35 Best Places to visit in Hampi 2021, tourist attractions

 

35 Best Places to visit in Hampi 2021, tourist attractions

01

Virupaksha Temple

The temple is so constructed that its main entrance faces east and homes to two courtyards. No sooner you enter the temple, there is a statue of Nandi with three heads. There is a pillared hall in the center which is reckoned as the Ranga Mandapa.

In case you are an international traveler, you have to register yourself at a police outpost with all your essential details. Mostly, this temple remains crowded in December; whereas it celebrates its annual festival in February and it is one of the best places to visit in Hampi.

Location: South banks of Tungabhadra river, Hampi, Karnataka 583239

Timings: Virupaksha temple is open for the visitors from morning 9:00 am to 13:00 pm. After about 4 hours, again the doors are open visitors from 17:00 pm to 21:00 pm.

02

Vijaya Vittala Temple

Vijaya Vittala Temple or Vijaya temple of Hampi amongst the ancient Places to Visit In Hampi worthy of visiting. There are fantastic stone structures all around, and the pillars here appear as if they are playing music.

This is true architectural excellence of Hampi as it exemplifies remarkable creativity and the beauty of architecture’s imagination. The architecture of this temple dates back to the Dravidian era and reflects South Indian traits.

Three towering gateways are encircling the temple along with high compound walls. Maha Mantapa, Stone chariot, musical pillars are amongst the tourist attractions of this Vijaya Vittala Temple.

Location: Hampi, Karnataka 583239

Timings: The doors of Vijaya Vittala Temple are open from morning 08:30 am to evening 18:00 pm.

03

Lotus Mahal

Lotus Mahal or Kamal Mahal exhibits an explicit architectural design amongst all the other Hampi tourist places. It is so called as it more or less resembles the shape of a lotus flower.

Central dome of this Mahala resembles the bud of lotus and the balcony and passages as petals. The roof illustrates a multi-layered design reflecting and Indo architectural style. There are around 24 pillars to provide excellent support to the arched windows of this palace.

Location: SH 131, Hampi, Karnataka 583239

Timings: The Lotus Mahal Hampi is open for visitors from morning 08:00 am to evening 06:00 pm.

04

Yantrodharaka Hanuman Temple

Yantrodharaka Hanuman Temple is present at a distance of around 2km from the famous Virupaksha temple. This temple is a part of a cave standing at the peak of a hill and is dedicated to the Hindu deity Lord Hanuman.

Also, the Tungabhadra river flows through the steps of this hill. Here, you can find Lord Hanuman indulged in a state of deep meditation. Within a distance of five minutes from here, you can find another temple dedicated to Lord Srinivasa. In case you feel hungry, you can approach small stalls nearby selling either mangoes, biscuits or cucumbers.

It is best if you plan on your itinerary to this place in between October to March.

Location: Hampi, Karnataka 583239

Timings: You can visit this temple at any point during the daytime. It takes around one hour to cover your entire visit here.

 

05

Hampi Bazaar

When you have a day reserved at leisure, do not forget to try a shopping hand at the Hampi Bazaar. It spreads more than a kilometer and the road that passes through this market exhibits pavilions on both roadsides.

Alternatively, this shoppers stop is known as Virupaksha Bazaar which is one of the best Places to Visit In Hampi, Towards the eastern side, you can find a street to be occupied by the local villagers. There is a large Nandi bull statue at the east end of this Hampi Bazaar street. Nearby pavilion exhibits photos of Hampi right from the ancient times.

Location: Hampi Bazaar St, Karnataka 583239

Timings: You can stop and shop at any time from morning 06:00 am to night 11:00 pm.

06

Hippie Island

Another area which is amongst the most visited Places to Visit In Hampi is Hippie Island, named after its vibrant culture. Virapapur Gadde is a small island located across the Tungabhadra River. Known to be a backpacker’s delight, this island is stunning and is popular amongst the locals as well as tourists for its laid back ambience and cosy lodges.

