Hampi

Hampi was the capital of South Indian Vijayanagara Empire from the fourteenth to seventeenth centuries.

As a UNESCO World Heritage site, Hampi attracts many visitors, many from other countries. For first-time visitors, it is highly recommended to hire a guide to help understand the magic and grandeur of Hampi by explaining its history and associated legends.

Before the fall of Vijayanagara Empire, diamonds were sold on the streets. The main street selling diamonds and other precious stones was surprisingly called Pan Supaari Street. A visitor can still see the exact location of Pan Supaari Street in Hampi, which has been marked with a board by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

Hampi is well worth at least one visit. The area is simply stunning and you will be in awe of the millions of boulders surrounding the area, many of which are scaled by climbers from all over the world. Within this landscape lies a little oasis with lush palm, banana, and mango trees and rice paddies nestled near the river.

Hampi is a great place to spend a few days wandering around and discovering the rich, vibrant history while also having a bit of 'your' time.

Hampi hosts the 'Hampi Utsav' (literally 'Hampi Festival') every year during the first week of November. It is a visual delight as all the monuments/ruins are lighted in the night and it is a cultural extravaganza of dance and music.

The real pleasure in exploring Hampi comes from on the bicycle or by walking around. Virtually every rock in Hampi has a story to tell. This story is best heard if you give it time and walk around from rock to rock.

Do note that the weather in Hampi can be a big factor. With all the boulders, big and small around, with soil from years of erosion, there is a lot of dust that blows in the air. There are open spaces with strong winds and while the wind keeps you pleasant, you can have a lot of dust blowing into your nose and mouth. In many of the monument areas, there are no trees or anything to provide shade (except the monuments themselves). So walking or cycling around the area involves a lot of exposure to direct sunlight. Keep your sunblock creams, hats, wet towels around your neck and bottles of water with you all the time.

Hampi is a visual delight, especially due to its stark contrast from most other places. Rocks are all you see whichever direction you look. Vegetation is visible in the wet months; but again it never dominates the landscape. It is an ideal spot for people who are interested in history and/or nature.

There are many sites of interest in and around Hampi. The following list of must-visits is sorted by the number on the map you see in the temples (from 1 to over 80 sites!): 1 to 35 being around Hampi; 40s to 70s in the southern part towards Kamalapura. Most sites are free, but the Vithala temple, the Lotus Mahal (incl. Zanana enclosure and Elephant Stables) as the Archeological museum have a combined ticket (₹600) valid for one day, so you have to plan your journey a bit! For instance, if you rent bicycles and start early in the morning, you can cover the southern temples in the morning, spend the hot hours of midday in the museum and go in the late afternoon to the Vithala temple! And eventually keep all sites closest to Hampi for a second day.

• 🌍 Hemakuta Hill temples. #4 (updated Jan 2023)
• 🌍 Virupaksha Temple. #5. Contrary to most other temples, this one is still a sacred place, so you will have to deposit your shoes in the shoe area left of the big entrance gate (putting them in your bag is not accepted if noticed). (updated Jan 2023)
• 🌍 Monolith Bull. #6 (updated Jan 2023)
• 🌍 Matanga Hill. #7. From where you can see the most beautiful sunsets. (updated Jan 2023)
• 🌍 Achyutaraya temple. #8. Built in 1534, it was the last temple executed in the city, before the fall of the fall of Vijayanagara Empire at the Battle of Talikota in the early 1565. (updated Jan 2023)
• 🌍 Vithala Temple. #23. Dedicated to Vithoba, an avatar (incarnation) of the gods Vishnu and Krishna. The famous Stone Chariot is here as well as the Musical Pillars. ₹600 for foreigners (incl. Lotus Mahal and the Archeologic Museum). (updated Jan 2023)
• 🌍 Badavilinga Temple. #30. The largest monolithic linga (Shiva shrine) in Hampi. (updated Jan 2023)
• 🌍 Lakshmi Narasimha temple. #31 (updated Jan 2023)
• 🌍 Zanana Enclosure. #46. Also houses the Lotus Mahal and the Elephant Stables. ₹600 for foreigners (incl. Vithala temple and the Archeologic Museum). (updated Jan 2023)
• 🌍 Elephant Stables. #55. Part of the Zanana Enclosures included in the entrance fee of Zanana enclosure. (updated Mar 2018)
• 🌍 Hazara Rama Temple. #59 (updated Jan 2023)
• 🌍 Royal Enclosures. #61. Also referred to as the Royal Palace, in this area you'll find the Mahanavmi Dibba, Pushkarani step well and the Queen's bath. (updated Jan 2023)
• 🌍 Mahanavmi Dibba. #62 (updated Jan 2023)
• 🌍 Pushkarani step wells. #66 (updated Jan 2023)
• 🌍 Queen's Bath. #68 (updated Jan 2023)

