Grandmama’s Cafe one fine day, my friends and I got to discussing our vacay goals and plans ahead. And the next minute I knew, we were all planning a trip together! Although met with much scepticism, we agreed to lock in Hampi as the destination and boy, are we glad.

Pro Tip: Those balancing a dense work schedule but still wish to travel a lot, here’s what I do. Marry long weekends with smart planning and voila! Your work will never be affected and neither will you have to compromise on travel goals. My Hampi trip was a Republic Day long weekend!

How To Get To Hampi?

We flew to Bengaluru right after office hours and from there booked an Ola Outstation service for 3 days. From here it was an overnight journey to Hampi. This proved to be rather expensive though and I would suggest you book a luxury bus instead from Mumbai to Hospet which takes 14-15 hours.

What’s Hampi? Hampi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, located in the central part of the Indian state of Karnataka, a paradise nesting carefully in ruins, taking you back to a long forgotten time of the Hindu Vijayanagara Empire in the 14th-century.

‘Hampe’ in Kannada, Hampi was formerly known as Pampa, one of the many names of the Tungabhadra river (Where Hampi is situated). Pampa Devi was the goddess of the river and the daughter of Lord Brahma.

Hampi has two sides. Completely opposite to each other in nature. One is Temple side/Hampi side/Hampi Bazar and other is Hippie side also known as Hippie Island which is situated in small Virupapura Gadde village which lets you discover your hippie soul. One is filled with historical relevance and other is super laid back.

Lush green paddy fields, supercool cafes, bakeries and guest houses where you will find backpackers from across the world living like a nomad here.

Where To Stay Shanti Guest House, Gothami Guest House, Bobby One Love, Murali Guest House, Mowgli Guest House, Sunny Guest House, Chill out Café and Guest House, Laughing Buddha, Goan Corer, Hema Guest House etc.

Pro Tip: Don’t look for the deals on hotel booking sites. Just call up the direct number (take it from Google) and book it directly. Yes, you can negotiate as well. We stayed at Bobby ‘One Love’ Guesthouse (Contact: Raghu, 8970076805). Don’t expect luxury! Only basic amenities will be provided.

Where To Eat And What To Do Hippi Island is the place to be for a vast variety of cuisines and tasty dishes. From authentic South Indian food to Spanish, Greek, Israeli, Italian, Singaporean, Indonesian, American & Mexican cuisine, there’s something for everything here!

Note: The only alcohol you’ll find here is cold Beers. Also, non-veg paradise.

I would recommend Hema Café (German Bakery) preferably for breakfast (Multi Cuisine), Mango Tree restaurant for Lunch (They serve delicious Thali and their lemon mint cooler is to die for) and Laughing Buddha for Dinner.

Shopping Scenes Bunch of souvenirs like shawls and cloths, traditional costumes, jewellery, stone figurines, antique coins, replicas of Hampi ruins etc. are what you will find here.

Pro Tip: The best way to move around here is to rent scooters which is usually cheap but expect higher rates in peak season.

Places to Visit

1. Monkey Temple on Anjaneya Hill Awaken the adventurer in you for to get to the top, 520 steps await. But the sun setting over a view of ENTIRE Hampi? Worth the climb. The Temple is the supposed birthplace of Lord Hanuman and hence, the name.

2. Sanapura Lake One of the lesser known locations in Hampi, it is worth visiting. The lake is the backwaters of Tungabhadra river and the ride to get here (10km from Hippie Island) is heavenly. You can also indulge in Coracle rides in these calm waters and hire assistance for cliff jumping. Although many signboards warn of crocodiles, our coracle owner assured us of safety.

3. Virupaksha Temple This temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, known here as Virupaksha, as the consort of the local goddess Pampa who is associated with the Tungabhadra River. It is believed to be one of the oldest temples in India where people have been performing continuous worship to God for the last 7 centuries till today.

4. Hemakuta Group Of Temples A rocky hill especially famous for several temples situated on the top of it. This hilltop offers you a lovely scenic view of Hampi and gives a great opportunity to show your photography skills. A lot to explore, a lot to click, a lot to frame!

5. Badavilinga Temple  This is yet another ancient temple featuring a shrine & pedestal with a Hindu linga, surrounded by a pool of water.

6. Statue of Ugra Narasimha The biggest statue in Hampi, this is a fantastic big statue of Lord Narasimha (Nara – man and Simha – lion, a lord combined with a man and lion’s figure) who was the 10th avatar of Lord Vishnu.

7. Sasivekalu Ganesha An enormous statue about 14 ft high of Lord Ganesha. Some big slender stone pillars with many mythological themes carved decorated the front hall of this Statue. Instagram worthy people.

8. Krishna Temple Constructed by the Krishnadevaraya in 1513 to honour lord, Krishna. This temple is one of the best attractions in Hampi. The temple ground is decorated with several stunning Yali designed pillars and impressive carvings of elephant balustrades.

