IN · Karnataka · 15.33°N 76.46°E

hampi

Temple ruins and royal courtyards scattered between granite boulders and banana fields.

Best time
November–February has the best walking weather. April–May is fiercely hot on the bare rock, and July–September showers turn the fields green but make the rocks slippery.
How long
2–3 days
Getting there
Fly direct from KL to Bengaluru (about 4 hours), then it's about 6–7 hours by road, or an overnight train to Hosapete and 30 minutes on. India is 2.5 hours behind KL.
Save postcard
IN · Karnatakahampi15.33°N 76.46°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Temple ruins and royal courtyards scattered between granite boulders and banana fields.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingHampiIN, Karnataka
KLhampi
≈ 3,077 km from KL, as the crow flies
The wide-angle view of the Galigopuram of the Virupaksha Temple in Hampi captured from Hemakunta Hill complex. The photograph showcases the Gopuram's towering height and elaborate carvings, which depi

Photo: iMahesh · CC BY-SA 4.0

1 / 5

Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

Hampi was the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire, one of the richest cities in the world in the 1500s. Its temples, bazaars and royal halls are scattered across a strange landscape of giant granite boulders, banana plantations and the Tungabhadra River.

Makan

  1. Karnataka mealsRice, sambar, rasam and vegetables on a banana leaf, refilled until you stop them.Map ↗
  2. Jolada rottiSorghum flatbread, the north Karnataka staple, with spicy vegetable curries.Map ↗
  3. Idli and dosaEarly breakfasts in the village or Hosapete, before the heat.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Virupaksha Temple and Hampi BazaarA temple still in daily worship, at the end of a long street of stone market pavilions.Map ↗
  2. Vittala TempleThe famous stone chariot and halls of carved pillars, near the river.Map ↗
  3. Royal CentrePlatforms, stepped tanks, the Lotus Mahal and the domed elephant stables, where the kings lived and ruled.Map ↗
  4. Hemakuta HillSmall early temples on a rocky hill above the bazaar, the favourite sunset spot.Map ↗
  5. Coracle rideRound bamboo boats spin across the Tungabhadra between the boulders.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Hampi's cafés are vegetarian and alcohol-free; for halal meat, Hosapete is the place to look.
  • The ruins cover a huge area, so most people give the riverside temples and the Royal Centre a day each, by bicycle, scooter or auto.
  • Tapping the Vittala Temple's 'musical pillars' isn't allowed any more; they're fragile.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.