All these places are towards Hampi Bus Stand area and you don't need to cross river.

You can buy a local map for ₹15, and cover all the places on your own taking a bike/Scooty on rent. Otherwise, you can hire an auto to do local sightseeing. It would cost you around ₹400-500.

• Tungabhadra Dam, 16 km from Hampi and its associated gardens are nice. It has got a nice dancing fountain too. Visiting the Tungabhadra Dam can be a nice filler instead of just waiting for the bus/train (typically at 10/11PM at night). Auto-rickshaw can go directly from Hampi to Tungabhadra dam at a cost of ₹200 (as of 2009). Aanother option is to take a bus from the gate for ₹20 per person for a half an hour visit to the dam. If you have plans to catch your train/bus back from Hospet, you could see Tungbhadra dam and return from Hospet. It takes 45 to 60 min to see Tungbhadra dam. You need to park your vehicles at the entrance and take a government bus to the top and return. It costs ₹20 return.

There are several "Shivalings" along the river which the boatman will guide you to. The old capital called Anegundi, across the river from Hampi, also has many sites. You can also go to Anegundi from Virupapur Gadde by road. There is a road alongside the old broken bridge (Bukka's Aqueduct). The Hanuman Temple on Anjenaya Hill (involves climbing up 572 steps, is believed to be the birthplace of Hanuman) and the Pampa Sarovar are worth a visit. Both of these places are around 7-8 km from the Old broken bridge.

There is Daroji bear sanctuary around 16 km from Hampi, opposite side of Kamalapura/Hospet. It opens between 1PM to 6PM. Not a must see but you can go there for a nice drive or ride if you have some time to kill.

To do justice to all the sites, one needs a minimum of 3 full days of sightseeing. To discover all the ruins, it may take much more than 3 days. Maybe months.

A new feature introduced by the tourist department of Karnataka called the Hampi By Night is magnificent where in the monuments are lit in bright varying colours in the night. For more information, contact the tourism department of Karnataka.

Hampi specifically is a small settlement on the river (Hampi Bazaar, Virupaksha Temple, etc.). The old city of Vijayanagara encompassed an area of 25 km² and ruins, monuments, structures, etc. lie scattered across the area. In fact, when arriving at Hampi from Hospet, one will pass many of these things.

If one sets base at Hampi Bazaar, one can get a manageable, navigable orientation of the entire area, one can look at four main zones.

