Hampi – Hallowed land and delight

The sheer abundance of delicately placed, intricate ruins on the barren lands takes you back to an era we all wish to see but can never live in – remember androids and wifis!

There are some places where you always want to go but never find the perfect mix to begin. For me that was Hampi trip – I have been planning this trip for more than 2 years but somehow every-time we planned, we skipped. One of the key reason for that was lack of information and hence I am penning this blog for others to know what to do, what to avoid and some tips. And you know I will tell stories too and will not instill logophobia!

Hampi is a mix of a set from Jurassic Park and the Flintstones – it feels like  you are on Mars or as if you’ve teleported back in time. Huge boulders can be seen scattered around  – sometimes you wonder how kings and soldiers must have lived here or may be some dinosaurs jumped around on them while the river slowly flowed with palm trees swayed overhead.

Bangalore to Hampi Road Condition

Hampi is a UNESCO world heritage site in Karnataka, India, about 7 hours from Bangalore. Since I always drive, I did an extensive research on this as for me driving is a key experience. Finally the route I took was perfect with beautiful roads and hardly any traffic – I touched 180 at certain points, with 140 being consistent. See the route below: Start from Bangalore to reach Hiriyur and then take right to go to Ballari and then Hampi.

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I would have to tell you that there are hardly any good eating joints on this route, so if you do get one, then eat, unless you are fine with local spots.

Where to stay in Hampi

Since I am a Hyatt fan, I decided to stay there. However, Hyatt Place Hampi, lacked the zest and could not make it awesome for me. This property is in Vidyanagar Township, which is beautiful, and around 1 hr away from Hampi. There are couple of places near Hyatt to eat in Vidyanagar Township and I would totally recommend ‘Convertor’ restaurant in Hampi House. The food was simply amazing and super inexpensive. You can hardly find this on net but take my word!

I would recommend you to stay in Hampi and not anywhere else.

What to see in Hampi

Well, Hampi is a town with ruins scattered all over the place, hence you are required to visit each place. If you have a car then you can take it to all the places, else you can hire an auto or cab. Also see the park and museum in Vidyanagar Township.

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What to wear and more

Sunscreen and sport shoes. I made a mistake and did not take both – no one told me! You will thank me for this. The heat accentuates once it reflects from the stones and hence you need to dress accordingly. Sport shoes are needed as you are required to walk in and out of ruins, walk up and down, so be ready. Carry water, although you can find soda bottles, juice counters everywhere. Buy a guide book as it will tell you some details of the place you are seeing. The boards outside each monument left a lot to be desired.

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After driving for around 800 kms and spending 3 days in Hampi, I am left with more thirst to see the place. I plan to go again and stay on the other side of the town (see the image above) – will I remember to blog about that? I guess not. But if you have been there, do share your thoughts and tips.