The ruins in Hampi are spread across a wide area. That makes it a bit difficult to make a perfect "Hampi Tour" plan that covers all the sites in Hampi.
There are multiple touring options to reach the same spot. The one opted for walk may choose a different path than the one exploring the sites on a bicycle. However there are many typical and well-trodden tour circuits in Hampi.
The horse carts ride is a funny way to tour Hampi ruins.
You need to decide on at least three things that influence your Hampi tour - from where would you like to start and finish the day’s tour; how long is your stay in Hampi; and what is your nature of interests in Hampi? ( For example photography)
If the hundred or so spots marked on the map may look confusing when you look at it for the first time. Leave the finer details aside initially and try to understand the basic zones of Hampi. That is the right strategy to chalk out a broad Hampi tour plan.
For example the area where most of the temples are concentrated is called the Sacred Centre. Similarly the citadel area where the courtly structures are scattered around is called the Royal Centre. Hampi in general is divided into a few such clusters ( in other words 3 to 5 tour zones). The zone map given here gives you some idea about these geographical circles and its relative locations.
Keep in mind the basic zones of Hampi and their relative positions. This would help you immensely in taking spot decisions on your tour plan, as you keep moving.
The itinerary map shown here connects the highlights of Hampi. Your Hampi tour essentially means moving along the principal paths with occasional deviations and a couple of side trips.
Take your decision on how much of the sites you would like to tour. Have a look at the list of most important sites as a pointer.
Some conventional tour routs are explained.
Your Hampi tour typically includes crossing the river by coracle.
It require at least 2 days minimum to tour Hampi in any reasonable way. However there are many tourists who would like to cover this in a day. The following explains a set of paths one can follow. Adjust your course a bit here and there to suit the situation.
Start your tour from the Hampi bus stand area, where the local bus has dropped you. Visit the Kadalekalu and Sasivekalu Ganesha shrines. Trek to the Hemakuta hilltop. You can find the stepped path and the two-storied gateway to the hilltop just behind these shrines.
Explore the Hemakuta hill shrines. Once completed, proceed towards the northern entrance tower (a towerless massive structure) of the hill, from where you can reach the Virupaksha Temple.
If you don’t prefer this mini trek, skip Hemakuta tour and reach Virupaksha temple through the Hampi Bazaar.
After the Virupaksha temple tour, you may proceed towards the Vittala temple, located about 2 kilometers (1 * miles) east. First reach the Monolithic Bull at the east end of the Hampi Bazaar. Trek across the hillock, you’ll find yourself in front of the Achyuta Raya’s Temple.
From here proceed towards Vittala Temple. Follow the same path back and reach Hampi Bazaar via Kodandarama Temple. On this way can also explore the the nearby attractions like the Varaha Temple, the Riverside ruins, Sugreeva’s Cave, Narasimha Temple….
You may have your lunch at Hampi Bazaar and go towards the Royal Center. One of the sensible things to do is to hire a moped or bicycle for this part of the Hampi tour.
Head towards the Zenena Enclosure, via the Underground Siva Temple. The main tourist attractions you can visit on the way are the Krishna Temple, Lakshmi Narasimha and the Danaik’s Enclosure.
After Zenena Enclosure tour, proceed towards the Queen’s Bath. On this tour you can visit the Hazara Rama Temple and the Royal Enclosure just ahead of it.
If time and energy permits crossover to Kamalapura village for a tour of the Archeology Museum & the Pattabhi Rama Temple nearby.
As I mentioned earlier doing Hampi in a day is hectic and you can’t cover all the places in a reasonable pace. If you are hard pressed for time, hiring an auto-rickshaw for the day’s tour is also a realistic thing to do. You may miss many of the places & charm of Hampi. But the key monuments would be covered in such a one day Hampi tour.
Visitors tour a large number of monuments by walk.
