The historical town of Hampi is a great place for visitors to have a glimpse of the long lost Vijayanagara Empire. The place holds great attraction for history buffs as well as for those who are interested in archaeology and architecture.
However, the place is also a great destination for general visitors and tourists who want to enjoy a nice time in a quiet place.
Quick Facts about Hampi
- Timing: From dawn to dusk on all days of the week
- Fee or Charge: Depends on the activity to be undertaken
- Photography: Allowed
- Video Camera: Allowed
- Best time to visit: From November to February
Enjoy Thrill and Adventure on your Hampi Trip
Hampi is as much a destination for those seeking a unique holiday experience as for those who are interested in adventure and thrilling activities. Here are the top five things that you can do while on your trip to Hampi.
Rock Climbing: Hampi offers ample scope for rock climbing enthusiasts. The rocky terrain of Hampi is mostly scattered with boulders and granite crags of various sizes ranging from 4 m to 60 m in height. The boulders and crags offer easy as well as challenging options for rock climbers to conquer.
The rocks and boulders of Hampi are a great place for the rock climbing pros, amateurs and enthusiasts to test their skills.
These days there are several organisations which arrange rock climbing camps in Hampi and offer tourists and visitors an opportunity to experience the thrill of the adventure sport while enjoying a holiday in this ancient town.
Trekking: The ancient town of Hampi is a great place for trekking enthusiasts to explore the natural and man-made beauty of the land. The ruined town has a rocky terrain and several large and small rocky hills that are ideal for trekking.
One of the amazing trek routes that do not involve a climb is the Kampa Bhupa’s Path in Hampi.
There are many other trekking routes in Hampi. Most of them involve trekking to the hill tops. Among the popular trekking destinations of Hampi are the Hemakuta Hill trek, the Matanga Hill trek, the Anjaneya Hill trek and the Malyavanta Hill trek. Each trek route offers ample view of the natural beauty of Hampi.
A wonder ride in Coracle in Hampi. Copyright Karnataka.com
Coracle Ride: A unique thing to experience in this ancient town is to enjoy a coracle ride on the waters of the River Tungabhadra. A coracle is a circular shaped country boat that can carry about 6 to 8 people on a single trip across the river. These coracle boats have been in use in Hampi since the time of the Vijayanagara Empire.
A coracle is a great means to enjoy a ride across the swirling waters of the river. The rides are not dangerous but they can be a bit scary for the weak hearted people.
Exploring on Bicycle: The attraction of Hampi lies in its architectural ruins that can be found scattered all over the place. An easy and interesting way to explore the extensive ruins of Hampi is by riding a bicycle or a moped.
Bicycles, mopeds and scooters are available for hire at Hampi. Visitors and tourists interested in riding them can hire them easily. Mopeds and scooters help in covering long stretches in a short duration of time.
However, a bicycle has a unique charm of its own and can be a great way to explore the rocky terrain and the widespread ruins, especially the vast expanses of the Royal Enclosure.
Bullock and Horse Cart Rides: Hampi is a place where you can get a glimpse of rural India from close quarters. There are about 30 settlements in and around Hampi where the local people lead a simple rural life.
You can cross the river Tungabhadra to arrive at one of the settlements and take a bullock cart ride to see the beauty of rural India in this part of the country.
Bullock carts and horse carts are a common sight in and around Hampi. The horse carts in Hampi are decorated in vibrant colours. A ride in a horse cart or a bullock cart is a thrilling experience in itself which is quite different from the rides in other modern modes of transport.
How to reach Hampi
Hampi is a renowned tourist destination that is located in the Ballari (Bellary) district of Karnataka. It is situated at a distance of about 340 km from Bengaluru. There are various routes through which visitors can reach Hampi as the ancient city is accessible by different modes of transport – air, rail as well as road.
By Air
Hampi has no airport of its own. Ballari (Bellary) is the nearest town that has an airport. Ballari is situated at a distance of around 64 km from Hampi. Visitors can reach Ballari by taking a flight. They can then travel to Hampi by means of local transport.
By Rail
The village of Hampi has no railway station to call its own. The nearest railway station can be found in the town of Hosapete (Hospet). It has the Hospet Junction Railway Station. Hosapete is situated at a distance of around 10 km from Hampi.
A simple way to reach Hampi from Hosapete is to take a bus. There are a few other means of local transport that can be availed by visitors to reach Hampi from Hosapete.
By Road
Hampi has a good road network. Due to this network it is connected to many towns and cities of Karnataka. There are a number of KSRTC buses that travel between Hampi and several towns and cities in Karnataka. Visitors can opt to hire private cars, cabs or other vehicles from big cities like Bengaluru (Bangalore) or Mysuru (Mysore) to travel to Hampi.
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