6 Reasons To Visit The Ancient Village Of Hampi

With more foreigners than Indians in Hippie Island, one can imagine all kinds of fun and frolic.

Hampi is a city best explored on a bicycle. Belonging to the erstwhile medieval Hindu kingdom of Vijaynagar, it is packed with lots of history, culture and beauty. Touted as the second largest city towards the end of 15th century, numerous loot and plunder in the 16th century left the city tattered and in ruins. It used to house 2,000 spectacular monuments but most of them were in ruins. The most special one being Virupaksha Temple which belonged to the Vijayraja dynasty right along the banks of the Tungabhadra River; it is apparently the oldest functioning temple in the whole of India. And of course, the most magnificent one.

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Approximately 340 kms from Bangalore, Hampi is a place that has been home to kinds and kingdoms and has witnessed battles on battlefields. It has stood the test of time and offers to transport you back in the day if you care to pay it a visit.

A world UNESCO heritage site

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Declared a UNESCO site in 1986, Hampi is known for its sprawling landscape of massive formations of rocks and boulders and are absolutely fascinating to look at. The incredible ancient ruins of palaces and temples scream history making it an unmissable experience for every type of traveller.

Shopping at Hampi bazaar

The colourful and antique handicrafts, leather goods, handmade stone artefacts and musical instruments – these little knick-knacks make for lovely souvenirs and are great for giving it as a present. The bazaar also houses some of the best budget lodges, eateries and restaurants.

Take a boat ride in a Dongi

The people of Hampi use a bowl-shaped boat made up of reed, saplings and hide to commute on the Tungabhadra river. It’s quite fascinating to see how they manage to row using one single long stick.

Relish a South Indian thali

A thali at Mango Tree is highly recommended. Three generations of the family has been maintaining the taste and quality, and a meal here will satiate you to the core. Another place to enjoy a traditional meal are the temples.

Free-spirited Hippie Island

With more foreigners than Indians in Hippie Island, one can imagine all kinds of fun and frolic. Singing, dancing, merry-making; a cosmopolitan environment helps integrating with people of different nationalities leaving a possibility of making new friends.

Beautiful sunsets

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Watching it either from the famous Matunga Hill, or after a stroll at the banana plantation, Hampi promises a magical sunset to the romantic traveller in you.