• Anegundi (north-east of Hampi Bazaar). Crossing the river to the north and heading east, one can reach Anegundi whose history goes back, according to local legends, to the Ramayana (the Hindu epic). 
• Hampi Bazaar (Hampi Bus Stand). This is the main village of Hampi as defined on the map and on the local administration files. It is essentially two clumps of settlements on either side of the Virupaksha Temple. Within walking distance is the river and the structures along the river bank, Virupaksha Temple, a still in use sacred area, at the western end of the Hampi Bazaar, the Hampi Bazaar itself which is one long "main street" (now in ruins) running east-west and the Hemakunta hill (with a number of structures on it and under it). 
• The Royal Enclosure (Old City Citadel) (4 km south of Hampi Bazaar). This, according to the official ASI literature, was the center of the city, the downtown. There is the Mahanavami Dibba, a large platform, almost three stories tall, which gives a brilliant view of the country side. This platform was used as a base for various religious functions involving the royal family with the general population standing down. Apart from this, there is a stepped well, an underground shrine, lots of smaller platforms (meant for assembly and public meetings), etc. There is the Hazaar Rama temple on one side and the Queen's bath on the other side. A little further away from the central area of the Royal Enclosure is the Pan Supari Bazaar (opposite the Hazaar Rama temple). 
• The Sacred Enclosure (Towards the Vithala Temple) (1.75 km east of Hampi Bazaar). At the eastern end of the Hampi Bazaar, there are two paths. One goes up the hill while the other goes left towards the river. Either path takes you through lines of temples, extant and in ruins. If one takes the hill path, on the right is the Matanga, Elephant hill. Going up straight, one will see the Achyutarama Temple. This can also be reached by following the stone path along the river bank. Next to the Achyutarama Temple is a long market area called Courtesan's Street. Apparently, it was a market for jewels, precious stones, etc. Walking further along the river, one passes various small structures, essentially different temples. One kilometre or so from the Courtesan's Street is the majestic Vithala Temple inside which is the iconic Stone Chariot. This trail can be done by a mix of walking and cycling. There are rocks (with steps cut into the rocks) to climb so at some point the cycles will have to be left behind. The Vithala Temple can be reached by road as well. It is a winding route and requires a detour to Kamalapur. 

Apart from all this, between Hospet and Hampi, there are a number of small towns and villages like Kamalapur, and Kadirampura, which are various parts of the old Vijayanagara city and which have now become fragmented settlements and small towns.

• 🌍 Sanapur Lake. Exploring the hidden gems in the Gangavathi taluk, Sanapur Lake is a reservoir fed by Tungabhadra Dam canal. The unique thing about this place is experiencing the boat ride in a huge round, wooden bowl called Coracle. The Coracle gives a little adventurous feel. For a short ride it's usually ₹150 and for a long ride, it's ₹200 per person. (updated Jan 2023)

• The stone carvings are made by local artists are a good souvenirs to buy here. The same thing in Bangalore will cost ten times the price. The hand-stitched blankets are also a good choice.
• Shops can be found all over the Hampi, mainly near to Virupaksha temple, selling jewellery, bags, clothes, shawls, etc. Visitors can bargain in these shops to fetch good deal. You can even opt for tailor made dresses, if you have enough time and patience.
• In Hampi, one can see clothes hanging in diverse range of colours and variety with beautiful edges. The town is a real paradise for the people who want to buy western costumes but not for ladies who are looking for saris.
• Hoova Craft Shop & Café - It is in city centre and tourists can have a tea or coffee, while looking around the local goods and handicrafts.

There are lots of places in Hampi Bazaar where you get satisfying and inexpensive food, though be prepared for a long wait at most places as the chefs are typically family members who prepares food to order. However, they are good at their jobs and can offer a wide range of different cuisines.

Restaurants:

• All Tribes Coffee Shop, near Funky Monkey. Great, cheap and open hangout place for travellers and backpackers. Get to know local people. The coffee shop serves coffee and Indian chai, cookies and other sweets. There is a fair trade shop and vegan friendly. During the day are many activities, like meditation, video screenings and camp fires. Family friendly. 
• Chillout Restaurant. Excellent food and very friendly staff. Try their divine Nargis Kofta. They also make decent pizza. 
• Durga Roof Top, Near Virupaksha Temple (from the bazaar when you approach Virupaksha Temple, take a right at the temple, next take a left ( as the road turns), take a right further and you will find yourself at Durga Roof Top). Very good and authentic north Indian food and their Hello to the queen dessert is simply amazing. 
• The Goan Corner, an idyllic cafe on the other side of the river is an experience in itself. Very famous among the foreigner crowds, it takes a 10-15 min walk across the green paddy fields to make your way to this place. It is run by a very friendly family where the lady don, Sharmila reigns supreme. Unlike the other closely arranged cafes, Goan Corner is rather desolated and adds to the magic that Hampi creates.
• Garden Paradise. This is behind the line of shops in Hampi Bazaar which are towards left in the direction towards Virupaksha Temple. Located by the banks of Tungabhadra River, the ambiance is quite pleasant. Reasonably priced too. They offer huts as well for accommodation.
• Laughing Buddha restaurant. This is on other side of river (Virupapur Gadde) and close to Shanthi guest house. There are mattress, cushions and low benches in it. So, you can just lie down and sit at ease. Continental food is very nice here with good variety. It also offers Punjabi food.
• Mayura Bhuvaneshwari, Kamalapura. Hotel Mayura Bhuvaneshwari serves delicious buffet lunch for vegetarians. Approximately ₹100. If you plan your day such that you reach kamalapura around mid-day, this can be a great place for lunch. Unlimited food is served in very clean and serene surroundings. Even though it's a very popular and a very clean hotel, make sure you use packaged drinking water. 
• Sagar Hotel's Idli, Dosa & Gunta Ponganalu. Just besides Gopi Guest House and right in front of the Shambhu Guest House, which are located near the Virupaksha Temple, 'Shankaramma' under a thatched roof makes delicious idlies, dosas and the tasty 'gunta pongal.' Do not miss this place. The food is not only delicious but also very cheap.
• Tom & Jerry. Located on the east-side of the bazar-area near the boulders. Small but very comfortable rooftop-restaurant that serves delicious home-cooked food in a very friendly atmosphere. 

