Hampi
One of the most amazing places, Hampi is a UNESCO World Heritage site located in Bellary near Tungabhadra River. Interestingly, known as the “City of Ruins” Hampi is a small modern village that was once the capital of the Vijayanagar Empire in Karnataka.
The rich and magnificent architectural heritage from almost 200 years in Hampi includes remnants of Royal Courts and living facilities, many temples, monolithic stone idols, ceremonial gates, bazaars and various other structures like its water supply system.
Hampi is a fascinating place to wander around surrounded by boulders and the rich history of the region. Know some of these mind-blowing tips while you travel to Hampi:
1. How to reach Hampi
By Air- You can fly to Bengaluru International Airport (BLR) which is the nearest airport to Hampi for international tourists.
By Train- The nearest railway station is Hospet which is around 13 km from Hampi. Hospet is well-connected with the major cities such as Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Goa, etc.
By Road- Hampi is also well-connected with major cities by road. You can travel through state bus services normal to luxury various bus services are available for your comfortable journey.
Virupaksha Temple
2. Stay options and best deals
There are plenty of accommodation options in Hampi between Airbnb, Couchsurfing and hostels. You can find cheap accommodation in Hampi Bazaar or cross the river and you can chill out in cute huts with views over the green paddy fields. Check out a few options such as Gopi Guest house, Mowgli Guest house and Shanthi Guest house. For a better option Kishkinda Heritage Resort has a water park too, Clarks Inn has its own restaurant too. The Mango Tree is a famous restaurant between the locals and tourists.
Lotus Palace
3. Planning the trip
Plan a trip for a minimum of 3 days so you can visit all the monuments and important places in Hampi. Carry minimal clothes that are comfortable and loose. Carry a pair of chappals or comfortable shoes to walk around comfortably. Hire a good travel guide and rent a cycle or hire an auto-rickshaw for full day so you can visit all the places.
4. Places to visit in Hampi
You can visit the Virupaksha Temple, Vithala Temple, Matanga Hill, Lotus Palace, Badavilinga, Hemakuta Hill Temple Complex, take a boat ride or coracle ride to the Hippie Island across the river, Hampi Bazaar, etc.
Coracle Ride
5. Best time to visit and culture in Hampi
While in Hampi, you can get rooms as cheap as approximately INR 400 and food is quite inexpensive there at less than INR 200 per meal.
The best time to visit Hampi is from September-February months where April and May are the hottest. Although the weather is 2-4degrees hot than the other cities all year around.
The culture of Hampi is its rich cultural and religious festival celebrations. Vijaya Utsav also known as Hampi Festival, Purandara Festival and Virupaksha Car Festival.
It’s time to visit this mind-blowing place for once and surely you will keep coming back to Hampi!
