The ancient city of Hampi in the southwestern Indian state of Karnataka is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a magical place with plenty to see and do. Also known as the Group of Monuments at Hampi, the 14th century capital of the Vijayanagara Empire was once one of the largest and most populous cities, and while these days Hampi is just ruins, it’s seeing a surge in popularity from travellers wanting to explore the less-travelled paths of the world.
Visiting Hampi allows you to explore ancient India, whilst feeling as though you’re walking among the red rocks on Mars or through the landscape of a film set set in ancient times. The landscape is exceptionally otherworldly, and something we have never seen anywhere else in the world. Apparently the birthplace of the Hindu monkey-god Hanuman, Hampi was destroyed by Muslim sultanates in the 1500’s and has been in ruins ever since.
See the ancient Vittala Temple and Virupaksha Temple in Hampi
The Vittala Temple is a temple steeped in rich architectural history, and can easily be compared to the likes of Angkor Wat in Cambodia. A vast sprawling complex filled with other smaller temples and halls, the temple is dedicated to Lord Vittala.
A huge stone chariot sits within the temple complex, and that along with the pillared halls of the temple gives a fascinating example of ancient architectural skills. The 7th Century Virupaksha Temple is also a must-see, having been a place of worship since it’s creation until the 19th century when it was renovated.
Climb Hampi’s Mantanga Hill for Sunrise
The view from Mantanga Hill is exceptionally beautiful and worth the 5am climb to see the sunrise over the ancient city. The hill is a twenty-minute walk from Hampi Bazaar so set your alarm and prepare for the early start. If you really can’t manage an early morning though, visit for sunset instead and marvel at the ancient world before you.
The Queen’s Bath
The Queen’s Bath isn’t too dissimilar to Middle Eastern architecture, with windows and doorways that would easily fit in in Marrakech or Istanbul. The bath – which would have been filled with flowers and fragrant water – was used by the Royal women to bathe, and features a structure on the outside to block any outsiders from watching the women bathing.
Visit the archaeological museum of Hampi
Just 10 cents entry fee, the archaeological museum of Hampi is small and compact but gives a good insight into daily life in Hampi. There are a selection of tools and weapons on display, sculptures, and various antiques all housed within the four galleries of the museum. The archaeological museum is open every day apart from Fridays.
Stay in a Five-Star Palace
Make sure the hotel you stay in is as magical during the nighttime as it is during the day when wandering the ancient temples, and stay in a palace! The Evolve Back Hampi (previously called Orange County) is a five-star luxurious palace resort set on the Tungabadra canal about a twenty minute drive away from the village of Hampi. The hotel has a large focus on food and wellness, offering top-quality food in the restaurant, as well as a tranquil infinity pool and a spa with Ayurvedic treatments.
Explore the Elephant Stables
The Elephant Stables once housed the Royal Elephants of Vijayanagara and are far more grand than the horse stables of Britain’s castles and stately homes. The Elephant Stables are an incredibly impressive building with 11 domed chambers, and was one of the only structures to not get destroyed during the fall of the Vijayanagara Empire.
See the Statue of Ugra Narsimha
The ancient Ugra Narasimha Statue in Hampi is carved out of a single piece of stone, and is a statue of the Hindu God, Laxmi Narasimha. Produced in the year 1528 during the reign Krishnadevaraya, the statue is one of the only stone statues in Hampi and has been restored in recent years. Thankfully the restoration hasn’t impacted the statue too much and it still looks magnificent.
See the monkeys in Monkey Temple
Monkey Temple is located 4km away from Hampi on Anjanadri Hill in Anegundi, and as suggested in the name, is home to a lot of monkeys. It’s a temple worth visiting, but do be careful of the primates as they can be vicious if you try to get too close or offer them food.
Say Hello to Hampi’s Resident Elephant, Lakshmi
Hampi has its own resident elephant named Lakshmi, who lives inside Virupaksha temple. If you offer Prasad to Lakshmi he will thank you by holding his trunk on your head thus ‘blessing you’. This is standard practice in Indian temples taught in a similar way to circus tricks by the mahout, meaning the elephant – who looks as ancient as the temples – likely had its spirit broken in order to teach it such a trick. Evidence of this is by the swaying from side to side, a sign of distress in elephants.
There are many dozens of temples in Hampi, so you’ll ideally want a full two days there to see everything and give it all enough time. Depending on what time of year you visit it will be hot and humid, so after exploring throughout the morning you’ll need to rest and relax at your hotel in the afternoons.
Getting to Hampi
Fly to Bangalore, India, and from there Hampi is about a days train ride. Alternatively you could hire a private tour company to drive you to Hampi – Scott Dunn are able to provide personalised tours designed on your needs and wishes. You can also book in at the Evolve Back Hampi hotel through Scott Dunn.
Where to go after Visiting Hampi
After visiting Hampi you could then go on to Kerala for beach-time and relaxing, or one of India’s popular cities for more hustle and bustle.
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Louise Walker is AGLAIA’s Editor in charge of all content creation and management. She splits her time between London and Miami, and can always be found at a swanky hotel bar sipping on a Negroni. Contact her for any questions or if you would like to become an AGLAIA Contributor: hello@aglaiamagazine.com
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