Hampi is a religious center so drinking is not allowed. Therefore, beer or other alcoholic drinks are generally not available at local restaurants. However, Hotel Mayura Bhuvaneshwari is in the neighboring town of Kamalapur has a bar that serves beer and wine.

Other hotels like Shanti and Kishkinda, which are across the river, do serve beer and hard liquor.

Few cafes and small shops are also spotted in Hampi Bazaar providing soft drinks, lassi and some other famous south Indian beverages.

In Hampi specifically, there are two clusters of settlements. There is the Janata Plot on the river road, just under the Virupaksha Temple. The other is opposite the bus stand. These settlements resemble hamlets, not even villages. Guest houses are essentially village huts modified for guests. Most have attached bathrooms while some may have shared facilities.

As of March 2013, there were frequent power losses. A few wealthy guest house owners had power generators and inverters with which basic lights and fans could be operated. There are a few who offer air conditioned rooms but with the frequent power cuts, one is not sure how effective those AC rooms really are.

There are several guest houses in Hampi, though staying in Hospet or the nearby town of Kamalapur are also options. Staying at Hospet gives easy accessibility to the railway station and better hotels. Hampi is also not very far from Hospet.

Most guest houses in Hampi are rather basic. Do not expect too much. Avoid places recommended in the Lonely Planet guide, because they immediately raise their rates and lower their quality. A lot of cheaper guest houses are found north of the river in Sanapur, Hanumanahalli and Sangapur. For some of them, you will need to rent a scooter directly after you exit the ferry, if you want to avoid walking 5 km to your accommodation. All hostels, shops and restaurants on 'Hippie Island' were razed to the ground by the government in 2021 (except for the bike rental and the Ashram).

If coming in April through to September (off season), check with the hotel for bookings, especially if you plan to stay on the north side of the river. Many guest houses and restaurants close down, except a few prominent ones.

