Hampi is a village and temple town recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, listed as the Group of Monuments at Hampi. in northern Karnataka, India. It was one of the richest and largest cities in the world during its prime. It is located within the ruins of the city of Vijayanagara, the former capital of the Vijayanagara Empire.
Hampi is a place like no other and so are the activities that you can indulge in when here. Test yourself at bouldering over the hills, ride a bicycle all across the village, row a coracle in the calm waters of River Tungabhadra, spot some Indian sloth bears or get blessed by an elephant—Hampi has a lot to keep you busy. Watching a sundowner across its famous temple ruins is, of course, a delight.
BOULDERING
Hampi is a boulderers’ heaven. With its endless trails of boulder hills and right terrain, it has emerged as the country’s hotspot for anyone with a love for the sport. While the more experienced ones can get bouldering and rock climbing equipment from one of the many stores and travel operators in the village, newbies can learn sport tactics with experts who often camp by the boulders. A closely-guarded secret, bouldering in Hampi came into spotlight with Pilgrimage, the much acclaimed climbing movie by Chris Sharma, Katie Brown and Nate Gold; climbers from all over the world made Hampi a favourite soon after its release. You would know the lure of those flat, looming boulders once you set eyes on them. A must-do in Hampi.
BEAR WATCHING
Wildlife lovers can head off the Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary for jungle safaris. The sanctuary is some 20 km away from Hampi and doubles up as a conservation centre for the Indian sloth bear. Perfect to escape to from the more touristy lanes of Hampi, it is quite offbeat and houses more than 100 sloth bears, 90 bird species and an impressive variety of butterflies as well. You can either drive across the sanctuary or sit in the watch tower with a pair of binoculars and picnic lunch. Great place for kids.
GET BLESSED BY AN ELEPHANT
This one would never lose its charm! Lakshmi, the temple elephant at Virupaksha Temple, blesses visitors early in the morning with a gentle touch of her trunk. Anyone looking for a greater adrenalin rush should get into the river when she is in for a bath; a gentle shower from her awaits everyone who is eager enough to go near. Those not in a mood to get drenched can stay at the banks and watch the ritual-like bathing ceremony when Lakshmi splashes in the water, eagerly listening to her mahout’s calls.
BICYCLE TOURS
If there is one thing that you must do in Hampi, it is to get a bicycle and roam around the ruins and this sleepy village at a pace that keeps you discovering its beauty. Hampi is not a place to strike off from your wishlist in a rush; so let it work its magic on you—slowly. A number of bicycle rental points are in the lane that houses Virupaksha Temple.
CORACLE HOPPING
A walk by riverside is passe when you can go right in the middle of one in coracles, the coolest designed boats ever. Crossing River Tungabhadra to reach Anegundi, the hippie side of Hampi and back, becomes all the more inviting when you wade across it in a coracle. Watch a brilliant sunset, visit the drum circle and other live music sessions on the other side, photograph the Hampi ruins that look all the more fascinating from across the river or just enjoy some calm, away from the touristy clamour of the village in one.
VIRUPAKSHA TEMPLE
Dedicated to Lord Virupaksha, the main deity of the Vijayanagara rulers, the temple is an important pilgrimage centre and one of the main attractions of Hampi. Also known as Pampapati Temple, it has a 50-metre high tower at the entrance and displays beautiful architecture throughout. The miniature paintings on the ceilings make your visit worthwhile. Built in the beginning of the 7th century, it is one of the oldest functioning temples in India. The temple received a major overhaul and renovation at the beginning of the 19th century.
VITTALA TEMPLE
Dedicated to Lord Vittala, a form of Lord Vishnu, the temple was built in the 15th century. It is an exemplary symbol of the Vijayanagara style of art and architecture and one of the top attractions of Hampi. No words can describe the magnificence of the hundred pillared pavilion or mandapa that lies in the south-west part of the temple. The sculptures that adorn the eastern and northern gateways are also splendid. The composite pillars of the ‘sabha mandapa’ are massive and when tapped gently produce musical notes. The temple complex houses a number of important monuments including the famous stone chariot.
STONE CHARIOT
Considered as the most popular attraction of Hampi, this architectural marvel is located within the Vittala Temple complex. It is actually a shrine built in the form of a chariot and rests on a platform that is about a feet high. The shrine is dedicated to Garuda who is the carrier of Lord Vishnu. This stunning piece of architecture is among the three famous stone chariots in India, others being Konark (Odisha) and Mahabalipuram (Tamil Nadu). The carvings and sheer beauty of this structure make it a ‘must-visit’ attraction of Hampi.
UGRA NARASIMHA SWAMY STATUE
This is the largest statue in Hampi and depicts Lord Narasimha in a terrifying or angry form. Narasimha which means half-man and half-lion is one of the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu. This monolithic structure, which is 6.7 m in height, has the lord sitting cross-legged position on the coil of a giant seven-headed snake Adishesha. Originally the statue also had Goddess Lakshmi sitting on lord’s lap, but according to history it was vandalised and damaged in the year 1565. The statue of Goddess Lakshmi can now be seen in Kamalapura Museum.