Things to do in Hampi (Updated travel blog for 2020)
To Visit Hampi in Karnataka was in my travel bucket list for a long time until I moved to Bangalore and finally visited Hampi in October 2018. I loved Hampi so much that I came here thrice in six months’ time. Every time the Hampi was blissful. Here is my travel blog on things to do in Hampi.
Hampi has an unearthly landscape of boulders, fascinating history in each corner, thousands of years old ruined temples and palaces (Virupaksha temple, Hemakuta hill, Vitthala temple, Matanga hill), unbelievable architecture (lotus mahal, queen's bath), green paddy fields and mischievous monkeys:)! It’s truly a land of fantasy. Hampi let travelers dive into history to experience the lost tales of South India’s largest, wealthiest and the most powerful kingdom, Vijayanagara Empire. No wonder, it was on the top in the list of New York Times for places to visit.
Excited? Before we start, here is a travel map for your reference.
Hampi is split into two sides, one is the ruin/ heritage side and other is the hippie side of Hampi (across the Tungabhadra river). The hippie side is gaining popularity between the young crowd due to its laid back and super relaxing vibes. This blog covers everything you need to know about the ruin/ heritage side. In case you want to visit the Hippie side, I have written a separate blog on Hippie Island in Hampi.
You can read my blog on Hippie Island here.
Now, Let’s get started!!
Quick Navigation
Things to do in Hampi
Cafes and Restaurants in Hampi
Tips for exploring monuments
How to reach Hampi
Places to stay in Hampi
Best time to visit Hampi
Is Hampi safe for solo female travelers
How many days are required for exploring Hampi
How much budget is required for travelling to Hampi
Some other tips for travelling to Hampi
Things to do in Hampi
1 . Visit sacred Virupaksha Temple in Hampi
Virupaksha temple is one of the oldest functioning temples in India and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple is the main centre of pilgrimage in Hampi. Given the religious importance, the temple gets really crowded during the day with thousands of pilgrims across India.
I will recommend you to reach the temple around 7-8 am in the morning. During that time, you can also see the morning aarti and the elephant named “Lakshmi” walking towards the river for her daily bath.
Virupaksha temple has no entry fees and it is adjacent to the Hampi Bazaar.
2. Climb Matanga Hill for a mesmerising sunrise
Climbing up the magnificent Matanga Hill at 5:00 AM in the morning to see the first light of the day brightening the beautiful city Hampi. It is an experience in itself. Imagine the aerial view of the giant boulders scattered between the paddy fields, banana plantation and coconut trees, the view is SURREAL. Something you cannot find possibly anywhere else in the world.
Good to know
Matanga Hills has no entry charges and the starting steps to the hill are just a walkable distance away from Virupaksha temple. The climb uphill is easy and can take around 45 to 60 minutes depending on your speed. Don’t forget to wear comfortable clothes and shoes (flip-flops, skirt/ jeans will not be a good idea as you will have to jump over the stones). Carry some water and a torch since there will be no source of light in the early morning.
In case you find it difficult to get up at 5:00 AM, sunsets from Matanga Hills are equally mesmerising.
3. Embrace the details of grand Vitthala temple in Hampi
Vitthala temple is the epicentre of the ruined town with a huge temple complex. It is dedicated to the lord Vitthala (Lord Vishnu’s another form) and is known for its unmatched marvellous architecture, famous stone chariot and mysterious musical pillars.
The best way to reach Vitthala temple will be through Tungbhadra riverside trek Path. The path has many shrines, carved artefacts, boulders and ruins of ancient structures and goes along-side the river. It will be a serene walk of around 2 km.
Good to know
Entry charges :
Indian – INR 50.
Foreign – INR 500.
The same ticket can be used for Lotus Mahal and Queen’s bath.
4. Enjoy the blissful sunset at Hemkuta Hill in Hampi
Hemkuta Hills is considered as one of the most beautiful sites in Hampi. There are many small temples scattered over the hill - Mustard Ganesh, Kadalekalu Ganesha. It is a famous viewpoint for witnessing Hampi’s mesmerising sunsets.
The hill has no entry fees and is just a few minutes away from the Virupaksha temple.
