If you could go back in time and visit Hampi during its golden days, you’d be witnessing one of the most developed, richest, and biggest medieval-era cities in the world. Try to visualize gigantic complexes, forts, temples, and much more that are spread over 4,100 hectares of land. Grand, isn’t it? Hampi was the capital of the mighty Vijayanagara Empire but they lost it in 1565 during an attack by Muslim sultanates. Most of that grandeur was destroyed, but not all of it.
Located near Hospet in Karnataka, Hampi is still a place where around 1,600+ structures are standing. You might have visited forts and palaces before, but visiting the ruins of an entire city, now that’s a totally different ball game! We’ve made a list of the 11 best things to do in Hampi, so you can make the most of your visit. Check these out!
11 Best Things To Do In Hampi
- Visiting Virupaksha Temple
- Hiking Matanga Hill
- Appreciating The Beauty Of Lotus Mahal
- Encountering Karnataka’s Wildlife At Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary
- Visualizing The Past At The Stepped Tank
- Being Amazed By The Elephant Stable
- Exploring The Riverside Ruins
- Revisiting Ramayana At Hazara Rama Temple
- Checking Out The Grandeur Of Queen’s Bath
- Spending Some Time At Lord Hanuman’s Birthplace – Anjaneya Hill
- Witnessing The Architectural Wonders At Vijaya Vittala Temple
1. Visiting Virupaksha Temple
This is one of the most popular temples here and when you look at its construction, you realize why. The style of architecture of this temple uses intricate stone inscriptions, gopurams, carved pillars, and more. It is believed that the temple was constructed in the 14th century, which is just mind-blowing considering how well-made this structure is. The workers managed to create a 49-meter-high gopuram and it is as grand as a gopuram can be. Many of its features are still evident in the temples in Karnataka that were built much later.
The name Virupaksha comes from the name of the main shrine here, which is an incarnation of Lord Shiva. There are many shrines, courtyards, entrances, and more in this huge temple complex. The temple is a neighbor to the Tungabhadra River which makes for a great background. Luckily, the attack that turned this civilization into ruins somehow left this temple intact and it is still visited by worshipers daily.
2. Hiking Matanga Hill
Matanga Hills is the tallest place in Hampi that offers a great view of this civilization. The hill is carpeted with greenery and is laden with rocks of all sizes – from tiny to gigantic. You don’t have to be a trekker to climb this hill, but you’ll need to have a good fitness level as it’s a 30-minute trek to get to the top. During Ramayana, Saint Matanga used this hill as his dwelling and it permanently became known by the saint’s name.
At the entrance of the hill, you’ll find an eye-catching Nandi statue. These statues are usually placed outside a Shiva temple, but you’ll not see a temple nearby. That’s because it is built right on the top of this hill. It is dedicated to Veerabhadra, who was one of Lord Shiva’s incarnations. Climbing the hill, visiting the temple, and losing track of time while gazing at the ruins from the top is a spectacular experience. It can only be made better if you can manage to be here during the sunset or sunrise because both of these look so dramatic from here.
3. Appreciating The Beauty Of Lotus Mahal
The architects of Hampi were proper artists, so the looks of a structure were never neglected. Almost every building here can be an example of what we are saying. But let’s focus on Lotus Mahal, also known as, Kamal Mahal. It’s a small palace that is shaped like, you guessed it, a lotus. The dome in the center becomes the lotus bud and the petals are the area of balconies and passages.
It looks every bit as beautiful as it sounds. Back when they did not have all the modern facilities like us and every little thing required manual labor and a ton of time, these people still decided to go ahead and make this art piece. Just imagine, what other structures like these must have been destroyed in the 15th century!
4. Encountering Karnataka’s Wildlife At Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary
Did you know that sloth bears existed before you read this? You are into animals if you know this. Well, if you didn’t, then let us tell you that they are bears with sloth-like characteristics. Their teeth and claws look like sloths and they hang upside down. The Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary is their safe haven. Just a 20-min-ride will take you to this sanctuary and it is huge. It takes up around 82 square km of lush greenery.
These bears are the main attraction here, but the sanctuary is an abode to several other animals like leopards, mongooses, star tortoises, and monitor lizards. Don’t forget to visit the watchtower that is right in front of Karadikallu Gudda. This particular one offers a great view of the sanctuary and a lot of bears can be seen from here.
5. Visualizing The Past At The Stepped Tank
These are rectangular or square-shaped water tanks outside of a temple and they are called pushkarnis. This is where devotees used to take baths before visiting the temple. There are stairs on all sides which descend to the water. These usually have simple architecture but are made visually pleasing by adding carvings, small shrines, sculptures, and more. The one at Hampi doesn’t have any of these, but the arrangement of its stairs is unique. This creates a mesmerizing design that shuns the need for anything else.
The water in this stepped tank is from the Tungabhadra River and it is supplied by aqueducts and canals. This is the place where thousands of devotees used to bathe centuries ago. It’s like you can see those people in the form of faint figures if you sit on these steps.
6. Being Amazed By The Elephant Stable
You might have read about those millionaires who have an entire parking lot for their fleet of cars. But in the medieval era, it was all about horses and elephants and powerful kings had a lot of them. But this was Hampi, the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire and one of the richest civilizations in Asia. So the kings here not only had multiple royal elephants, but those elephants had their own stable too.
