Hampi has to be on your bucket list – trust me, it’s the historical masterpiece that gets the most points from me. In the extensive area of some 30 sq. km. You get to see a lot and what’s interesting is that you hardly see repetitions. The architecture changes according to the purpose that the building serves. That variety makes it more than exciting, and even though it’s a historic place, you’ll love it if you aren’t a historic freak just like me! Don’t forget to see the Tungabhadra reservoir over the Tungabhadra river-its park and reservoir site are yummy to watch-the waters glittering against sunlight. The beautiful dam construction that leads to a beautiful garden makes it all worth being here! It’s easy to be here and hardly takes much time to visit, so you can also manage to visit this place.
Eight beautiful reasons why you must visit Hampi:
- Hampi is a must-visit as it used to be once the wealthiest city in India and the second-largest city after Beijing. It was spread over a large area and was the capital of the Vijayanagar empire in the 14th century.
- The stone chariot at the Vittala Temple marks the symbol of the great Hampi empire. A must not be missed tourist spot!
- There are several temples in and around, like-Virupaksha temple and the Vijaya Vittala temple being the must-visit ones.
- Anjuna and Matunga Hills are the hills where you can plan for a short trek and get a panoramic view of the historic city from the hilltops and catch a brilliant sunset.
- You can reach the Hampi Bazaar near the Virupaksha temple, which was once a busy marketplace for trading silk, gemstones, and other precious items.
- You can visit a street where once diamonds used to be sold, called the Pan Supari Street; also, you can visit Vittal Temple, known for its outer Musical Pillars as the pillars produce music.
- There are several other temples and ponds like Pushkarini, museum, Hemakunta Temple complex, and Tungabhadra river to visit, enough to take about a day provided you hire an autorickshaw.
Location: Hampi is about 350 km northwest of Bengaluru, the Silicon Valley of India.
Tourist Attraction on the spot:
You have the Archeological Remains and Tungabhadra Reservoir to visit around Hospet.
Tourist Attraction in Vicinity:
You can visit Jog Falls, Dudhsagar Falls, Udupi, Gokarna, and Murudeshwara.
King’s Balance Hampi
Distance Charts:(Hampi)
- Hyderabad(370 km)
- Ooty(610 km)
- Mumbai(745 km)
- Pune(535 km)
- Munnar (720 km)
- Cochin(770 km)
- Bangalore(340 km)
- Rameswaram(950 km)
- Kanyakumari(1010 km)
- Delhi(1900 km)
- Chennai(700 km)
- Mysuru(430 km)
- Visakhapatnam(900 km)
How to Reach Hampi:
Road Routes:
Bengaluru-Hiriyur-Chitradurga-Hosapete-Hampi-Hosapete-Tungabhadra Reservoir
IMPORTANT NOTE FROM MY EXPERIENCE:
1)Hampi is an all-year-round tourist place, but it is best if you come between September and February, offering a pleasant climate.
2)The public transport in this area is next to nil. So either has 2-3 days to cover all places on foot or hire an auto and see the sites in under 6-7 hours. For Tungabhadra reservoir, you have a bus every hour, so that’s not an issue.
3)As I say for most trips, have an umbrella, a water bottle, and snacks as you need to walk around the Hampi region and choose the early morning hours to avoid the scorching heat of the afternoon.
RAIL: Hospet is the nearest railway station to Hampi.
AIR: Hubli airport is the nearest though Mysuru/Bengaluru may be more convenient.
ROAD: There’s a single well-metaled road to Hampi via Hospete from Bengaluru. The Hospet-Hubli section is rough and patchy or a smooth roller. Direct buses to Hospet are available by KSRTC.
Map:
Time to Visit:
August to March is an excellent time to be here.
Spend Time With:
Friends, Groups, Solo, Couple, Family
Food and Lodging:
Hampi is a place to visit, so it has a few hotels, but Hospete will be better for accommodation, and freshening up-hotels are cheap- no booking needed. Food is trouble here, so have snacks and water with you.
Expense:
A day trip will cost:
Food: INR 100/person/day(3 times a day)X1
Transport: To do local sightseeing only at Hampi will cost INR 700 by booking a local auto. Reaching this majestic historical city from Hospet and from Hospete to Tungabhadra will cost around INR 200 bucks approx.
Lodging: INR 700/day X 1 at Hospet
Entry Fees: INR 50 with parking fees(else INR 20)
Total: 1920 INR
Nearby Attractions :
- Hyderabad(370 km)
- Ooty(610 km)
- Munnar (720 km)
- Visakhapatnam(900 km)
- Bangalore(340 km)
- Chennai(700 km)
- Mysuru(430 km)
- Murdeshwar(340 km)
- Udupi(400 km)
- Jog Falls(270 km)
- Gokarna(340 km)
- Goa-Margao(350 km)
- Pune(530 km)
- Mahabaleshwar-Panchgani(550 km)