Tourists can spend their time relaxing at one of the many cafes and shacks, like Green Garden Restaurant, Laughing Buddha Café, etc. while gorging on great food, and soaking in the view of beautiful rice paddies. This location is also known to be a centre for people to conduct sunset jam sessions with musical instruments for a fun party-like atmosphere.

Location: Virupapurgaddi, Hampi Island, Sanapur post, Hampi

Timings: Daily 7:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

07

Enjoy the Coracle Ride

Coracles are circular boats which are native to this region. Also known as a country boat here, it can carry around six to eight people at a time. It is an activity you should enjoy at least once in your lifetime. 

For an experience like no other, you must enjoy the Coracle Ride when you are in the historical city of Hampi. The Tungabhadra River region is one of the best Hampi Tourist places. And whilst you are here, you can rent a coracle at really affordable prices and cross the river in it. These have been an important means of transportation in Hampi ever since the early 15th century. 

Location: Tungabhadra River, Hampi

Timings: Daily 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (between January to March, October to December) 

08

Queen's Bath

Reckoned as a large bath of Hampi, Queen’s Bath exemplifies the Vijayanagara's architectural excellence. It lies close to one of the most awful places to visit in Hampi- the Royal Enclosure.

Although built around 500 years ago, this magnificent structure still remains intact in its construction. It’s simplest exterior perfectly blends with an ornate interior to embrace its overall appearance.

It a rectangular building admeasuring around 30 square meters and has a large sunken bath at its center. It may interest you to find arched corridors all around this Royal bath.

Location: Karnataka 583239

Timings: Queen’s bath is open for visitors from morning 08:30 am to evening 06:00 pm.

09

Matanga Hill

Out of all the places to visit in Hampi, Matanga Hill is the one which is most talked about. It represents the highest point of Hampi, and it’s a picturesque destination for the travel photographers to capture some aerial vies of Hampi.

North portion of this hill terminates into Tungabhadra river where you have another religious place to visit-Kodanda Rama temple. Towards the south of this hill, you have a twisting valley with a zigzag Turthu canal. Low-lying Northern section exhibits a trekking trail that connects straightaway to Hampi bazaar.

Location: Hampi, Karnataka

Timings: There are no specific timings to climb on the Matanga Hills. However, tourists make it a point to climb this hill early in the morning to capture the allure of sunrise and carry ahead with their downward journey in the evening after sunset.

10

Elephant Stables

Elephant Stables is amongst the significant tourist places to visit in Hampi to witness a little to absolutely no destruction. It is a long building homing to a series of dome-shaped chambers which once were used for the parking of royal elephants.

These chambers are around 11 in their total count; some of which are interconnected. The whole building gives a symmetrical appearance, and the central hall tower reflects the shape of most of the temples here. This central hall has five domes on either side of it which reflects an Islamic style of architecture.

Location: Hampi, Karnataka 583239

Timings: The doors of this Elephant Stables are open from early morning 08:30 am to evening 05:30 pm. It takes around an hour to complete your visit here.

 

11

Monolithic Bull

Situated at the east end of the Hampi Bazaar, the Monolith Bull or Nandi is a grand piece of ancient architecture that is housed in a two-story pavilion. This huge structure, which mythologically is the vehicle of Lord Shiva, is placed just opposite to the famous Virupaksha Temple.

This Monolithic Bull, although partially mutilated, exhibits a coarse style of carving. The statue is so beautiful that it attracts a large number of visitors every day. It is also one of the frequently visited historical Tourist Places in Hampi. It is also surrounded by huge boulders and rock pillars.

Location: Nimbapura, Hampi

Timings: One can visit the Monolithic Bull at any given time of the day.

12

Badavilinga Temple

Badavilinga Temple is a beautiful temple of Lord Shiva and one of the most visited Hampi tourist places. It lies close to the Lakshmi Narasimha temple and homes to a beautiful Linga carved out of a black stone.

The linga is around 3 meters high and dates back to the era of the Vijayanagar Empire. This linga lies within a small stone chamber of this temple with only a single narrow opening and is without a ceiling. The pedestal is circular in shape and reflects as the Yone Pitha of Lord Shiva Linga.

