"HAMPI" - UNESCO World Heritage Site

Let start our journey from the very interesting UNESCO declared World Heritage site of our country, the HAMPI.

Hampi is known for its monuments and ruins from the great Vijayanagara Empire.

Its also one of the Hindus pilgrimage place as it grounded with numerous beautiful temples in and around the city.

If you ever wanted to visit the site printed on your currency, so here you are.

(Note: I will give all distance and mode of transport from Mumbai as its been my home city and I travel mostly from here. Put down your comments if you want it from some other place will direct you from there as well.

And one more thing, thanks to all photographers who take beautiful pictures and upload them on google #thanks #pic-courtesy-Google )

Lets Begin,

Travelling ---

• By Air 
•  I say it won't be that convenient since the nearby airports are Hubli & Belgaum which are almost 166 Km & 270 Km respectively.

• By Road
• Best option to visit this place since after striking out the Airways, bus travel & self drive options are the best.
• 750 Km Approx. from Mumbai Suburban area.
• You can have private bus services to Hospet from Sion / Chembur / Borivali. Bus travel takes around 15 hrs to 17 hrs depending on the routes, halts and conditions.
• Approx. estimated cost from RedBus & Other bus services falls around INR 1700 To INR 2100
• From Hospet you have to take a another taxi / auto services (if you are travelling by public transport) to Hampi City Centre which is roughly 13km to 15km.

• By Train
• Another option to route down to our place , but we only have limited options available.
• Only 2 trains run between Kalyan to Hospet Jn
• Train No. 16531 & 16533 - only on Monday & Wednesday
• The journey takes around 21hrs to reach down the destination.

Stay ----

• Hampi have many hotels, Inns and Resorts to choose from.
• Go with MakeMyTrip and find good reviews and well suited hotels as per your choice.
• Two best hotel within 7Km radius from city centre are Clarks Inn Hampi & Heritage Resort Hampi.

After you have reached and found a suitable place to jump and relax, its time to make your tummy happy.

Special food to try ---

• South Indian Thali
• Idli & Dosa
• Badane Kaayi  - Brinjal stuffed with dry stuffing of ginger, ground peanut, garam masala, garlic, sesame and salt and then sprinkled onion and other spices.
• Shenga/Ellu chutney - It is a form of powder or dry chutney made of ground peanut or sesame.
• Ranjaka - It is also called Kempu chutney is a paste of red chilli and is consumed as a condiment
• Kosambari- it is dish with dal and cucumber and carrot fresh
• Bele Kaalu - Split or whole sprouted dal or kadale or masoor , cooked greens such as methi, spinach with sauted onion ginger , garlic and other spices.
• Saaru - a soup made of coriander, cumin, tomatoes, pepper and tamarinds
• Non-veg food is little hard to find since its one of the hindu religious place 

Saaru

Badane Kaayi

Now lets roam around and explore  ---

Note : You can divide your itinerary into 2 days according to travel plan and places given below. And for mode of transport use rented two wheeler / cycles. Also you can bargain a local traveller to take you major places in one shot. 
All entry fees are between INR 10 - INR 100, not more than that unless you are not a foreigner. 
Ferry cost is INR 50 per ride. 

•  Gateway to Hampi - Its on the way by road from Hospet to Hampi

•  Hampi Bazaar - City Centre Point

•  Vijaya Vithala Temple (Stone Chariot) - 10Km to the North of Hampi Bazaar, the currency image sculpture. 

•  Virupaksha Temple - walking distance of less than 500 m from Hampi Bazaar

•  Soole Bazaar -  walking distance of less than 500 m from Hampi Bazaar and in mid of Virupaksha Temple and Achyutaraya Temple. Its an ancient point of commerce.

•  Achyutaraya Temple - Just next to Soole Bazaar

•  Matanga Hill - Another just a 1Km walk from main City Bazaar, another beautiful spot by nature to view breath-taking scenery with top view.

•  Lotus Mahal - A 15min 3.2Km drive from main market comes the another beautiful spot, a lotus structured ancient architectural designed palaces. It falls near the place called Zanana Enclosure, which was a segregated area for royal ladies.

• Elephant Stables - A few meter away from Lotus Mahal you will see a huge beautiful structure that was build for keeping the royal elephants during the Vijayanagara Empire.

• Hazara Rama Temple - Walk to the south few meters approx. 500m of Lotus Mahal and you will reach another holy and important shrine in Hampi, the Hazara Rama Temple.

•  Queen's Bath - Passing by another few meters south to Hazara Ram Temple you will pass through the Royal Enclosure and reach another great architecture of Queen's Bath.

• Stepped Tank / Pushkaranis - Walking 300m from Queen's bath take you to the Stepped Tank, a beautiful architectural tank made near the temples for various rituals.

•  Yantrodharaka Hanuman Temple - 650m , 3min. drive or just an 11 min walk from Hampi Market take you to this another one of the important shrine in Hampi.

•  Hampi Archeological Ruins - Just near the market lies your first spot to get some into ancient time dive with beautiful archeological ruins

•  Hippie Island Market & Sunset Point - A major attraction just across the Tungabhadara river. Ferry take you there at the other end with very minimal cost and time. But do remember to take the last ferry by 5.30 pm. You have to walk a km inside after your ferry ride, but worth to visit the place. Play music , dance , enjoy shopping, eat out and chill.

Other Places to visit - 

•  Gagan Mahal - 19Kms from Hampi Market, ruin of a palace
•  Sanapur Lake - 10Kms from Gagan Mahal, a beautiful lake to chill down and watch the birds, water and nature.
•  Hampi Waterfall - Only in monsoon, 6Km drive from Market

Hope you all wanderer now get another plan for this place. Let Explore.....
Wait for more to come.

Till then Ciao!!!