Hampi travel guide

Timings

8.30 am to 5.30 pm (ticketed monuments)

Nearest railway station

Hospet

Nearest airport

Hubli, about 143 km

Status

UNESCO World Heritage Site

Ideal time needed

2 to 3 days

History

The Vijayanagara kings were great builders and patrons of art, and their city grew into one of the richest in India. The empire reached its peak under Krishnadevaraya, who came to the throne in 1509. The buildings follow the Dravidian temple style, with some Islamic influence in the courtly structures. After the defeat of 1565 the city was abandoned, leaving the ruins you see today.

Places to see

The Lotus Mahal has cusped arches and a ceiling with floral patterns, and the King's Balance, or Tulabhara, is a stone frame where rulers were weighed against grain and gold for charity. Carved pillars, pavilions and stucco figures turn up almost everywhere you walk.

• Virupaksha Temple, still in active worship
• Lotus Mahal in the royal enclosure
• King's Balance (Tulabhara)
• Narasimha statue
• Matanga Hill, for sunset views
• Sugriva's Cave
• Kishkindha and Lakshmi heritage areas

Timings and tickets

Ticketed monuments welcome visitors every day between 8.30 am and 5.30 pm. Entry fees differ for Indian and foreign visitors, and extra charges may apply for video cameras, so check current rates at the counter. Many sites, including Virupaksha Temple and the hill viewpoints, can be visited without the monument ticket.

How to reach

Many visitors hire a bicycle, moped or auto-rickshaw to move between the scattered groups, and a local guide adds much to the royal enclosure and the Vittala complex. Carry water and a hat, as there is little shade. railway station and main bus hub; from there local buses and taxis cover the short hop to Hampi. Karnataka state buses run regularly from Bangalore to Hospet. Hubli airport is about 143 km away. We can plan Hampi with Badami, Aihole and Pattadakal as a heritage circuit.

Places to see in Hampi

Also nearby