Location: Hampi, Karnataka 583239

Timings: Badavilinga Temple doors are open for the devotees from morning 05:00 am to night 09:00 pm.

13

Zanana Enclosure

Once reckoned as a secluded area for the Vijayanagara Kingdom’s royal ladies, Zanana Enclosure reflects a sprawling compound with tall walls. Lotus Mahal is the center of attraction of this place.

You can either step in through its northern entrance or through its north-eastern entrance. Zanana Enclosure homes to three watchtowers each standing at eastern, south-eastern and northern ends of this magnificent structure.

The entire architecture here reflects an Indo-Islamic style. Lotus Mahal, queen’s palace’s basement, treasure building, and water pavilion are some key attractions of this place.

Location: Hampi, Karnataka 583239

Timings: This place is open from morning 06:00 am to evening 06:00 pm

14

Lakshmi Narasimha Temple

Most significant of all the religious statues in Hampi, Lakshmi Narasimha Temple is the amongst the next best Hampi tourist places to visit. Here, the figure of Lord Narasimha sits on a coil of a snake with seven heads in a Yoga position.

This statue has an image of Goddess Lakshmi on his lap. It takes around one to one and a half hour to complete your visit here. The best time to visit this temple is in between October to February.

Location: Southern end of Hemakuta group of temples, Hampi, India

Timings: You can easily make your way inside Lakshmi Narasimha Temple from morning 06:00 am to evening 06:00 pm.

15

Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary

You are going to find a lot of Indian Sloth Bears here at Daroji Sloth bear Sanctuary. Hillocks here are rough enough and are dotted with a lot of boulders. The Sloth bear count here goes to around 120. However, the sanctuary also accounts for other species.

Tiger, Leopard, Mongoose, Pangolins, Star Tortoise, and Spotted Deer are some other animal species found here. This sanctuary alone exhibits around 90 bird species, 27 butterfly species, and a watch tower at the center.

Location: Seetharama Tanda, Karnataka 583215

Timings: Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary is open from 04:00 pm to 06:00 pm on all days.

16

Old Palace (Gagan Mahal)

This Gagan Mahal dates back to the 16th-century era. Although significant portions of this palace are currently under ruins, it is still amongst worthiest places to visit in Hampi.

The palace is small and yellow in color with decorated windows and encircled all over by four beautiful towers. Once here, you can march towards Sarovara Laxmi Temple, Sabari Caves, Nava Brindavana, Durga Temple, and other nearby religious places of importance.

It is best to visit here anywhere between October to March. However, take care that there is no public transport here to ride around.

Location: Anegundi, Karnataka 583227

Timings: This Gagan Mahal is open for all 24 hours. It takes approximately one to one and a half hour to complete your visit here.

17

Hemakuta Hill Temples

Hemakuta Hill is a vastly stretched zone offering an astounding view of the sprawling ruins, temples, and archways. This is the next best place to watch the sunrise and sunset as tourists find it easier to reach to its top position.

Virupaksha temple, Moola Virupaksha temple, Krishna temple and shrines of Lakshmi Narasimha and Badivilinga are some of the best places to visit in Hampi. These temple architectures are entirely different and date back to the era of Vijayanagara king rule. These group of temples has three chambers conjoined to resemble a pyramid roof.

Location: Centre of the city, Hampi, India

Timings: You can climb the Hemakuta Hill temple at any time from dawn to dusk.

18

Achyutaraya Temple

The last one to go down in the list of places to visit in Hampi is the Achyutaraya Temple. This temple lies amidst the Matanga Hills and Gandhamadana.

This temple exhibits Vijayanagar’s architectural elegance and homes to a beautiful idol of Lord Tiruvengalanatha. All towers, pillars, and walls of this beautiful temple are exquisitely carved and ornamented. The main shrine of this temple is situated amidst a rectangular concentric structure.

