Hampi

Bus/auto from Hospet to Hampi(30 minutes)

Local bus INR 15 or auto INR 150-200. From Bengaluru: overnight sleeper bus to Hospet (7-8 hours, INR 800-1,500)

Check into guesthouse(30 minutes)

Hampi Bazaar side: Goan Corner or Shanthi Guest House (INR 500-1,500). Hippie Island: Mowgli Guest House or Sunny Guest House (INR 300-1,000)

Virupaksha Temple(1.5 hours)

Functioning 7th-century Shiva temple. INR 500 foreigners. The resident elephant gives blessings for INR 10. Climb the eastern gopuram for panoramic views (INR 10)

Hampi Bazaar walk and dinner(1.5 hours)

Ancient market street with columns. Mango Tree Restaurant on the riverbank — thali meals by the boulders (INR 150-250)

Matanga Hill sunrise(1.5 hours)

Start climbing at 5:30 AM with a flashlight. 20-minute scramble up boulders. 360-degree views of the ruin field. Free. One of India's best sunrises

Breakfast at Laughing Buddha cafe(45 minutes)

Near Virupaksha. Banana pancakes and fresh juice (INR 100-200)

Walk to Vittala Temple via the ancient path(1 hour)

3 km walk from Hampi Bazaar along the river — past the King's Balance and other monuments. Rent a bicycle instead (INR 100/day)

Vittala Temple and Stone Chariot(2 hours)

15th-century masterpiece. Iconic stone chariot (on India's INR 50 note). Musical pillars. INR 600 foreigners, INR 40 Indians

Hemakuta Hill sunset(1 hour)

Cluster of temples between Virupaksha and Krishna Temple. Hampi's most photographed sunset — Virupaksha silhouette against orange sky. Free

Royal Enclosure(2 hours)

Mahanavami Dibba (grand ceremonial platform), stepped tank, and underground Shiva temple. The scale of the empire becomes clear here. INR included in Vittala ticket

Queen's Bath(45 minutes)

Ornate 15th-century bathing complex with arched corridors and lotus pool. INR 300 foreigners. Rarely crowded. Indo-Islamic architecture

Hazara Rama Temple(45 minutes)

Private royal temple with walls entirely covered in Ramayana carvings — 108 panels telling the epic. Free. Stunning relief work

Lunch at Mango Tree(1 hour)

Riverside seating under a massive mango tree. Thali INR 150-250

Coracle ride on the Tungabhadra(30 minutes)

Traditional circular basket boat. INR 100-200 for river crossing. INR 300-500 for scenic ride. Wear a life jacket

Cross to Hippie Island by coracle(10 minutes)

INR 100. Or use the new bridge from Kamalapur side

Hippie Island cafe lunch(1.5 hours)

Goan Corner for fish curry, or Bobby's Cafe for Israeli food. Hammock culture. INR 100-300

Rent a moped and explore(2.5 hours)

INR 300-500/day. Ride through paddy fields and banana plantations to the Sanapur Lake for swimming (check currents first)

Sunset from Anjanadri Hill (optional)(2 hours)

Believed to be Hanuman's birthplace. 575 steps. Panoramic views of Hampi. Best at sunset but bring a flashlight for the descent

Krishna Temple and Narasimha statue(1 hour)

Massive open-air Narasimha (man-lion god) monolith — 6.7m tall. Adjacent Krishna Temple complex with market streets. Free

Elephant Stables(30 minutes)

11 domed chambers for the royal elephants. Indo-Islamic architecture. The most intact structure in Hampi. Free

Lotus Mahal(30 minutes)

Delicate two-story palace blending Hindu and Islamic architecture, possibly used by the queens. Free

Achyutaraya Temple(1 hour)

Isolated temple reached by a long colonnaded path. Atmospheric and usually deserted. The courtyard is one of Hampi's most photogenic spaces. Free

Cycle to Tungabhadra Dam (15 km via Kamalapura)(1 hour)

Or auto INR 200-300. The dam provides water to the entire region

Tungabhadra Dam and gardens(1.5 hours)