5. Take a coracle ride in Tungabhadra river and visit the Hippie Island side of Hampi
Another thing to do in Hampi is to take a coracle ride behind the Virupaksha temple. Hippie Island in Hampi is known for its relaxed
and chilled out vibes. It is not as crowded as the heritage side and has many cafes to just chill. My recommendation will be to hire
a moped/ bike and roam around the nearby villages (Anegudi Village) or jump from boulder at Sanapur Lake.
I have written a separate detailed blog for Hippie Island, you can read the blog here.
6. Understand the architecture side of Hampi
Visit Lakshmi Narasimha and Badavi Linga
Lakshmi Narshima is the largest sculpture in Hampi and is also known as Ugra (terrifying form) Narasimha. Badavi Linga is the largest linga statue in Hampi and is always submerged in water as a water channel is made to flow through it.
Badavi Linga and Lakshmi Narasimha are situated in the same compound and are a walkable distance from Hemakuta Hill. Both these monuments have no entry fees.
Don’t miss Krishna Temple in Hampi
Krishna temple in Hampi is known for exquisite carvings (especially, mythical lions) and elegant architectural design. The grandeur of the temple reflects the prosperity of the Vijayanagara empire. The temple has no entry fees and is 200 meters from Lakshmi Narashimha statue.
Visit Lotus Mahal, Queen’s bath and Stepwell in Hampi
These monuments are an example of complex ancient Vijayanagara architecture. Queen's bath was especially used for royal family bathing. Pushkerni was a sacred water tank attached to the temples.
Queen’s bath and Lotus Mahal have entry charges (Vittaha temple ticket can be used for Queen’s bath and Lotus Mahal in case you visit all the three places on the same day). Step Well (also known as Pushkerni) has no entry charges. These places are around 3 km from Hemakuta Hills.
7. Explore the local markets of Hampi
Hampi market, near Virupaksha temple, is bustling village market filled with hippie clothes, jewellery, bags and beautiful rooftop cafes.
During the ancient times, it is said that gems, pearls, gold and precious metals were sold in these streets. I am sure you will enjoy every nook and corner of the vibrant Hampi market. Another amazing thing to do in Hampi will be to walk around the small lanes to explore the market.
Cafes and Restaurants in Hampi
9. Enjoy the local Food in Hampi
I was walking around the Hampi bazaar in search of the best pitstop for breakfast until I saw an old man topping up the crispy dosas with some banana, coconut and honey! The Indian version of pancake looked so tempting that I couldn’t resist.
Many families in Hampi have started their food stalls for breakfast and dinner. They serve different varieties of dosas, poori with potato curry, tea, coffee etc. Trying these local street delicacies, is the must do thing in Hampi. Also, it is not gonna cost more than INR 100 bucks for a whole meal.
Mango Tree Restaurant –
Mango tree is Hampi’s most famous restaurant between the locals and tourists. During the peak season, you might find a queue for lunch and dinner. Their South Indian special thali was really good.
Gopi Guesthouse – A small rooftop café is such an awesome place to have lunch or sip that evening masala tea.
Funky Monkey, Ganesh Chilled Out, Chilled Out Bamboo Cafes –
All of these cafes are pretty chilled out, just lie down and read a book may be.
Tips for exploring monuments
For exploring the heritage side of Hampi, you can hire a cycle. Cycling uphill could be physically challenging, but the view and route between boulders and paddy fields are absolutely rewarding. It is an experience you will remember forever (like I do)! The cycles cost around INR 100 to 200 per day.
Alternatively, you can hire a moped or go for one day tuktuk tour. Don’t miss to book moped one day in Advance. One day tuktuk tour will cost INR 800.
How to reach Hampi
Where to stay in Hampi
By Train – Hampi does not have a railway station. The nearest Railway station is Hospet, which is around 12 km from Hampi.
There are direct trains from Mysore and Bangalore for Hospet. The best option will be to take “Hampi Express” which starts from Mysore and goes to Hampi via Bangalore. The train starts from Mysore at 6:40 PM, reaches Bangalore city Junction around 10 PM and reaches Hospet around 7:00 PM.