Location: Hampi, Karnataka 583239

Timings: The doors are opened for a visit from 05:30 am to 01:00 pm. Again, in the evening, the doors are opened from 05:30 pm to 09:00 pm.

19

Hazara Rama Temple

This beautiful temple marks its presence at the central focus of a royal area and is dedicated to Lord Rama. The walls of this temple are eager to illustrate the entire Ramayana flow before its visitors.

Once you reach here, you can find bas relics of both Hindu deities Lord Rama and Krishna. Also, do not forget to miss on the remnants illustrating a Dasara celebration. Towards its northern side, you may find a sprawling lawn widely stretched apart. The temple has two huge getaways and the interior homes to sculpted columns.

Location: Hampi, Karnataka 583239

Timings: Reaching this temple is no longer a whammy situation as the doors are open from morning 06:00 am to evening 06:00 pm. It hardly takes two hours to complete your visit here.

20

Archaeological Museum

A tiny yet worthy of visiting museums, Archaeological Museum of Hampi accounts for the best Places to Visit In Hampi to spend some time with. This museum accounts for four principal sections each dedicated to a different exhibit.

The first section exhibits Hampi model, the second section shows sculptures and idols dedicated to Hampi ruins. The third section exhibits tools, arms, and ammunition. The fourth section exhibits artifacts dating back to the pre-historic and post-historic era.

Location: Kamalapur Road, Hampi, India

Timings: You are free to take a dig at the beauty of this Archaeological Museum from morning 10:00 am to evening 05:00 pm.

21

Riverside Ruins

Close to a river edge of Kodandarama Temple are a couple of lingas carved on a flat rock surface. The arrays of this Shiv Linga contains around 100 to 1000 such lingas. A little away from this array is Lord Vishnu’s carved sculpture.

Also, you can find a lot of tiny shrines that are submerged here and rock surfaces reflecting carved motifs. Be extremely careful while you step on the slippery rock surfaces especially in the monsoons. If the river is stable, you can head towards this place through a coracle ride at a nominal charge of around 25-50 per head.

Location: near the Kodanda Rama Temple

Timings: You can visit riverside ruins at any point of time. Yet, if you plan to take a coracle ride here, you must cross-check with its availability in accordance with your chosen time of visit.

22

Stay in a Hut on Hippie Island

One of the famous Tourist Places in Hampi, Hippie Island is also known for the varied kinds of hut stays it offers to the visitors. Built in the basic styles of architecture, these huts are well-equipped with all the necessary amenities one needs for a decent stay. 

One of the best things about hut stays on Hippie Island is that they are often an extension of the numerous cafes present here. So, you can get delicious food cooked according to your needs. Safe to say, your experience will become a lot better if you choose to stay amidst the quiet and serene nature in one of the huts present here. 

Location: Virupapurgaddi, Hampi Island, Sanapur post, Hampi

Timings: It is recommended to reach during the day so that you can spend the rest of the evening or days at leisure

23

Underground Temple-Prasanna Virupaksha Temple

Underground Shiva Temple’s every single piece of the structure reflects a perfect blend of mythology and history. This is amongst the only places to visit in Hampi lying under water.

The central portion of this ancient shrine always lies immersed in water. According to local beliefs, it is the Tungabhadra river which flows through the interior of this temple through canals.

There is the main hall, a courtyard, a small hall that leads to the innermost sanctum. All around the temple is a lush green lawn where you can sit and relax for some time.

Location: Hampi Main Bus Stand, Hampi, Karnataka 583239

Timings: There is no time restriction to reach here. However, it is always better to visit here before sunsets. It will hardly take around 30 minutes to complete your visit to this temple.

24

Shop at Hampi Flea Market

One of the famous Tourist Places in Hampi, the flea market is small, yet has a lot of things to offer to tourists. It has an overall hippie ambience, which is great due to the number of hippie items one can find here. From ornaments to a wide variety of hippie fabrics, the Hampi flea market is a shopper’s paradise. 

