Hampi is an extraordinary mix of relaxation and history of a bygone era.
If you have had a read of my most recent ‘Postcards Home’ post (if you haven’t, find it here), you will know that I instantly fell in love with this majestic city.
Worlds apart from the coastline of Goa, Hampi is bathed in outstanding landscape, history and atmosphere, making it a must visit in the South of India.
However, this area has not always been as peaceful as it now appears. Due to its architectural heritage, the people of Hampi have been put through turmoil. In 2012, the government sadly made the decision to bulldoze parts of the bazaar overnight leaving locals homeless and in despair.
Despite this distress, the people of Hampi are still smiling, adding to how incredible this city is.
Althoughย you could probably cover Hampi’s temples in a day or two, it is worth sticking around for a little longer to soak up the calm backpacker vibe.ย Whether you decide to stay on the bazaar side of the city or, on Hampi island, there is an abundance of things to do to keep you busy.
Here is my guide to five great things to see and do in Hampi:
Go for a wander around the bazaar
Hampi bazaar is full to the brim with cute stalls selling jewellery, souvenirs and fruit as well as, the bustling sound of locals and tourists haggling with the smiley stall owners.
Located right next to the Virupaksha temple, the bazaar tends to be packed with people heading to the temple to make offerings to the Gods, buying coconuts and flower garlands from the market on their way.
Watch Lakshmi the elephant being washed in the lake
Every morning at around 7.15am, Lakshmi the elephant, who lives in the Virupaksha temple, is led down to the lake to be washed, scrubbed and pampered by her owners (she has now been passed down through two generations of the same family).
Head to the lake with a sweet chai to witness this heart-warming occasion or, get comfortable in one of the many rooftop restaurants with a view of the lake.
Rent a bike/moped
To soak up this enchanting city to its full potential, you are best off renting a bicycle or moped.
As the temples are randomly scattered throughout the city, ย we decided to join a bike tour to ensure that we didn’t get lost and to also help us understand what we were looking at.
We found a tour run by the tourism office, which started inside the Virupaksha temple and explored the temples in the Royal Centre (an area around 2km from the bazaar where a lot of the temples are). Starting at 9am and finishing at around 2pm (450 rupees), we had a fabulous morning cycling through peaceful banana tree-lined roads, tasting yummy sugar cane juice and learning about the fascinating history of each temple we visited.
You can find this tour to the right of the entrance to the temple (next to where you buy your ticket).
Walk to Vittala temple
Known as being the most spectacular temple in Hampi, the Vittala temple is situated around a 30/40 minutes walk from the bazaar. Although the temple itself wasn’t my favourite, the exceptional scenery on the way made the walk more than worthwhile.
Surrounded by mounds of charcoal coloured boulders, hidden ancient temples nestled in overgrown foliage, monkeys jumping from tree to tree and wicker basket boats bobbing along the lake, we felt as though we had been transported back into the old ages… or into a scene of the Flintstones.
Grab a fresh coconut and a handful of fruit and wander until your heart’s content.
Visit Hampi Island
Situated a 2 minute boat ride (10 rupees) from Hampi bazaar, Hampi Island is thought to be the more relaxing side of the city to stay on. Full of huts with hammocks and restaurants with cinemas, it is easy to see how it has gained this reputation.
Whether you decide to stay on the island or, just pop over for a day (like I did), be sure to make the 15 minute tuk tuk journey from the centre to the Monkey Temple. At the top of a staggering 570 steps, you will find a pearly white temple with sweeping panoramic views of Hampi and beyond – the perfect spot to absorb the city’s tranquility.
End your day with a crisp cold beer overlooking the luscious paddy fields.
Have you ever been to Hampi? ย What were your favourite things to see and do in this bewitching city?
