We believe that all of us, irrespective of our differences, are united by the urge to escape from the monotony of life. Out of plenty of options to achieve this, we chose Travel!
Traveling enriches our souls with the greatest of experiences. And what better teacher than our own experiences!
So, pack your bags and travel with us back to the 14th century!
Located at the banks of the Tungabhadra River, Hampi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was the capital of the Vijayanagar Empire around 1500 AD, and by some accounts, the second-largest city in the world at that time.
Why Hampi
Food and Cuisine
Major Attractions
Things to Do
Fairs & Festivals of Hampi
Shopping
Why Hampi?
Owing to its rich history and magnificent grandiosity, Hampi has been on our bucket list forever.
The magnificent city of ruins is a fascinating place to explore and discover the rich history of the Vijayanagar Empire.
Don’t worry if you are not a fan of history!
Hampi has two sides of the coin, the ruin/heritage side and the hippie side.
It has a lot more to offer than its rich architecture and history. From coracle rides to bouldering, it has everything one is looking for while planning an adventurous trip.
Ok enough chitchat, Let’s dive into the ocean of Stilly and Arcadian Hampi, unfolding the mythological tales of ancient and medieval times recited by splendid remains of palaces and the gateways of the broken city spanning 4187, 24 hectares.
Food and Cuisine
Mainly Hampi offers typical south Indian vegetarian food. However, it has acquired all the major cuisines owing to a lot of Tourist visits.
Although being a heritage village site, not a lot of fancy restaurants are available around the place. Still, you can find several interesting options with rich cuisines.
Mango Tree Restaurant, nestled in a banana plantation, located around 500 meters from Virupaksha temple towards the west, is a worth trying.
Shanthi Restaurant, Om Shiva, Welcome Restaurant, and Raju Roof Restaurant are some other interesting options.
Adding on, if you are planning a longer stay, there are a lot of hygienic and renowned restaurants in Hospet.
To quench your thirst in summer waves, there are a lot of beverage options available all around the place. So don’t forget to sip-up fresh coconut water and fruit juices while roaming around the ruins of the Vijayanagar dynasty!
Major Attractions
The major places to visit in Hampi can be broadly divided into the Hampi Bazaar area, including Virupaksha Temple, Hemakuta Hill, Vittal Temple, Achyutaraya Temple, Monolithic statue of Lord Ganesh, Nandi, the Kodandarama temple, and the Krishna temple and the Royal Centre area, including Lotus Mahal, The Elephant Quarter, Archeological Museum, Queen's Bath and the Underground Virupaksha temple.
The royal center is located between the Hampi Bazaar area and Kamalapuram. You can take a 2km walk down to this area from the Hampi Bazaar.
Anegundi, a fortified area north of Hampi Bazaar across the Tungabhadra River, is also a very famous tourist area to be visited.
Virupaksha Temple
This 15th-century east-facing temple, located in the Hampi Bazaar area is dedicated to Virupaksha, a form of Lord Shiva.
The best time to reach the time would be around 7-8 am, when you can also see the morning aarti and the Lakshmi elephant.
Timings: 9:00 am to 1:00 pm and 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm.
Price: No entry fees. The guide can be hired for a nominal charge of 50 INR.
Vijaya Vittala Temple
World Heritage Vittal temple, built in the 16th century, is located 2 km east of Hampi Bazaar.
The architectural splendor of this temple is evident from its stone carvings and musical pillars. Maha Mantapa and Stone chariot is amongst the famous attractions of this Vijaya Vittala Temple.
Timings: 08:30 am to 6:00 pm
Price: No entry fees
Lotus Mahal
Lotus palace, so-called because of the lotus bud carved on its domed and vaulted ceiling with balcony and passages as petals, is an explicitly designed pavilion within a walled compound, known as the Zenana Enclosure.
Timings: 08:00 am to 06:00 pm
Price: 10 INR per Indian, 250 INR per foreigner, and no charges for children below the age group of 15 years
Yantrodharaka Hanuman Temple
Yantrodharaka Hanuman Temple located around 2km away from Virupaksha temple is dedicated to Lord Hanuman, with the Tungabhadra river flowing through the steps of this hill.
Mythologically, It is believed that Lord Hanuman can be found here indulged in a state of deep meditation.
Within a distance of five minutes from here, you can visit another Lord Srinivasa temple.
Timings: All time during the daytime.
Price: No entry fees
Hippie Island
Hippie Island or Virapapur Gadde, located across the Tungabhadra River is a small island displaying the vibrant culture of Hampi. This is one of the most visited places in Hampi as it offers a cozy ambiance while offering funky cafes and shacks for leisure.
Green Garden Restaurant, Laughing Buddha Café, etc. are the most famous places to eat, literally, in between beautiful rice paddies.
Timings: 7:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Price: Around INR 1,000 per day
Queen's Bath
Another evidence of the grandeur of Vijayanagara's architecture is Queen’s Bath exemplifies the al excellence.
Timings: 08:30 am to 06:00 pm.
Price: No entry fees
Matanga Hill
Matanga hill, the highest point of Hampi, is located south of the Virupaksha temple. It is particularly famous amongst the tourists for its scenic views.
Kodanda Rama temple is located towards the north end of the hill and valley with a zigzag Turthu canal located towards its south.
Timings: There are no specific timings to climb the Matanga Hills. However, it is the perfect place to start your journey early in the morning capturing the most beautiful sunrise.