One can also find various kurtas, baggy harem pants, loose cotton dresses as well as beaded and silver jewellery here. It also has a few shops wherein you can get Buddhist antiques, banana fibre handicrafts and handmade leather notebooks. The market also has a lot of small restaurants for satiating your hunger after shopping. 

Location: Vittala Bazaar, Hampi Bazaar

Timings: Ideal time to visit is between 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. 

25

Explore Rice Paddies on Scooter Ride

The many rice paddies spread across the region are most definitely one of the best Hampi Tourist places. And exploring these sprawling fields with lush green landscapes in the background can become the highlight of anyone’s trip to Hampi. Scooters are the best way to explore the city’s narrow roads.

Ride around the almost empty roads on your scooter and indulge in the amazing natural beauty of the rich green rice paddy fields. Be captivated by the natural beauty on both sides of the roads along with temple ruins and children playing without care for their surroundings.

Location: Angenudi, Anjeyanadri Hills, Sanapur Lake

Timings: Any time of the day

26

Laughing Buddha Cafe

Hampi has an abundance of colourful and cheery cafes, some of which are located on Hippie Island. One such café belonging to the list of places to visit in Hampi is the Laughing Buddha Café, which is known for serving lip-smacking delicious meals on the island. This café also has stunning views of the Tungabhadra River. 

The menu at Laughing Buddha Café includes burgers, pizzas, curries as well as mouth-watering sizzlers. Additionally, they also have delicious Israeli food and fresh juices, along with soothing music in the background. It is definitely one of the best places in Hampi to sit back for a couple of hours and simply relax.

Location: Anjanhalli, Hippie Island, Hampi

Timings: Daily 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

27

Krishna Temple

Built by Krishnadevaraya, Krishan temple of Hampi is the sign of Orissa campaign’s success. This temple is amongst those hand-picked places to visit in Hampi which are globally reckoned for their exquisite carvings.

The love of Krishnadevraya for art and architecture is quite evident from the beauty of this place. For the original idol of this place, you need to head towards Chennai’s State Museum.

The temple campus is encircled all over by massive pillars and small shrines. Towards its eastern side, lies a grand hall. You can grab a fresh banana from the Banana plantations that mark their presence to the south zone of this temple.

Location: Bellary, Hampi, Karnataka 583239

Timings: You can seek blessings here at Krishna Temple from morning 06:00 am to evening 06:00 pm.

28

Kadalekalu Ganesha

Homing to one of the largest statues of Hindu deity Ganesha, Kadalekalu Ganesha temple is the famous holy shrine of South India. It is situated on the slopes of well-known Hemakuta Hills, and its towering statue is about 4.6 meters high.

The temple features a statue carved out from a single massive stone, and the belly of Lord Ganesha resembles a Bengal gram. Entire hall of the temple homes to slender granite pillars and exhibit fictitious characters. The carvings of these pillars reflect the Vijayanagara architectural style of art.

Location: Hampi, Karnataka 583239

Timings: You can visit this shrine of Lord Ganesha from morning 06:00 am to evening 06:00 pm.

29

Sanapur Lake

One of the best places to visit in Hampi is Sanapur Lake. Located around 5 kilometres away from Hippie Island, this lake is surrounded by huge rocks and boulders. One of the most idyllic places in the region, tourists come here to spend some relaxing time and soak in the cool breeze. 

A secret attraction in Hampi, this lake was formed by an irrigation reservoir. One of the major activities you can do here is cliff jumping or taking a ride in a coracle. Tourists also often come here for picnics. The water here is very clean, so even a swimming session here can make you feel rejuvenated. 

Location: Sanapur, Hampi

Timings: Open 24 hours 

30

Stepped Tank

Stepped tanks here are considered to be sacred tanks for a holy bath before visiting any religious place of importance. Once a while, they were centers for festival celebrations.

There are steps on all four interior sides of such tanks so that you can step down to get in and out of the water. The stepped tank at the Royal center is geometrically larger in its dimensions and is carved out from a green diorite with a complete absence of drainage system. The stepped tank is constructed from black schist stones.

