Hampi, also known as Humpi or Hampe, is a small town in northern Karnataka, and is most famous for its group of monuments and temples which are of oh historical and religious importance to the country and its people. The town is also famous for being the capital of Vijayanagara, a Hindu empire which rules this part of India between 14th and 16th century. The ruins of Hampi are considered an enormous open museum storing some of India’s best archaeological and religious masterworks.
Expanding over an area of almost 25 square kilometers, the ruins of Hampi includes, ancient temples, beautiful rivers, bustling markets, intriguing fortifications and palaces, and many such mesmerizing structures. Together with all its historic and religious masterpieces, Hampi falls under the UNESCO World Heritage Sites and is labelled as Group of Monuments at Hampi.
Some of the most important and breath-taking sights in Hampi include:
There are hundreds of other breath-taking sites sprawling the area and are totally worth your time. The best season to visit the ruins of Hampi is from October to February, the New Year Holidays being the supreme-most peak time.
Many festivals take place in Hampi throughout the year which are also worth visiting for. Some of the most popular ones are the Hampi Festival which is Hampi’s largest festival and is generally held in the first week of November. The festival continues for 3 days and is packed with music and dance shows, fireworks, and a grand procession exhibiting land’s cultural heritage as its spell-binding finale.
For more information on Hampi, visit the official website of Ballari District.
The main connection between and the rest of the country is via road. The railhead at Hospet serves as the secondary mode of connectivity. Hospet is approximately 12 km from Hampi and has rail connectivity with nearby major cities such as Bangalore, Goa, Bijapur, Hubli, Guntakal, and Hyderabad. This is also the starting point for local buses to Hampi. Flights are the third option when it comes to reaching Hampi. The nearest airports to the region are Bellary (60 km) and Hubli (170km). You can also take an overnight bus to Hampi if you are in Goa, Bangalore, or Hyderabad.