Musical fountain, Japanese garden, and views of the reservoir. Entry INR 15. The dam's sluice gates in monsoon are spectacular

Hospet market and lunch(1.5 hours)

Withdraw cash at Hospet ATMs (no ATM in Hampi). Lunch at a Hospet restaurant — South Indian meals (INR 100-200)

Transfer to Hospet bus/train station(30 minutes)

Overnight bus to Bengaluru/Goa. Or Hampi Express train to Bengaluru (10 hours, INR 300-600)

Bouldering session with a guide(3 hours)

Hampi is an international bouldering destination. Tom & Jerry and Kadirampura sectors. Hire a local guide (INR 500-1,000). Rental shoes and crash pads available from Hippie Island shops

Photography walk through lesser ruins(2 hours)

Explore unmarked ruins scattered between boulders. Every hill hides something. The beauty of Hampi is in its uncharted corners

Drive to Badami(3 hours)

Hire car INR 3,000-4,000 for the day

Badami Cave Temples(2 hours)

Four rock-cut caves (6th century) with stunning Vishnu, Shiva, and Jain carvings. Entry INR 300 foreigners. Cave 3 (Vishnu) is the masterpiece. The sandstone cliff setting with a lake is dramatic

Pattadakal temples (22 km from Badami)(1.5 hours)

UNESCO World Heritage group of 8th-century temples — both Dravidian and Nagara styles on one campus. Entry INR 600 foreigners. The Virupaksha Temple here inspired the one at Hampi

Cross to Anegundi(30 minutes)

Coracle or drive via bridge

Anegundi village walk(2 hours)

Fortified walls, ancient gateways, and Durga Temple on a hilltop. The Kishkindha Trust runs community tourism — guided walks INR 200-500. Banana fiber craft workshops

Pampa Sarovar lake(1 hour)

Sacred lake where Shabari offered berries to Lord Rama. Peaceful setting with a small temple

Lunch at an Anegundi homestay(1 hour)

The Kishkindha Trust runs heritage homestays — home-cooked Karnataka meals (INR 200-300)

Sanapur Lake swimming(2 hours)

Natural lake behind boulders. Check with locals about currents. Beautiful setting

Drive Hampi to Gokarna(5 hours)

Hire car INR 4,000-5,000 for 3-day trip. Through the Western Ghats

Check into beach hut or hotel(30 minutes)

Kudle Beach huts (INR 500-2,000), Om Beach resorts (INR 2,000-5,000), or SwaSwara for luxury (INR 15,000+)

Kudle Beach sunset(2 hours)

Crescent beach between palm-fringed cliffs. Swimming safe in calm season. Shack food and hammocks

Dinner at Namaste Cafe, Om Beach(1.5 hours)

Beachside seafood — grilled fish, prawn curry (INR 200-400)

Beach trek: Kudle to Om to Half Moon to Paradise(4 hours)

6 km cliff path connecting four beaches. Each more isolated than the last. Paradise Beach is nearly deserted. Carry water. Moderate difficulty with some scrambling

Lunch at Paradise Beach shack(1 hour)

Simple thali or Maggi from a seasonal bamboo shack (INR 100-200). Only available in tourist season (Oct-Mar)

Return trek or boat to Om Beach(1 hour)

Local fishermen ferry passengers, INR 200-300 per person

Mahabaleshwara Temple(1 hour)

Ancient Shiva temple where Ravana was tricked into placing the Atmalinga. Non-Hindus can view from outside. The town around it is atmospheric — narrow lanes, Brahmin houses, sacred tanks

Gokarna Beach (town beach)(1 hour)

The main beach with a papanashini (sin-cleansing) bathing area. More pilgrims than tourists. Interesting contrast to the hippie beaches

Afternoon at Kudle or Om Beach(3 hours)

Hammock, swim, read, nap

Bear watching from hides(3 hours)

Entry INR 50. Open 6-9 AM and 3-6 PM. Sloth bears emerge around 4-5 PM. Viewing hides positioned on hillsides. Also see leopards (rare), hyenas, and jungle fowl