Hampi Tourist Information

Tourist information on Hampi

Hampi is famous for its wonderful ruins coupled with the fascinating landscape.

The monuments of Hampi are a UNESCO World Heritage Site which was a part of the ancient Vijayanagara Empire.

Heaps of big ancient rock buildings, paddy fields and a number of temples with monuments and sculptures is what the place has to offer to tourists.

Location

Hampi is located in the Ballari district of the state of Karnataka.

Temperature

Temperature at Hampi varies from 27 degrees Celsius during winter, rising to 37 degrees Celsius during the hot summers.

Best time to visit Hampi

Favorable time to visit is from October to February as the weather remains pleasant.

The monsoon season is also suitable to visit, but the area may become a little slippery.

You can also visit Hampi towards the end of November to witness the Vijaya Utsav.

How to reach Hampi?

• By Road – With a smooth network of roads throughout Karnataka, it is possible to get the KSRTC bus service that connects many cities and towns of the state to Hampi. Also, it is easy to travel from the main city of Bangalore to Hampi as it is just 350 kilometers away.
• By Rail– Hampi has no railway station. To reach by railways, Hospet is the nearest railway station which is 13 kilometers away from Hampi. Hospet is well connected to the towns and cities of Karnataka.
• By Air– Hampi does not have airports, the nearest airport being Ballari which is 64 kilometers from Hampi. After reaching Ballari, tourists can reach Hampi by local transport.

Things to do in Hampi

To enjoy the charm and thrill hidden in the old ruins of Hampi, do activities that are both exciting and gives that adrenaline rush.

1. Coracle Hopping – Cross river Tungabhadra and reach Anegundi in a lovely boat. Reaching the other side of the river, tourists can enjoy live music sessions and enjoy the ancient ruins of the place at its best.
2. Rock climbing – Hampi is a paradise for rock climbers offering plenty of opportunities for rock climbing. For this, Matangi Hill, Tiruvengalantha Temple, and Hemakuta Hill are the famous places.
3. Bicycle tours – During bicycle tours, one can enjoy watching Sloth Bear Sanctuary.
4. Shopping – When shopping, you will come across common things like Lambani crafts, stone artifacts, musical instruments, Banana fiber crafts and the like.
5. Become part of Vijaya Utsav– Celebrated for three days during the end of November, you are sure to enjoy becoming part of this celebration in Hampi.

Therefore, the place is full of activities to do both for adventure and nature lovers.

Places to visit in and around Hampi

1. Virupaksha Temple

This famous temple is also called by the name Pampapathi temple which is one of the oldest temples dating back to the 7th century.

2. Vithala TempleÂ

It is one of the most impressive structures dating back to the 16th century which has rich architectural ruins of the place.

3. Lotus Palace

It is one of the best for its style and design and gets its name due to lotus-like dome.

4. Monkey TempleÂ

Situated on the top of Anjenaya Hill, there are 570 steps devotees have to climb to reach the main temple.

5. Hampi Bazaar

ÂAs this bazaar is facing the Virupaksha temple, it is also called Virupaksha Bazaar.

6. Hippie IslandÂ

This small island is located near the Tungabhadra River, which is beautiful for its scenic beauty.

7. Queen’s BathÂ

This aquatic enclosure is the ruins of the famous Vijayanagara Empire.

8. Matangi HillÂ

The location is known as the hermitage of Saint Matangi, and therefore, it is rightly named after her.

9. Elephant Stables Â

The place looks like an enclosure for elephants during the VIjayanagara Empire and therefore, it is rightly named after this.

10. Big ShivlingaÂ

Carved out of a single big-sized rock, this is 3 meters tall, standing in water and one of the major attractions in Hampi.

11. Lakshmi Narasimha Temple

This is among the famous structures in Hampi where Narasimha is sitting on the seven-headed snake which are giving shelter to him.

12. Hemakuta Hill temple complex

It is a temple complex that is protected by a fort all around.

13. Old PalaceÂ

Located in Anegondi, the Old Palace is surrounded by fort from all sides.

14. Achyutraya TempleÂ

This temple of Lord Shiva is also called by the name of Tiruvengalanatha Temple.

15. Hazara Rama TempleÂ

This is another interesting place of worship which is famous for the pillar and the wall carvings. This temple is a small-sized one compared to others in Hampi.

Food to try in HampiÂ

• Hampi offers a huge variety of South Indian dishes
• Cakes, cookies, hummus, pita bread are offered by restaurants
• To treat your taste buds, even continental dishes are available
• Homemade pasta is available at Suresh, a homerun eatery

Place of eateries to try

Most of the eating joints are located on both sides of Tungabhadra river with some options for cafes to taste.

List of popular vegetarian restaurants

• Funky Monkey Restaurant
• The Goan Corner
• The Bridge
• Tibetan Kitchen
• Mango Tree
• Laughing Buddha

Asian and Israeli restaurantsÂ

• Tibetan Kitchen
• Nargila Guesthouse restaurant
• Funky Monkey Restaurant
• Chill Out In Bamboo Restaurant
• Hampi Roof Restaurant

Cafe culture in Hampi

The cafes in Hampi are laid back and therefore services are not so prompt. The cafe has pleasant music with good scenic views. Some cafes also have riverside or rice field views.

Festivals to attendÂ

Hampi is known for its Purandara Festival. This takes place from January to February in the Vittal Temple. The reason the purpose of the celebration is the birth anniversary of poet-composer Purandar.

Things not to do in HampiÂ

If visitors could know ‘What not to do’ in Hampi, it shall help tourists have a better experience when traveling to Hampi.

• Do not take auto or cab ride if you are fitÂ

If you do not want to miss some of the beautiful places in Hampi, it is better not to opt for a cab or auto ride to get the real taste of exploring Hampi, the best option is a bicycle ride. Rent a bicycle and travel around every place as each rock in and around Hampi has a separate story to narrate.

• Do not cross Tungabhadra on ferryÂ

Never opt for ferry ride to cross Tungabhadra and instead it is better to opt for coracle riding during sunset. But still the ride is not suitable for weak hearted ones. You should not take the risk of crossing the river in ferry.

• No need to stay at HospetÂ

Never make the mistake of staying at Hospet when traveling to Hampi. It is better to stay on the other side of the river which is called the Hippie side. Here, one can avail locales, shopping points, cafes, and restaurants to dine out. Look for luxury accommodation to get the best comfort.