Things To Do In Hampi

Hampi, a UNESCO World Heritage destination is a town in Karnataka. It is not just about monuments and ruins though; there’s a lot more to this heritage site. There are more off-beat places to visit and exhilarating things to do. One of the most coveted interests here would be to gaze with wonder at the geological formations of Hampi's landforms. You find blocks of huge boulders stacked one upon the other and what more would you want to make an adventure holiday out of Hampi's natural wonders. Go rock climbing and trekking, of course; with lots more to do. We have a list of the most remarkable things you can do in Hampi right here, compiled for you.

You can visit the Sanctuary from 2 pm - 6 pm, when the bears come out to feed. You might spot a few sloth bears if you are lucky, but you can find plenty of peafowl, mongoose, Bonnet Macaque and Palm Squirrels. There is a watch tower you can climb up to watch the bears among the rocks. Entry fees for private cars are about INR 500. The Sanctuary is about 15 km from Hampi and is situated in Bellary district.

It would be a good idea if you would visit the Museum first as soon as you enter Hampi. The Archaeological Museum, which is located to the east of Kamalapura, has models of Hampi’s topography which will help you find your way through the ruins. The Museum also displays ancient sculptures, weapons, coins and antiques from the prehistoric eras of Karnataka. This is just a briefing about the exhibits in the museum. There’s a lot more and you can visit the museum run by the Archaeological Survey of India, to check it for yourself. Open time is 10am-5pm. It is closed on Fridays and national holidays.

Said to be infested with crocodiles and bearing a ‘No Swimming’ sign, the Sanapur Lake is such a charming place to visit. There are not many tourists around and it’s lovely to spend time beside the lake that is fringed by large boulders. Get the locals to take you on a coracle ride. The Sanapura Lake is on the other side of the Tungabhadra River, about 4 km from Virupapur Gaddi.

Anegundi is a prehistoric site about 5 km from Hampi, on the other bank of River Tungabhadra. It’s believed to have been the Kingdom of Kishkinda, ruled by the monkey King Bali, where Lord Ram defeated him and made his brother Sughriv king later on. The site has remnants of megalithic and neolithic periods and has plenty of cave paintings, temples and palaces in ruins. You’d love to visit Anegundi.

Hampi’s natural wonders are primarily its smooth rolling rocky plains and mammoth boulders that are so perfectly seated on those plains. Bouldering is a Herculean task of clambering up these boulders, without the aid of ropes, holding on to the crevices on the rocks for dear life! It is a real adventure and not for the inexperienced. There will be guides and your grit to assist you as you make your way up bouldering.

Hampi and its vicinity offers ideal opportunities for trekking that includes a lot of rock climbing, too, since the area is filled with a sandwich of rocks. Trek around the ruins or choose among the most popular treks to Hemakuta Hills, Anjaneya Hills, Matanga Hills or the Malyavanta Hills.

If you’re planning to visit Hampi during the festivals, you’re going to have loads of fun. But the festivities draw a lot of crowd, so book your accommodation in advance. The Hampi or Vijaya Utsav in November has a lot of songs, dance and fireworks, including local adventure sports and a beautiful procession. Other festivals including the Purandaradasa Aradhana in winter, to celebrate classical music and the Virupaksha Car Festival in summer, when thousands of pilgrims throng the streets to pull the temple chariot are also great for a visit.