• 🌍 Wanderlust, Hanumanahalli. Nice, well-maintained and clean bungalows, each with their own toilet. Close to the stream and boulder areas. Favourite hangout place for climbers. ₹1500 per cottage. (updated Oct 2023)
• 🌍 Hampi River View, Hanumanahalli (opposite Wanderlust), ☏ +919071012975. Basic bungalows and cottages, some with their own hammock, but facilities are shared. Close to the stream and boulder areas. ~₹1000 per cottage. (updated Oct 2023)
• 🌍 Hotel Malligi, 10/90 JN Rd, Hospet, ☏ +91 8394 228101. Check-in: 24 hr, check-out: 24 hr. This hotel is 9 km from Hampi ruins in Hospet. Malligi offers some of the best dining options in the town. Blue Mist, Temptations & Waves are the restaurants at Malligi. Malligi also offers spa, pool, sightseeing, shopping etc. 
• 🌍 Sun Rise Guest House & Restaurant Sanapur, Sanapur. Sanapur is about 2 km from Virupapura Gaddi (ferry point) and very popular with young Israelis. If you stay here, a rental bike might be a good idea. The resort is surrounded by rice paddies, i.e. the frogs and crickets are very loud at night! All facilities are shared and exceptionally clean. The owner is very helpful and friendly, the restaurant is good. This place has less of a party vibe and is perfect for those seeking a quiet refuge. tent ₹550, cottage ₹1500. (updated Jan 2023)
• Kiran Guest House, Janata Plot, ☏ +91 9448143906, +91 8394-204159. Check-in: 9AM, check-out: 9AM. Rooms with attached bathrooms. All the rooms have solar powered lights and all have solar powered fans, which can come in handy because the power goes out regularly. It is run by a family and is in a very quiet location. There is a roof top where you can view both the sunrise and sunset. ₹600-800. (updated Jan 2019)
• Mayuram Home Stay, Janata Plat, near Gopi Guest House, ☏ +91 9448801852 (mobile), +91 8394241693 (owner's residence). Check-in: anytime, check-out: 9AM. Mayuram Home Stay is very near to the temple and offers refurbished clean tidy in-suite rooms with hot water, mosquito nets, and a backup generator for 24-hour electricity. A good place to stay in clean and comfortable surroundings. The owner Ravi also owns a very good travel agency nearby called ISSTA travels. Recommended. ₹400 to 500. 
• Shiva Guest House, Janata Plot (next to Vicky). Check-in: noon, check-out: noon. As of March 2013, ₹300 per night. This is essentially a village hut with two rooms. Each room is a bare space of four walls, ceiling, fan, a bed and a toilet and bathroom. Best suited for those willing to slum it out. If you are going to spend most of the day exploring and only come back at night to sleep, then ₹300 for a bed and toilet is a good deal. ₹300 per night. 
• Sree Rama Guest House. Close to the main temple offers decent accommodation with private bathroom. From the bazaar, turn right just in front of the main temple and then follow the main road. The hotel also gives electronic mosquito killers for free. The Internet downstairs is one of the best in Hampi. (updated May 2015)
• Sunny Guest House. Now relocated to the Hampi side of the river. (updated Jan 2023)
• 🌍 Uma Home Stay, Janatha Plot (Near Virupaksha Temple), ☏ +91 9481645104 (mobile), +91 8394241945, +91 8394210956 (owner's residence), rkshampi@yahoo.co.in. Check-in: any time, check-out: 9AM. Uma Home Stay has hot water and a backup generator providing 24-hour electricity. A good place to stay in clean and comfortable surroundings. The owner also owns a very good travel agency nearby called RKS travels. ₹400 to 500. (updated Aug 2015)
• Vicky's. Charges around ₹500 per room (Jan 2008) and has a mediocre rooftop restaurant. The rooms are not the cleanest and the bathroom definitely needs refurbishment. There are three computers downstairs and only the one on the left is in working condition. The other two are very slow. (updated May 2015)

Visitors should be sure to watch out for monkeys. They are notorious for snatching and running away with visitors' handbags, cameras, and other loose belongings.

Keeping mosquito repellent on hand is a good idea.

Be extra careful when you choose to explore rocky places, especially when you are trying to climb over boulders.

Avoid travelling to Hampi during the months of April and May, as temperature can get as high as 43°C (110°F). If you are planning to visit it during summer, remember to carry sufficient water so as to avoid the risk of dehydration. Bottled drinking water is easily available. You may not be able to get chilled bottles (as electricity will sometimes cut out).

• Out of deference to the sacred nature of the site, do not consume drugs and alcohol in the area.
• When visiting the temple or ruins of former temples, cover up and do not show too much skin. The locals will not stop you, but may bear a silent grudge. Be a good guest.
• Please visit any monument only for the sake of visiting, but not for any other purpose. Please do not scribble or climb or sit on any monuments.They have stood rain and sun for centuries and have to continue to stand for many more centuries.

• Lakkundi

• Badami
• Aihole
• Pattadakal
• Kakkabe — It is very near Hampi and is very famous for Padi Igutappa temple. What makes this place unique is its peaceful and serene environment.
• Goa — accessible by train via Hospet. The Amaravathi express takes an incredible route through jungle and past a waterfall.