Top Things to Do in the Hampi | Must-See Attractions & Experiences

Plan Your Travel To Hampi

Places To Visit In Hampi

Hampi Bazaar

Also known as the Virupaksha Bazaar, the Hampi Bazaar is the place to go to pick up knick-knacks, souvenirs, cheap clothes and trinkets to remember your trip to Hampi by. Situated right in front of Virupaksha temple, hence its alternate name, this bazaar which stretches for over a kilometre long is one of the main landmarks of Hampi. From embroidered shawls, fibre handicrafts, to stone carvings, this is the place to pick up anything Hampi-related. The Hampi Utsav which happens every November is also a big tourist draw and should be noted. Read More

Hampi Utsav, Hampi festival also known as the Vijaya Utsav is one of the largest celebrations of the ancient Vijayanagar empire now Hampi. The festivities take place every year at the Virupaksha Temple, commemorating the culture, traditions of the bygone era. With the beautifully carved ruins of Hampi serving as the backdrop, the rich culture of this region is shown through folk song and dance performances. The Janapada Kalavahini, a concert of folk songs, and the light and sound shows are unique attractions which you can't afford to miss. Hampi Utsav 2024 Dates: February (dates to be announced yet) Read More

On top of the Anjaneya Hill, at a distance of 2 kilometres from the Virupaksha Temple, the beautiful Yantradharaka Hanuman Temple also known as the Monkey Temple is present inside a cave. The temple being 500 years old is dedicated to Lord Hanuman. Sri Vyasaraja, who was the Rajaguru of the Vijayanagara Kingdom and a Dwaita philosopher, was the one to install the idol of Lord Hanuman in the temple. Being one of the most famous attractions of the Anjeyanadri Hill, the Monkey Temple is considered as a sacred spot for Hindus. One has to climb 570 steps to reach the temple since it is located on top of the hill. Though the climb is steep, the beautiful views and the pleasant air make up for the climbing. One is also likely to come across aged people climbing up with energy and devotion. There is a small temple just 5 minutes away from the Yantrodharaka Temple which is dedicated to an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, i.e. Lord Srinivasa. His idol has been carved out by Sri Vyasaraja. Below a fig tree in front of the Hanuman Temple lie some snakestones, and they are worshipped as well. It is one of the must-visit spots for all the nature as well as religious lovers. Read More

Hazara Rama Temple, a temple dedicated to Lord Rama, is located in Hampi. The breathtaking view of the temple and its intricate carvings attract tourists from all over the world. From a distance, one will notice the beige granite temple under the clear blue skies. As you stroll leisurely through the magnificent temple complex, do make it a point to observe the extensively sculpted narrations of the Ramayana on its inner walls. One can notice the various avatars sculpted all over the temple and in numerous inscriptions. The intricate carvings of Gods and Goddesses on the brilliant structure are proof of cultural and religious significance in India. The Hazara Rama Temple is a World Heritage monument that dates back to the 15th century and is located in the centre of the land area that belongs to the Royals. It is one of the most preferred locations for photography in Karnataka. Every picture that visitors capture here is a frame that locks in the beauty of the mesmerizing monument that will be cherished for life. One can rent a bike at Hampi to explore the temple premises. The intricate craftsmanship depicts illustrations from the Ramayana. The magnificence of the temple complex and its surroundings were even featured in several Bollywood and Kannada films. Read More

The Hemakunta Hill houses a temple complex, many of them dedicated to Lord Shiva. Situated in the southern side of Hampi, these temples are amongst the oldest and most ancient ones that still remain in Hampi. Many of these temples were constructed between the 9th and 14th Century, therefore even predating the famous Vijayanagara Empire that ruled Hampi. The temple complex contains more than 35 distinct temples and even their architectural styles are distinct from the rest of the temples that can be found in Hampi. Many of these temples have faced the ravages of time and some lie in ruin although the Archaeological Survey of India is doing work to restore them to their past glories. Read More

While most tourists stay to the south of Tungabhadra where most of the ruins are located, some prefer the north banks which have a vibrant hippie culture. Virapapur Gadde or Hippie Island is a small island situated across the Tungabhadra river. It takes 5 minutes to travel to the island via coracle or boat. The last boat for the island leaves at 5.30 pm. The backpacker's delight, Hippie Island (Virupapur Gadde) is an epitome of scenic beauty and is known for laidback ambient and lodges.It has shacks and cafes which operate from October end to mid-March. They serve awesome food along with chilled beer, and most of these have a great view of either the river or the beautiful rice fields. A lot of these cafes also serve as guest houses and you can get simple rooms here at cheap rates. Away from the luxurious life, living in small huts, savouring the taste both Indian and Western cuisine and lying on the banks of the river you will definitely develop affection for the place. The shacks and cafes are a joint venture by Indians and Foreigners. Virupapur Gadde is full of backpackers who are on their way of exploring the remains of ancient times in the modern age. Therefore, you would find many for your company. During the peak, season backpackers storm this area. It has small tourist huts which are offered at quite reasonable prices. The island has small cafes which are a joint venture of Indians and foreigners who stayed back to the place after it mesmerized them. A coracle ferry is needed to reach this side of the river. During the monsoon season, it is advisable to take a taxi to another end which is 40 km away. Read More

Kadalekalu Ganesh is an important religious attraction in Hampi. The temple has traditional stone architecture and is located on Hemakuta Hill and has a huge 15 feet monolithic statue of Lord Ganesha which is a believed to be one of the largest in the world. The reason why the attraction is called Kadalekalu is because the belly of the deity is chiselled to look like Kadalekalu (Bengal gram).

King's Balance

Situated close to the Vittala Temple, King's Balance is an ancient 15th-century weighing scaled which was used to weigh the king with the royal jewels every year on special occasions. The jewels were then donated to the temple priests. The structure has intricately carved pillars. It is made of granite and the pillars support a stone beam that has hoops which were used to suspend the balance. Interestingly, the king was made to eat rich and fatty food and encouraged to not move too much so that the few extra kilos would reflect on the scale and ensure that more jewels could be donated to the priests. Read More

This temple features the biggest effigy in Hampi, of Narasimha sitting on SeshaNaag i.e. the seven-headed snake acting as a shelter to him. The idol of Goddess Lakshmi is placed along with that of Narasimha. Known to be the biggest monolith statue in Hampi, the statue itself was built during 1528 AD and was erected during the reign of the Vijayanagara ruler Krishnadevaraya. The statue currently is housed at the Archaeological Museum at Kamalapura after it was mutilated when the Mughals raided Hampi. Read More

The Lotus Palace in Hampi is one of the most iconic landmarks in the town. Named so for the way the structure looks like a lotus in bloom, this palace was the designated area for the royal women of the Vijayanagara Empire and is found within the Zenana Enclosure. Known widely as one of the few edifices in Hampi that was not lost either to the Mughal raids of the town or to the ravages of time, the Lotus Mahal stands tall in its courtyard.