The historic town of Hampi offers visitors a glimpse of the long-lost Vijayanagara Empire. The place is a major draw for history buffs, as well as those interested in archaeology and architecture. If you’re looking for things to do in Hampi, this town has much to offer.
However, it’s also a great destination for general visitors and tourists who want to enjoy a nice time in a quiet place.
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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 plenty of opportunities for rock climbing enthusiasts. Hampi’s rocky terrain is scattered with boulders and granite crags ranging from 4 m to 60 m in height. The boulders and crags offer both easy and challenging options for rock climbers to conquer.
The rocks and boulders of Hampi are a great place for rock climbing pros, amateurs and enthusiasts to test their skills.
These days, several organisations arrange rock climbing camps in Hampi, giving tourists and visitors the chance to experience the thrill of the adventure sport while enjoying a holiday in this ancient town.
Trekking: Hampi is a great place for trekking enthusiasts to explore the land’s natural and man-made beauty. 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.
Hampi also offers many other trekking routes. Most of them involve trekking to the hilltops. Popular trekking destinations in Hampi include the Hemakuta Hill trek, the Matanga Hill trek, the Anjaneya Hill trek, and the Malyavanta Hill trek. Each route offers ample views of Hampi’s natural beauty.
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: Hampi’s attraction lies in its architectural ruins, scattered all over the place. An easy and interesting way to explore Hampi’s extensive ruins is by riding a bicycle or a moped.
Bicycles, mopeds and scooters are available for hire at Hampi. Visitors and tourists can easily hire them. Mopeds and scooters help you cover long stretches in a short time.
However, a bicycle has its own unique charm and can be a great way to explore the rocky terrain and widespread ruins, especially the vast expanses of the Royal Enclosure.
Bullock and Horse Cart Rides: Hampi lets you get a close-up glimpse of rural India. About 30 settlements in and around Hampi are home to locals who lead a simple rural life.
You can cross the Tungabhadra River 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 located in the Vijayanagara district of Karnataka. It is about 340 km from Bengaluru. Visitors can reach Hampi by air, rail, or road.
By Air
The nearest airport is Jindal Vijaynagar Airport (VDY) at Toranagallu, about 35 km from Hampi, served by Alliance Air and Star Air with flights to Bengaluru and Hyderabad. Ballari’s own airport has no scheduled passenger flights. For wider connectivity, Hubballi Airport (about 165 km) and Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru (about 350 km) are the practical alternatives.
By Rail
Hampi has no railway station of its own. The nearest railway station is in the town of Hosapete (Hospet). It has the Hospet Junction Railway Station. Hosapete is about 10 km from Hampi.
A simple way to reach Hampi from Hosapete is by bus. Visitors can also use other local transport options to reach Hampi from Hosapete.
By Road
Hampi has a good road network. Because of this network, it connects to many towns and cities in Karnataka. Several KSRTC buses run between Hampi and many towns and cities in Karnataka. Visitors can also hire private cars, cabs, or other vehicles from big cities like Bengaluru (Bangalore) or Mysuru (Mysore) to travel to Hampi.
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