Experience Hampi

Locals believe that the region around Hampi is Kishkinda, the land of Hanuman, Vali and Sugriva. And that critical scenes of the epic unfolded here. They’ll point to Anjanadri hill and tell you Hanuman was born here. That Matanga Hill is where Shabari lived in an ashram. The sacred Pampa Sarovar is where Rama bathed. A cave on Chintamani ghat is where Hanuman and Sugriva met Rama and Lakshmana. And the Kodanda Rama temple is where Rama crowned Sugriva king of Kishkinda, the primate kingdom. Book a tour with a knowledge local and get the insider’s view. At the hilltop Malyavantha temple, for instance, you will experience pandits from Varanasi reciting the Ram Charit Manas, around-the-clock. Watching scenes from the epic performed by Veshegaar storytellers in the local Hagalu Vesha tradition, could be a fun way to end the day.

The topography of the Hampi region is a series of hills, troughs, and valleys with seasonal streams and aqueducts flowing through them. Locals continue to use walking trails that make their way across hills, often involving a scramble over rocks, to get from one village to another. An experience offered by one of our local partners shows you a side of Hampi that most travellers miss. A hike up Matanga Hill to see the sunrise.

Pathways, blacktop and non-blacktop, link the many monuments that are popular with visitors. And given the distance between the various groups of monuments, cycling offers you the opportunity to both reach your daily calorie-count target as well as cover more in a single day. You may need to carry your bike over the occasional set of rocks, like those between the Vijaya Vitalla temple and the Achuta Raya temple. But hey, isn’t that what makes the experience more fun?

Using your bare hands to seek out points on the rock face to hold on to. Gingerly, but surely, finding a fold of rock that will support your weight, and allowing you to stand up. And finally reaching the top and being struck breathless by a stellar view of Hampi. If you’ve never done it before, bouldering is certainly an experience worth trying out. The boulder-strewn landscape offers bouldering enthusiasts with many challenges and is increasingly a popular reason to visit Hampi. While the core zone of the World Heritage Site does not allow this activity, there are numerous places on the Anegundi shore of the Tungabhadra where experienced tutors will guide you on the how-tos and provide you with the equipment needed.

Local women have had a tradition of weaving baskets, mats, and other items of daily usage using raw materials such as palm leaves. Following that tradition, several NGOs have helped women in the Hampi region upskill and create exquisite items out of water hyacinth and banana fiber. Baskets, tote bags, and table mats, among other things. Apart from empowering rural women, the sale of such products directly contributes to the local economy. Visit a craft center to see these women at work. You could even try your hand at making something, and while you’re at it pick up a souvenir.

This region’s unique landscape supports a thriving ecology. Research has revealed that Ballari, which Hampi is a part of, is home to around 200 species of plants, over 150 species of birds, 16 species of mammals, and nearly a dozen species of reptiles. So, while you may not quite have the traditional safari experience here, those who have the patience and inclination will find the experience highly rewarding at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Zoological Park, Hampi

Hampi’s timelessness reminds us of how insignificant we are in the larger scheme of the universe. And how we ought to be thankful for the togetherness that gives us comfort. Celebrate it with a picnic lunch or a diya-lit dinner. Scenic venues include a vantage point atop a hill overlooking paddy fields, under a clump of mango trees, and a spot on the riverfront where local musicians will perform live. Just for you.

Hampi’s version of a river cruise is a joyride in a coracle – a saucer-like vessel made of palm leaves mounted onto a cane frame. At sunrise head to the picturesque reservoir at Sanapura, and enjoy alone time out on the water. At sunset take a trip down the Tungabhadra. Along the way, you’ll see monuments by the riverside, gopuras that peek out of the foliage, and guard posts mounted atop hillocks.

Each monument in Hampi offers clues to the lives and times of the people of Vijayanagara. The animals they used in daily life, such as cows, horses, and elephants. The wildlife they saw around them like monkeys and birds. You could have a treasure hunt organized around a monument like the Mahanavami Dibba, a site in the Royal Enclosure zone, and have the kids chase clues and uncover fun facts. Turn it into a competition or a famjam activity. Either way, it’ll be thoroughly enjoyable.

Acting Archaeologist How about a dig of their own to find “ancient” relics, and understand what people used each item for? The experience, arranged through a tried and tested local tour operator, involves digging up items placed in pits. Once you’ve found them, the guide will explain to you what each item was used for. And, if the children are interested, they will help them put together a play using those items that can be performed for the rest of the family.