Also, don’t forget to explore the ruins of Krishna bazaar which is right opposite to the temple.

9. Shiva Temple From Krishna Temple head to this unique underground Shiva Temple. For some curious reasons, this temple dedicated to Lord Shiva was built many meters below the ground level. For this reason, almost all the time the sanctum and the core parts of the temple are under water, restricting entry to the inner areas!

10. Vijaya Vittala Temple The architectural marvel, The Vittala Temple or Vitthala Temple in Hampi is an ancient monument that is well-known for its exceptional architecture and unmatched craftsmanship. A must visit for all when in Hampi!

11. Hazara Rama Temple It is one of the important shrines in Hampi dedicated to Lord Ram. It was once the private temple of the kings and the royal family of Vijayanagara. The temple is famous for the lovely bas relics and panels depicting the story of the epic Ramayana.

12. Lotus Mahal Also known as Kamal Mahal or Chitragani Mahal, it is one of the only handful and a few astonishing building in Hampi that had not been damaged or destroyed amid the attack on the city.

13. Stepped Tank Also known as Pushkarani, this is a sacred water tank that is attached to the temples. Most of the major temples in Hampi have a Pushkarani built near them.

14. Elephant Stables The Elephant Stables is a wonderful structure that provided shelter to the royal elephants of the grand Vijayanagara Empire.

15. Zanana Enclosure The Zenana Enclosure was a fortified and secluded area reserved for the royal ladies of the Vijayanagara Empire.

16. Queen’s Bath The luxurious bath which includes a big verandah with a rectangular pool surrounded by extended balconies and carved domes where Vijayanagara Kings and Queens used to take bath. Although called Queen’s bath, the pool was used by both Kings and Queens.

What We Missed But You Shouldn’t

1. Sunset at Matanga Hill If you are staying on the Temple side, this is the best place to get a mesmerizing view of Sunset or Sunrise and a panoramic view of Hampi. It is a moderate hike up the hills for 45mins to 1 hour, depending on one’s capability.

2. Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary Located about 15km from Hampi, Dorji Sloth Bear Sanctuary was created exclusively for the preservation of the Indian Sloth Bear. Visit this between 2 PM – 5 PM as they slather the honey on the rocks to attract the bears so that tourist can get a good spotting.

Also Read:  6 Places To Go To In India For A Hippie Getaway

Now all you need is a long weekend for a Happy, Hippie, Hampi!

This article was contributed to Curly tales by our reader Prasad Baliram Nakhawa. If you would like to write your story, drop us an email on [email protected]

Join The # CT Squad!

Sign up for our daily email and get the best delivered straight to your inbox. We pinky promise to make it awesome!

Electrostal History and Art Museum

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Electrostal History and Art Museum - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

• (0.19 mi) Elektrostal Hotel
• (1.21 mi) Yakor Hotel
• (1.27 mi) Mini Hotel Banifatsiy
• (1.18 mi) Elemash
• (1.36 mi) Hotel Djaz
• (0.07 mi) Prima Bolshogo
• (0.13 mi) Makecoffee
• (0.25 mi) Amsterdam Moments
• (0.25 mi) Pechka
• (0.26 mi) Mazhor

ELECTROSTAL HISTORY AND ART MUSEUM: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

• (0.19 mi) Elektrostal Hotel
• (1.21 mi) Yakor Hotel
• (1.27 mi) Mini Hotel Banifatsiy
• (1.18 mi) Elemash
• (1.36 mi) Hotel Djaz
• (0.07 mi) Prima Bolshogo
• (0.13 mi) Makecoffee
• (0.25 mi) Amsterdam Moments
• (0.25 mi) Pechka
• (0.26 mi) Mazhor

Expedia Rewards is now One Key™

Elektrostal, visit elektrostal, check elektrostal hotel availability, popular places to visit.

• Electrostal History and Art Museum

You can spend time exploring the galleries in Electrostal History and Art Museum in Elektrostal. Take in the museums while you're in the area.

• Cities near Elektrostal

• Places of interest
• Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center
• Peter the Great Military Academy
• Central Museum of the Air Forces at Monino
• History of Russian Scarfs and Shawls Museum
• Balashikha Arena
• Balashikha Museum of History and Local Lore
• Pekhorka Park
• Bykovo Manor
• Drama Theatre BOOM
• Malenky Puppet Theater
• Ramenskii History and Art Museum
• Noginsk Museum and Exhibition Center
• Pavlovsky Posad Museum of Art and History
• Saturn Stadium
• Fairy Tale Children's Model Puppet Theater
• Fifth House Gallery
• Church of Vladimir
• Likino Dulevo Museum of Local Lore
• Malakhovka Museum of History and Culture
• Orekhovo Zuevsky City Exhibition Hall