Location: Hampi, Karnataka

Timings: You can take a dive in the water of these stepped tanks at any time before the sun sets.

31

Tungabhadra River

Rising from the Western Ghats, Tungabhadra River flow towards the south-east and meets the Krishna river in Andhra Pradesh. Being a perennial river, the water level of this river takes a compelling look in monsoons.

Tungabhadra Dam is an ongoing project here to aid in the infrastructure development of this region. After you complete your visit to the Virupaksha temple, you can march ahead to this river from the back of the temple.

Throughout your journey, you can easily sip in sweet and tender coconut water. Do not forget to miss on your coracle ride while you plan on your Tungabhadra itinerary.

Location: Vijayanagara Ruins, Hamp, Karnataka

Timings: There is no specific timing to visit the Tungabhadra river. However, for the coracle ride, you need to reach here before sunset.

32

Pushkarani

Pushkaranis of Hampi is sacred tanks in association with the Hampi temples. Pushkarani reminds you to take a precise note of ancient town planning and architectural style of the Vijayanagara era.

Many of these pushkaranis served as the event venue for their annual boating festivals. During such celebrations, the idols of both Gods and Goddesses are taken out for a coracle ride. Majority of these Pushkarani’s are surrounded all over by explicitly beautiful pillars and arcades.

Location: Pushkarani are found near to Royal Enclosure, Virupaksha temple, Krishna Bazaar, Pattabhirama temple.

Timings: You can walk-in here at Pushkarani throughout the day. It takes around 20 to 30 minutes to complete your visit here. 

33

Sasivekalu Ganesha

This Lord Ganesha’s statue derives its resemblance from that of the mustard seed, which is referred to as Sasivekalu in the local dialect thereby leading to its name. This statue is located on the Southern foothill of the Hemakuta and is almost half the size of Kadalekalu Ganesha located on the Northern slope of the same hill.

This statue derives inspiration from an incident of Hindu mythology when one day Lord Ganesha had eaten so much food that his stomach almost burst. So in order to protect his stomach the Lord tied a snake around his belly. On this statue one can see the figure of the snake carved in front of his stomach.

This monolithic statue measure 2.4 metres in height and is carved out of a huge boulder. There is an open pavillion built around the statue, which is believed to be constructed by a trader from Chandragiri (present day Andhra Pradesh) in the memory of Narsimha II the mighty Vijaynagara king. Similar to the Kadalekalu Ganesha Temple, this temple too is considered to be one of the important places to visit in Hampi.

34

Royal Enclosure

The present day fortified area or the Royal Enclosure of Hampi was once the seat of power of the Vijaynagara rulers. In current times this Royal Enclosure is basically a wide open ground consisting of a number of small shelters.

Some of the important structures in here are spread across hundreds of square metres of land and consists of a number of interesting and important relics. Some of the important structures of the Royal Enclosure are the King’s Audience Hall or the 100-Pillared Hall, stepped tank, an underground chamber and the Mahanavami Debbie to the commonly called Dossier Platform.

Since the Royal Enclosure is pretty large a good amount of walking is required to have a look at the entire place. Any kind of vehicles whether manually or automatically driven are not allowed inside the area, so it is advisable to visit this place during early morning or in the evenings, as the atmosphere at these times are more pleasant.

35

Palace of Vira Harihara

Another one of the historical Places to Visit in Hampi is the Palace of Vira Harihara. This palace was once a colossal structure of which only the foundation base layouts now remain within the fortified area of the Royal Enclosure. The base of erstwhile palatial structure evokes admiration and imagination of the grandeur and royal lifestyle of the Vijayanagar monarchs.

The remaining ornate base with elaborate carvings once supported the massive superstructure of the palace, and now is lost to the ravages of time and history. The original boundary wall of the Palace can still be seen with the remnants of few other structures including an elevated structure with a flight of steps, ostensibly used as a platform for getting on the royal elephants. Ruins of structures which formed the royal court also exist till date.

Location: Hampi

Timings: Daily 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.