Located about 350 Km north of Bangalore is the quiet little town of Hampi. Once the prosperous centre point of the ancient Vijayanagara Empire, Hampi today stands as the last vestige of its might. It houses the last remains of the fortifications, palaces, temples and other complex structures from the empire in over 1600 ruins.
Quick Tip: A designated UNESCO World Heritage site, Hampi has carved out a niche for itself in the world of travel.
Hampi is a small town and most places of interest can be covered within a day or two. But most importantly, it is a great place to relax and unwind. Depending on your mode of travel (which majorly includes a long time on the road), you can plan a 3-day getaway.
Reaching Hampi
The nearest airport is Hubli in Karnataka, which is about 170 Km from Hampi. Hampi can also be reached by train or bus. The nearest train or bus stop is the modern city of Hospet, which is 13 Km from Hampi. There are plenty of auto-rickshaws in the area and you can easily hitch a ride.
The best time to visit Hampi is between October and March when the weather tends to be cooler and more pleasant. Many tourists also travel to Hampi during the monsoon months of July to September. But, the land in Hampi is rocky and undulating, and the terrain may become dangerous and slippery during the rain.
Where To Stay
With the rise in tourism over the years, there is a well developed ecosystem of transport, hotels and modern restaurants in Hampi. A quick Google search will guide you to the available accommodation options.
Hampi is divided into two parts by the Tungabhadra river which flows right through the middle of the town. The historical sites remain on one side, which is known as the “Religious Side” of Hampi. The other side is known as the “Hippie Side”, colloquially known as Anegundi. My recommendation, look for a guest house on the hippie side, in Anegundi.
The religious side attracts the history lovers, while the hippie side, as you may have already guessed, is a favourite of those looking for a good chilled out weekend. You can get the best of both worlds by choosing to stay on the hippie side and visiting all the heritage sites in the day. The sides are not far apart, they are separated by a 5-minute ferry ride. There are government operated ferries and charge a fixed amount.
Quick Tip: Take a coracle ride across the river. A coracle is a small wickerwork boat which is paddled across by the locals. Negotiate on the prices, as they may quote a steep rate initially.
I stayed at the “Bobby One Love” (yes, funny name) guest house. It was not the best in comfort and facilities, but was decent for a 2 night stay. The reason I chose this one was because it was located in a secluded spot within lush green farms. I visited Hampi in September, the fag end of the rainy season. There was light rain throughout my 3-day stay which left a deep green hue all around.
Guest houses in Anegundi have their small open cafes with a good range of food choices. I had the chance to eat homely food and sip a nice cup of coffee while enjoying the rain outside.
What To Do In Hampi
Reserve one whole day to go around the town and visit the ruins and heritage sites. When you enter Hampi town, you will be heckled by many cab drivers and auto-rickshaw drivers to book a tour with them. You may choose to take your own route or go with a cab or an auto. Settle at a good price for the tour, and the driver will take you around the city on a nearly 25 Km journey.
Quick Tip: The locals have the best knowledge of the prime attractions and their timings, so I went ahead with an auto.
Back from my day tour, I was happily nestled among my group of friends in the cafe at the guest house. We gorged on food and made merry (read alcohol).
The next day we set out to explore the hippie side. It will bring out your adventurous genes, as you go about skipping over smaller rocks and hiking over big ones. Take your exploring the area.
You can rent scooters to go about the town. The land can be marshy in the rain but the scooter rides are well worth it.
After one such hike, we reached a corner of the vast Tungabhandra dam; and it was a sight not to be forgotten. In the misty rains, the dam was completed secluded and you could feel the expanse of water in front of you.
After spending some time by the dam, we headed back to the guest house. On the way back, we witnessed the stunning sunset at the Tungabhadra.
Most of the next day was spent doing similar exploration activities, and we set off back towards Bangalore in our rented bus. All in all, it had been an extremely fun and relaxing weekend. Highly recommended!
TrippyGoLucky 
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