Price: No entry fees.
Elephant Stables
Elephant Stables, lying adjacent to the Zenana Enclosure is one of the few places in Hampi where you can witness little to absolutely no destruction. It consists of a series of 11 dome-shaped chambers which once were used for the parking of royal elephants.
Timings: 08:30 am to 05:30 pm.
Price: 10 INR for Indians and 250 INR for foreigners. No charges for children up to the age group of 15 years
Monolithic Bull
Monolith Bull or Nandi, located at the east end of the Hampi Bazaar and just opposite Virupaksha Temple, displays a coarse style of carving.
Timings: Any time
Price: No entry fees
Badavilinga Temple
Badavilinga Temple placed close to the Lakshmi Narasimha temple includes Linga carved out of a black stone.
Timings: 05:00 am to 09:00 pm.
Price: No entry fees
Zanana Enclosure
Zanana Enclosure, reflecting Indo-Islamic architecture, was once considered a secluded area for the Vijayanagara Kingdom’s royal ladies.
Lotus Mahal, the queen’s palace’s basement, treasure building, and water pavilion are some key attractions of this place.
Timings: 06:00 am to 06:00 pm
Price: The entry fee is 10 INR per Indian, and for foreigners, it is 250 INR
Lakshmi Narasimha Temple
Lakshmi Narasimha Temple encloses the figure of Lord Narasimha sitting on a coil of a snake with seven heads in a Yoga position, with an image of Goddess Lakshmi on his lap.
Timings: 06:00 am to 06:00 pm.
Price: No entry fees
Old Palace (Gagan Mahal)
Dating back to the 16th-century era, Gagan Mahal is small and yellow with decorated windows and encircled all over by four beautiful towers.
Timings: Open 24 hours.
Price: No entry fees.
Hemakuta Hill Temples
Hemakuta Hill is a vastly stretched zone offering an astounding view of the sprawling ruins, temples, and archways. This is also the next best place to watch the sunrise and sunset as it is easier to reach its top position.
Timings: Any time from dawn to dusk.
Price: No entry fees
Achyutaraya Temple
Between Hampi Bazaar and Vittal temple, the deserted Sule Bazaar and the Achyutaraya temple can be seen.
The last one to go down on 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.
Timings: 05:30 am to 01:00 pm and 05:30 pm to 09:00 pm
Price: No entry fees
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 illustrate the entire Ramayana flow before its visitors. Once you reach here, you can find relics of both Hindu deities Lord Rama and Krishna.
Timings: 06:00 am to 06:00 pm
Price: No entry fees
Archaeological Museum
This museum good collection of sculptures belonging to the Vijayanagara Empire.
Timings: 10:00 am to 05:00 pm.
Price: 5 INR per head. No charges for children under the age of 15 years.
Underground Temple-Prasanna Virupaksha Temple
Underground Shiva Temple is amongst the only places to visit in Hampi lying under water. Timings: No time restriction
Price: No entry fees
Krishna Temple
Krishan temple is encircled all over by massive pillars and small shrines.
Timings: 06:00 am to 06:00 pm.
Price: No entry fees
Kadalekalu Ganesha
Kadalekalu Ganesha temple houses one of the largest statues of the Hindu deity Ganesha
Timings: 06:00 am to 06:00 pm.
Price: No entry fees
Sasivekalu Ganesha
Sasivekalu Ganesha, so-called because it resembles the mustard seed known as Sasivekalu in the local dialect, is located on the Southern foothill of the Hemakuta.
The statue has a snake carved in front of Lord Ganesh’s stomach which is mythologically known to be based on a story that one day after eating a lot of food, Lord Ganesha tied a snake around his belly had eaten to protect his stomach.
Things to Do
Enjoy the Coracle Ride
Coracles, also known as country boats, are circular boats native to this region.
Crossing the Tungabhadra River in coracle boats while capturing the most magnificent temples is once in a lifetime experience. Coracles have also been an important means of transportation in Hampi ever since the early 15th century.
Timings: 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (between January to March, October to December)
Price: INR 50 to INR 100 per person (Prices may vary)
Explore Rice Paddies on Scooter Ride
Exploring the rice paddies spread across the region on scooters with lush green landscapes is also worth experiencing.
Timings: Any time of the day Price: Scooters are available for rent between INR 350 to 500 per person per day
Fairs & Festivals of Hampi
Hampi in Karnataka is famous for the Purandara Festival. This annual festival is held in January-February in the Vittal temple to celebrate the birth anniversary of the medieval poet-composer, Purandar.
Shopping
Shop at Hampi Flea Market
Hampi flea market offers a hippie ambiance with a wide variety of hippie fabrics and ornaments.
You can also shop for antiques, banana fibre handicrafts, and handmade leather notebooks at a few shops.
Our personal favorites were explicitly hand-carved stone artifacts perfectly immortalizing the splendor of this place.
Hampi Bazaar
Hampi Bazaar or Virupaksha Bazaar consists of a street occupied by the local villagers.
Timings: 06:00 am to 11:00 pm
Hampi Travel FAQs
Is it Safe?
Well, the first question that comes into our mind while planning any trip is, Is it safe. You need not worry about this in the case of Hampi as it is safe for everyone, be it solo travelers, couples, females, or anyone.
Location
When to Visit
How to Reach
Where to Stay
Experience all this and more with Penitout. Plan your itinerary with us. Happy hamping