Hampi is an ancient village in the south Indian state of Karnataka. Hampi is declared a World Heritage site. The temples of Hampi, its monolithic sculptures and monuments, attract the traveler because of their excellent workmanship. Hampi is known for its magnificent architecture during the 14th century of the Vijayanagara Empire. Hampi or Hampe also referred to as the Group of Monuments at Hampi.
Hampi is an open museum with 100+ locations to explore and a favorite way to see the city from the perspective of its history. The best time to visit Hampi is the winter season from October to February. The weather remains cool and you will not feel exhausted in the afternoons. Some of the most important festivals including Vijaya Utsav (Festival of Hampi) are celebrated in November.
Suggested days: At least 2 days are required if you are planning to explore the whole Hampi.
Location: Vijayanagara district, Karnataka, India.
Stay: If you are planning to stay in Hampi, so there are hotels, guest houses and homestays are available inside and around Hampi.
Places to visit in Hampi
Vijaya Vitthala Gudi (Vijaya Vitthala Temple)
The Vittala Temple is an ancient monument that is known for its exceptional architecture and amazing craftsmanship. This iconic temple has amazing stone structures such as a moving stone chariot & musical pillars. It is one of the largest and most famous structures in Hampi.
This temple is so characteristic of the Vijayanagara art, it is taken as a symbol of Vijayanagara architecture, and sculpture, as it is a harmonious blending of sculpture and architecture for which the Vijayanagara architects and sculptors were famous all over the country. This is a must-visit place for tourists and visitors.
Location: 8FRG+W3H, Nimbapura, Hampi, Karnataka 583239
Rating:4.8
Suggested timing: 3-4 Hours
Entry fees: INR 30 for Indian
INR 500 for Foreigners
Timings to visit: 8:30 am- 5:00 pm (Everyday)
Best time to visit: From November to February
Photos & Videos: Allowed
Parking: Available
Sree Virupaksha Temple
This temple is a part of the Group of Monuments at Hampi which is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site Temple is dedicated to Lord Virupaksha which is a form of Shiva. This temple is the main center of pilgrimage and it has been considered the most sacred sanctuary over the centuries.
It attracts large groups of people in December. The yearly chariot festival is conducted in February. The temple has a shrine or the holy place of worship, a hall with several pillars, and 3 antechambers. There are courtyards, a pillared monastery, a few small shrines; and entranceways surrounding the temple.
Location: River Rd, Hampi, Karnataka 583239
Ratings: 4.7
Suggested time: 2-3 Hours
Timings to visit: 9 AM to 1 PM and 5 PM to 9 PM. (Everyday)
Entry fees: INR 2 + INR 50 for Camera
Parking: Available
Photos & Videos: Allowed
Best time to visit: the best time to visit Virupaksha Temple is during the festivities like the Marriage Festival of Pampa Devi and Virupaksha and Chariot Festival.
Hemakuta Hill Temple
The Hemakuta temple is a group of ancient temples situated on the Hemakuta hill in Hampi. The temples present on the Hemakuta Hill are among the oldest cluster of shrines in Hampi. This group of temples situated on the hilltop attracts lots of tourists. All the temples dotting the face of the hill are hundreds of years. This hilltop shows the perfect sunset view. There are more than 35 temples on Hemakuta Hill.
Location: Hampi, Bellary, Karnataka, India
Ratings: 4.5
Entry fees: Free
Timing to visit: 6:00 am to 6:00 pm (Everyday)
Photos & Videos: Allowed
Suggested Time: 2-3 Hours
Best Time to visit: November to February.
Parking: Available
LOTUS PALACE
The Lotus Mahal is also called Kamal Mahal or Chitragani Mahal. Lotus Palace is must visit place in Hampi. It is one of only a handful few astonishing buildings in Hampi that had not been damaged or destroyed amid the attack on the city. It is surrounded by a rectangular wall and four towers which form a shape of lotus which palace from harsh weather conditions.
The palace is built in the Zenana enclosure and was reserved for the royal women of the Vijayanagara Empire, moreover, the structure was built to serve the royal women of the empire. The Mahal also served as a meeting point for the king and his ministers.
Location: SH 131, Hampi, Karnataka 583239
Ratings: 4.5
Entry fees: 10 INR for Indians
250 INR for foreigners
Timing to visit: 8:00 am to 6:00 pm (Everyday)
Photos & Videos: Allowed
Suggested Time: 2:30 Hours
Best Time to visit: November to February
Parking: Available
Hippie Island
If you want to get a feel like a personal Island, you should visit a place like Hippie Island. The surroundings are so quiet and peaceful. It is situated across the Tungabhadra river. While driving to Hippie Island you can explore the plane roads with banana and coconut trees sideways which gives the perfect view of nature.
There are cafes and guest houses for visitors, you can relax and even chill from there and can enjoy the view. The cafes of Hampi hills are famous for their locations and chilling.
The best and easy way to reach Hippie Island Hampi is to take a boat and cross the Tungabhadra river which will take a minimum 5mins ride near the Virupaksha temple in Hampi. One boat ride costs INR 50. The timings of the boat are from 8:00 am to 5:30 pm. Sometimes people travel after 5:30 pm also and it costs more than i.e around 200 INR. During the time of Monsoon, you should not prefer a boat, better go by taxi.
There are many things to do on Hippie Island like you can watch the sunrise and sunset from the hill point, you can go mountain climbing. On the top of Anjaneya Hill, there is one temple named Yantrodharaka Hanuman Temple also known as “Monkey Temple” which is known for the birthplace of Lord Hanuman. You have to climb 570 steps to reach the temple which is inside a cave.
Ratings: 4.5
Timings to visit: 7:00 am to 8:30 pm (Everyday)
Entry fees: Free
Photos & Videos: Allowed
Suggested time: Generally it takes 3-4 hours but if you are willing to sit and chill, you can spend more time at sunset.
Best time to visit: October to February
Parking: You can park your vehicles inside the guest house where you are staying.
Queen's Bath
The Queen’s bath was built in the Indo-Islamic style of architecture. It is a very famous heritage site in Hampi. It was built to take baths for the queens and the king. It is designed in such a way that, when queens are there no outsiders can come inside. It is a square pool which was filled with water and flowers which used to give pleasant essence.
The garden present in front of the queen’s bath is famous for picnics. The Queen’s bath place is surrounded by beautifully designed corridors with big pillars and beautiful balconies with windows. Now the bathing pool is empty and the pillars and canopies have become shady. We can get a view that these modern days spas are not new, ancient times queens used to have that with royal treatment.
It is near to the famous Royal Enclosure, so these two sites can be seen together.
Location: 8F7C+9X9, Karnataka 583239
Ratings: 4.3
Timings to visit: 6:00 am to 6:00 pm (Everyday)
Entry fee: Free
Suggested Hours: 1:30 hours
Photos & Videos: Allowed
Best time to visit: November to February
Parking: Available
