About Hampi
Hampi is home to the grand ruins of the Vijayanagara Empire, which ruled vast areas of southern India from the 1300s to the 1600s. Vijayanagara, the old name of Hampi, means “City of Victory”. It was a glittering hub for fine arts, religion, and international trade, attracting merchants, scholars and artists from across the world. Hampi’s glory waned after the Deccan Sultanates ransacked it in the 1500s. Today, it is like a vast, open air museum and a UNESCO Heritage site. You stumble across monuments around every corner, each one telling a tale of lost glory.
Hampi is also a sacred land with great spiritual significance to the people of Karnataka. It is believed that Lord Shiva married goddess Parvati in Hampi. Hampi is also associated with Kishkinda - the monkey kingdom in the Ramayana - and the birthplace of Hanuman. Hampi and the surrounding sacred geography attract pilgrims from all over the country.
Hampi is not just a gem for lovers of history and architecture – it is also a place of great scenic beauty. Situated along the banks of the Tungabhadra river, the area offers beautiful sunset hikes, coracle rides and nature walks.
What to see in Hampi
Ideally, you need at least 2 or 3 days to enjoy Hampi to the fullest. We suggest the following itinerary:
- Day 1: Enjoy our Sacred Hampi Virupaksha Walk and our Vitthala Walk and Coracle Ride
- Day 2: Visit the quiet village of Anegundi, as well as Hampi’s Royal Enclave
You can also spend time hiking and bouldering. Further, Hampi is a great base for excursions to craft villages such as Ilkal, Guledgudda, Bagalkot and Sandur. You can also combine Hampi with Badami, Aihole and Pattadakal - awe-inspiring ancient cave sculptures and the cradle of Indian temple architecture.