HAMPI a monumental, architectural land of splendour is a vivacious centre for modern pilgrim's journey– where history, the natural atmosphere, mythology and everyday cultural practices square measure closely interlacing. Kaladham / PLACE-HAMPI attracts upon the visual languages of anthropology, photography and new media. Through interactive technologies and beautiful wide 3D photography guests have interaction in sensory and experiential encounters with Hampi as an historic place and living cultural landscape.

Located within 1km A tribute to the life and achievements of the industrialist. The structure proposes to house a memorial exhibition of Shri O.P.Jindal life's and his journey to create this large organization. The exhibition design proposes modules to showcase each phase of his life through a selection of images, storytelling, and objects.

Sandur Kushala Kala Kendra (SKKK) was discovered by SMIORE in 1984 to revive the standard crafts of the realm and improve the standard of lifetime of craftswomen. SKKK has evolved over the years and gained recognition for the Lambani craft, each nationwide and internationally. it's received the distinguished UNESCO Seal of Excellence for Handicrafts in South Asia in 2004 as recognition of excellence in modern crafts. The Kendra showcases varied crafts like embroidery, block printing, sculpting, carving etc.

The temple is famous for Musical Pillars and the eminent Stone Chariot located at the center of the temple. The temple is considered to be one of the largest and the most famous structure in Hampi. This is located in the north eastern part of Hampi, near the banks of the Tungabhadra River at a distance of 35 KM from Hyatt Place Hampi hotel.

Virupaksha or Pampapati temple has been considered the most sacred among all temples at Hampi. The temple is about 50 m tall Pampa is a local goddess and the most ancient deity of the area (considered a form of Parvati ) Facing the Virupaksha temple is the double – storied structures known as the Virupaksha Bazaar or the Hampi Bazaar ( about 732 m long).

An Indo-Saracenic styled structure marks the beginning of the Royal Enclosure. The Queen’s Bath in Hampi is a colossal bath that symbolize the architectural excellence prevalent during the days of the Vijayanagara Empire. It is located close to the entrance of the Royal Enclosure in Hampi and 33 KM away from Hyatt Place Hampi Hotel.

Hazara Rama Temple was built in 15th century by the king of Vijayanagara, Devaraya II. This temple is an important shrine in Hampi. This temple is located at the center of the royal area in Hampi. It was once the private temple of the kings and the royal family of Vijayanagara and is dedicated to Lord Rama, a Hindu deity. It is believed that on taking three rounds of the temple one can read the Indian epic Ramayana. The temple is located at a distance of 32 KM from Hyatt Place Hampi hotel.

The place is famous for rock cut caves built during 6th and 8th century. These caves are popular pilgrim centers of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism alike Unspoiled by tourism, Badami is the site of the Brahmanical and Jain cave temples. The Chalukyas had dominated province of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh throughout sixth and eighthcenturies had Badami as their capital. The temples majorly are cut out of solid rock with elaborate interior decorations speaking of volumes of art and design of that era. There are 4 main cave temples; all hewn out of sandstone on the precipice of hill. 1 dedicated to Shiva, 2 dedicated to Vishnu and 1 dedicated to Jain. Shiva’s door keeper, the eighteen armed Nataraja striking 81 dance poses are worth seeing. The largest and the most ornamental is the third cave temple dedicated to Vishnu The temples are connected with each other with a flight of stairs. Badami is picturesquely situated at the mouth of the a ravine between two rocky hills. Other must visit are the Bhutanatha temple situated near lake beneath the cave temples.

There are over twenty two groups of temples in all, and the sheer number is enough to interest travelers and tourists who are major history and architecture buffs to visit this temple town. Situated on the bank of river Malaprabha, Aihole is a place of great architectural interest containing several temples within huge old crumbling walls that enclose a space of over 400 meters in length.

The temples in Pattadakal are built in a style that compasses both the Dravidian style of architecture as well as the Nagara style which was preferred in the Northern States. The temples are a UNESCO heritage website since 1987. Pattadakkal is home to a couple of temples that were designed throughout the eighth century. Of the many temples, the largest one is that the Virupaksha temple .One can see a blend of the north style and south style of the middle ages architecture in these temples.