Hampi travel guide: A first-time traveller’s manual to the Karnataka heritage town

Located in central Karnataka, Hampi was once the capital of the glorious Vijayanagara Empire. In 1565, it was captured by the Deccan Muslim Confederacy, plundered over a period of six months and abandoned. Presently, it is in ruins and is a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city’s astoundingly rich princes built striking Dravidian temples, palaces and forts that have fascinated tourists and locals for centuries. In addition to the ruins, Hampi is also renowned for its hospitality, local cuisine and natural landscape. The setting of Hampi is surreal, with heaps of giant rocks dotted with rows of monuments as far as the eye can see. Alongside are picturesque palm groves, expansive banana plantations and paddy fields, the serene Tungabhadra River and majestic hills in the background.

After visiting Hampi a few years ago, I can safely say that there is no place like it and everyone should visit this one-of-a-kind town at least once. A long weekend is the perfect amount of time needed to explore this unique destination. Here is your guide to discovering the sights of Hampi.

The GQ Guide To A Long Weekend in Hampi:

Located 4 km from the Hampi ruins is Evolve Back Kamalapura Palace. This palatial, 5-star property showcases Vijayanagara architecture at its luxurious best. The resort’s stone-paved walkways, arched hallways and royal chambers will transport you back in time! The hotel features exquisite Indo-Islamic architecture and four categories of suites—Jal Mahal, Zenana, Nilaya and Nivasa. While all the suites are lavishly appointed, we recommend staying at the Jal Mahal suite, which has a private pool and an outdoor shower. The Evolve Back resort in Hampi also has an infinity pool, a luxurious Ayurvedic spa and an opulent lounge. Get drinks at their terrace restaurant, Tuluva with uninterrupted views of the infinity pool, and dine at their Hyderabadi cuisine eatery, Bahmani Restaurant.

Located an hour drive from Hampi is the Shivavilas Palace Heritage Hotel. This budget-friendly hotel features 12 luxurious rooms and suites that showcase a blend of traditional and modern interiors. Dine at their restaurant, which serves local Karnataka fare including dishes such as holigae, jowar roti, enne badanekai, kempu khara and mosaranna.

Explore Hampi (explorehampi.com) offers a Village Life Tour wherein a local family will host you for lunch. This is the best way to try out the authentic local culinary delights of Hampi.

Additionally, don’t miss dining at Laughing Buddha, a multi-cuisine eatery with panoramic views of the winding Tungabhadra River. Have some beers or indulge in their scrumptious Middle Eastern dishes at sunset.

Hampi Bazaar, near the grandiose Virupaksha Temple is the place to go for local handicrafts. It is a buzzing market that includes numerous winding lanes dotted with budget hostels, shops and restaurants. The stores here are well-known for their stone artefacts, leather handicrafts, curios, carpets and spices. Additionally, check out Akash Art Gallery and Bookstore for antiques and books on Hampi and India, and Gali Djembe Music Shop for Indian and Western musical instruments.

Presently, there are over 1,600 remaining ruins in the town of Hampi. These include forts, temples, shrines, pillared halls, memorial buildings and water tanks amongst others. The ruins in Hampi depict the opulence and prosperity of the erstwhile Vijayanagara Empire. Begin your Hampi exploration trip by visiting the imposing Dasara Dibba, a grand stone platform.

The King of Vijayanagara celebrated the festival of Dasara or Dussehra at the Dasara Dibba. It’s one of the highest spots in Hampi, offering a bird’s eye view of the ruins. In addition, the Dasara Dibba showcases the daily life of the Vijayanagara Empire with its intricate carvings. There are detailed carvings of performers, artists, soldiers, parades, hunting game scenes and numerous other royal scenes.

Next, visit an architectural marvel—Hampi’s symmetrical stepped tank. This stepped tank was used for religious ceremonies and was considered to be sacred. The tank displays great architectural advancement and innovation of the Vijayanagara Empire.

Thereafter, make your way to the Hazara Rama Temple. The temple was dedicated to Lord Rama and was the private place of worship of the royal family of Vijayanagara. This ruined temple complex is well-known for its intricate carvings and inscriptions, elaborate murals depicting the Ramayana and extensive courtyard gardens. Presently, it is not a functioning temple and is primarily visited for its architectural beauty.

You can’t travel to Hampi and not visit the Virupaksha Temple, which is located near the Hampi Bazaar. This temple has been functioning uninterruptedly since it was built in the 14th century. It is fully intact, in contrast to the other monuments in Hampi. The temple is dedicated to Virupaksha, a form of Shiva. The primary highlight of the Virupaksha Temple is the giant tower or Gopura that opens into the first courtyard of the temple compound. This pastel coloured, 9-storied tower is the most prominent landmark in Hampi. Other highlights of the Virupaksha Temple include Lakshmi, the temple elephant who blesses visitors by placing a flower garland on them and the multitude of playful monkeys that are always present at the temple.

End your exploration of the Hampi ruins by visiting the Kadalekalu Ganesha, one of the largest statues of Lord Ganesha in south India. This enormous monolithic statue of Ganesha is approximately 15 feet tall and was carved out of a single massive rock. The Kadalekalu Ganesha temple also has mesmerising views of Hampi, as it is situated on top of a hill.

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