Hampi Tour By Walk:
A large number of places can (only) be toured by walking and to some level of trekking. Some times it’s fun to walk to a site,
sometimes it’s necessary as access paths are not motorable. A few of these walking trails are sort of semi trekking. The others are sort of climbing the rock (stepped) to see a place at the top of a few hills.
If you are a hardcore trekking fan, go ahead, there are hills all around with heaps and heaps of boulders, which look like a lunatic surface.
Carry water bottle, and a nice broad hat. Refreshment kiosks are not very widespread, though there are some small shops selling cool drinks, tea etc at some locations.
Expect a fair amount of sunrays. So sun screen sorts of stuffs are not a bad idea.
Tour by Bicycle:
Bicycle: Many shops offer bicycle hire. Charge about 30rs a day (7 am to say 9 pm). Most of the bicycle rental places are located at the street in front of the main temple (Virupaksha Temple). The shop expects you to pledge something as a security to rent the bicycle. Usually they ask for something like a driving license or a similar identity proof.
Also they may agree without any such thing if you can prove your ‘credibility’.
An Uphill road at Hampi
For example, I did not want to give my driving license (though there is no big harm), instead I tried to offer a photocopy of it. They were a bit
skeptical. Then I showed my company’s ID card and gave my business card. They started agreeing with a half mind, and then I said I was staying at the nearby gust house. That was enough for them to believe me. Evening I dropped the bicycle back by 8pm.
Next day, I turned up to the shop. No questions, no ID card, nothing…the shop assistant just released a cycle for me without even consulting his boss who was sitting inside. So if you are hiring bicycle from the same shop for the second day, you are treated as a regular
customer. Even your gust house assistant may help you to rent a bicycle.
Remember Hampi roads have a couple of steep uphills.
A moped in Hampi
Hampi tour by Scooter/ Mopeds (tiny two wheeler):
Scooter/ Mopeds (tiny two wheeler): For obvious reasons they would ask for some genuine documents as security. Again it depends on how you talk and what you offer as pledge. Passport (try to negotiate with a photo copy of it) or a driving license should be more than enough. Charges about 300 rs depending on the type of the vehicles. Fill petrol yourselves as the tank would be almost empty (may not be enough to reach a fuel station). Ideally a liter should be enough to cover say 30-40 kilometers. A reference from the guesthouse where you are staying is usually adequate to get a moped on rent. Hampi is not known for many fuel stations. The only fuel station is located at Kamalapura. However you can pay fuel charges to the rental shop and get it filled when you hire.
Tour by Auto rickshaw:
Auto rickshaw: There are two ways to go about this. Hire an exclusive Auto rickshaw driver cum tour guide for a day (about 300 to 450rs).(These are the second batch of touts who would approach, the first being the lodge touts ).This is the best way to tour Hampi if you are hard pressed for time and also wants some kind of exclusivity. The trouble is you cannot enjoy the wandering and ‘lost in nowhere’ feel for which Hampi is ideal for.
The second option is to hire auto rickshaws on a case-to-case basis. You may not find them everywhere, as these are not reachable to all locations. So, for example walk and complete the Sacred area tour, and then hire a rickshaw to get you dropped (Rs 25 to 40) at the Royal area to continue your tour of that area again by walking.
Other Hampi tour options:
Hire a car (Rs 1500+/ day) or tour by the organized (bus) operators as part of a larger package. There are a few travel
agencies offering Hampi tour as a package. I prefer bicycle for many reasons. First of all it’s funny to ride and tour the ruins. Then, the most important, is the flexibility.
For example I’ve to reach from say point A to B to C to D. From A to B is somewhat far for walking, so scooter
or rickshaw or bicycle are the OK options. Again B to C is a sort of semi trekking path. Scooter or rickshaw would not go any further. But you can walk with the bicycle ( carry the bicycle just across that boulder heap ) . Again when you’ve reached C, it may be far to reach D by walk and you may not be able to get a rickshaw waiting there. If you have the bicycle with you, you can happily continue the Hampi tour by further by riding.
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