You read it right. Huge elephants, gigantic stable. This stable is also called Gajashala and it is situated near Lotus Mahal. It has 11 chambers and is one of the top attractions here because an elephant stable is something you don’t get to see everywhere else.
7. Exploring The Riverside Ruins
Head toward the north of the Kodandarama Temple and on either side of the Tungabhadra River; this is where you’ll find more traces of this long-gone civilization. Roam around this area and you can find two different sets of Shiva lingas. One has 108 small Shiva lingas and the other one has 1008, both carved in flat rocks. You’ll find the popular intricate carving of Anandashayana Vishnu in a rock. More such structures and carvings are present here which once used to be a part of something bigger and are now just incomplete fragments. This adds a sense of mystery to them and the fact that we will never know about it makes them more intriguing.
8. Revisiting Ramayana At Hazara Rama Temple
We are so glad that this is one of the structures that was not destroyed. This is a small temple but is loaded with carvings and relics. The temple was built in the 15th century and was a private possession of the royal family. Its relics and walls, both inner and other, are intricately carved and they tell you the epic tale of Ramayana. Just think about the amount of time and manpower that must’ve gone into it!
Also featured on the walls are attendants, elephants, horses, and other scenes that portray the major ceremonies of the kingdom. Interestingly, the name of this temple is taken from the word ‘Hazaramu’, which is a Telugu term for a palace’s entrance hall or a palace’s audience hall.
9. Checking Out The Grandeur Of Queen’s Bath
Imagine having a gigantic bathroom. One that is probably bigger than the biggest room in your house. Luxurious, isn’t it? But it is not royal enough. The kings and queens of the Vijayanagara Empire had a building for a bathroom! It had arched corridors, carved walls, beautiful windows, and more. This is a fine specimen of the architectural style used in Vijayanagara.
None of the Oberoi, Taj, and Hilton can beat this level of luxury! The bathing pool has a large sunken area and no roof. Imagine laying here, enjoying your bath and looking at the clouds, or relaxing at night trying to count the stars. Must have been fun to be a king or queen here.
10. Spending Some Time At Lord Hanuman’s Birthplace – Anjaneya Hill
Located less than a 40-min-ride away from Hampi is Anjanadri Hill that’s known for being the place where Lord Hanuman was born. As per the epic of Ramayana, this hill was run by Kishkindha, the kingdom of monkeys. Today, the hill is one of the most visited places near Hampi because of its religious significance. It gets its name from Anjeneya, which is one of the many names of Lord Hanuman. But the hill is a beautiful natural formation whose looks further increase with the presence of lush paddy fields that surround it.
Climbing the hill is not easy as you’ll have to push through around 550 steps, but it will all be worth it. The top of this hill offers a panoramic view of Hampi and it is every bit as breathtaking as you can imagine. Here you’ll find the main reason why most of the people come to the top – the monkey temple. It is dedicated to none other than Lord Hanuman and houses a rock carving of him.
11. Witnessing The Architectural Wonders At Vijaya Vittala Temple
This is not just a temple, it’s a temple complex encompassing multiple pavilions, shrines, and halls. This is present on the itinerary of every tourist because of how attractive every inch of this place is. It’s studded with some of the best carvings you’ll ever see. The temple is a place to worship Lord Vitthala who is one of Lord Vishnu’s reincarnations. A beautiful idol of Lord Vitthala used to be here, but not anymore. The complex is also partially damaged, but the majority of it is in good shape.
Among the most iconic structures here are the Stone Chariot and the musical pillars. The chariot wheels used to be functional but were later fixed in one place to preserve them. As for the musical pillars, there’s a structure here named Ranga Mantapa and it has 56 pillars that emit musical notes if you tap them. The best thing is that no one has a proper explanation of how this works!
Summing Up
Remember that desolate house you saw as a kid that filled you up with lots of questions? Hampi is a huge patch of land filled with such places. Your visit to Hampi will be a rollercoaster of thoughts. You’ll see some of the finest structures and all of them will be sprinkled with eeriness and mystery. This selection of 11 best things to do in Hampi is bound to give you a wholesome experience of what this amazing place has to offer. Start planning your trip right away!
FAQs
Who Founded Hampi Civilization?
Many historians believe that Bukka I and Harihara I, who were commanders of the Sangama dynasty, founded the Hampi civilization in 1336. It was done to keep away the Muslim forces from invading Northern India.
Who Looted Hampi?
In 1565, multiple Muslim sultanates attacked and defeated the mighty Vijayanagara Empire which ruled over Hampi. They then proceeded to loot and destroy the region for months.
Which Is The Best Time To Visit Hampi?
The period from October to March is perfect to visit Hampi. The weather is always pleasant and you can enjoy sightseeing the most during this time.
How Many Days Are Enough For Hampi?
2-3 days are good enough to explore Hampi. You’ll get to visit all of the top attractions here at a delightful pace.
Is Alcohol Allowed In Hampi?
No, alcohol is not allowed in Hampi.
Which Movies Were Shot In Hampi?
The Myth, Rana Vikrama, Bale Jodi, Pournami, Curry Western, Magadheera and Rowdy Rathore are some of the films that were shot in Hampi.
Are There Beaches In Hampi?
No, Hampi doesn’t have any beaches. But it has Tungabhadra River which is also very beautiful.
Which Food Is Famous In Karnataka?
Neer dosa, korri gassi, haalbai and huggi, bisi bele bath, kane rava fry, Mysore bonda, ennegai, and jolada rotti are some of the most popular dishes of Karnataka.