For Hospet to Hampi, you can take either a tuk-tuk (INR 250-INR 300) or local bus (INR 20). The buses run from 6:00 AM till 10:30 in the night.
Check out the availability of the trains here – www.irctc.com
By Bus – There are direct buses for Hampi/ Hospet from Mysore, Goa, Mumbai, Bangalore and Gokarna. The bus will cost anywhere between INR 1,000 to 2,000 depending on the type you are opting (sleeper/ semi sleeper/ non-sleeper) for. While travelling by bus, be ready for a bumpy ride!
Check out all the bus options here – www.redbus.com
If you are not from India and find it difficult/ confusing to book train tickets, take help from a travel agent. The train options are always much cheaper and comfortable vs bus rides.
By flight – Hampi does not have an airport. The nearest airport is Hubli which is around 150 km away from Hampi. You will need to hire a taxi from Hubli airport to reach Hampi.
Hampi is heaven for backpackers. The rent for basic rooms can be as low as INR 500. You can also experience staying in a mud house or a cosy hut. Don’t expect luxury, most of the guesthouses are run by families who have only basic amenities to offer (bed and fan) but the people are extremely welcoming and helpful.
Recommended places – Gopi Guest house, Funky Monkey, Rocky guest house
If you want to stay in a resort, there are a few options like Part Hyatt, Clarks Inn, etc, though most of them are really far from the attractions in Hampi.
You can check all the options here – Booking.com and Hostelworld.com
Best time to visit Hampi:
Late October to Early February will be the ideal time to visit Hampi. During the rainy season (ie July to September), Hampi gets inconsistent rainfall and will be humid. In case you enjoy exploring around in rain and want to see ‘Greener Hampi’, July to September can also be a good idea.
During the rest of the year, the temperature in Hampi will be at its peak and it will be unbearably hot.
Is Hampi safe for Solo Female Travellers:
I did a solo trip to Hampi for 3 days. on the Basis of my first-hand experience, Hampi is absolutely safe for solo female travellers. I was exploring around Hampi starting from 6:30 AM till 10:00 PM, even at such early and late hours, I did not face any issues.
How many days are required for exploring hampi:
I would love to spend weeks in Hampi for its laid-back vibes and rich history.
You will need at least 3 to 4 days to explore around properly (2 days Heritage side and 2 for Hippie Island side)
Some other tips for travelling to Hampi
How much budget is required for travelling to Hampi
Like I said before, Hampi is backpackers’ paradise. You can get rooms for as less as INR 400 (USD 5) and food is inexpensive too (less than INR 200 (USD 2) for one meal). For 3 days’ stay, I had spent INR 3,000 including the cost of train tickets.
Carry enough cash, the nearest ATM is in Hospet which is 12 km away from Hampi. Debit/ credit cards are not accepted at almost all the places in Hampi.
Low mobile network – Not all the parts in Hampi have a good network connection. Some of the cafes and hotels have good wifi (Gopi Guest House, Chilled Out Café, Laughing Budha Café in Hippie Island).
Carry Toiletries, towel, etc –Hampi guesthouses offer you basic amenities and hence, it will be good to carry your own toiletries/ towel etc.
Peak Season Travel – If you are travelling Hampi in peak season, book your stay and travel in advance or else, you might end up paying double charges for hotels.
Bargain – Like any other parts of India, you gotta keep the Bargain-hustle going in Hampi too, especially if you are not an Indian.
What to wear – Preferably cotton clothes. There is no restriction or any dress code for visiting monuments.
Alcohol is not allowed in the heritage side of Hampi. Some of the cafes do offer alcohol in the hippie Island, you can check with them :)
If you want to know more about the ruined side of Hampi, the below website will be really helpful:
I hope you found this blog on “things to do in Hampi” helpful. Don’t miss to read my other blog on things to do in Hippie Island in Hampi.
Do tell me in case you think I have missed adding something or if you have any other questions. Will be happy to help! Will be looking forward to hearing on your travel experience to Hampi.
If you are exploring around India, these blogs may help you:
Guide for Places to eat in Amritsar
Love,
Tanned Travel Girl