Recently, we went on a visit to Hampi. This happened in late March. Karnataka is going through a heat wave! And somehow, we traveled right into the very burning heart of the heat.
It required many rounds of planning and refining, till we were able to pull off a very memorable visit in a decent budget. This post is to help those planning to visit Hampi in the hotter months of the year.
Is it a good idea to visit Hampi in summers
The best months to visit Hampi are between November to February. The climate is cooler. The temperature starts climbing quite high and the air becomes uncomfortable during the days as you approach late March or April.
So, while we recommend you to visit during the winters, if possible. If not, we would suggest the best way to still make the most of a summer visit with minimal exposure to the heat.
READ More: Heat wave conditions likely to prevail in Karnataka till Friday
If you have not already gone through our article on the best way to visit Hampi, do read through our article on the best time to visit Hampi.
Our Itinerary
We stayed in Hampi for 2 days. There was a 1 day visit to Badami in between. However, we only look at the details on our Hampi itinerary so you can pick inputs that are relevant to you.
We were a group of 4 people traveling from Bangalore to Hampi.
The Vehicle
We booked an Ertiga for 4 people traveling. No one was in a particular mood of driving so long. So we had a driver accompanying us throughout.
The cost structure of such a vehicle is at the end of the post.
I wanted to make sure that we are not crunched for space for a 7-8 hour travel. So, I opted for an Ertiga – a bit expensive compared to an Etios but, every penny worth it to make each days travel comfortable.
Day 1: Bengaluru to Hampi
Starting the day
Left for Hampi: Around 8 AM. It is not necessary to leave too early. We had enough sleep and time to prepare comfortably for the 7-8 hour travel. The ideal is to reach Hampi sometime later afternoon / early evening.
So you get a cooler evening to quickly do a quick round of sightseeing around.
On the way, we had breakfast within Bangalore at an A2B. A variety of Dosa and a Mausambi juice. It was more than sufficient to sustain us through to lunch time.
What is a good place to have lunch during the trip?
We stopped at Paakshala for lunch at around 1 00 PM. The idea was to have lunch before we started getting hungry.
So we cautioned a bit towards having enough food and a couple of bottles of cold water. Just outside the the restaurant there is a Paan wala stall. We had a paan each. Our driver too had food in the same place.
With a fulfilled appetite, we departed to resume the remainder of the trip.
Reaching Saptami Homestay, Hampi
Our booking was at the Saptami Homestay in Hampi. The homestay had an exceptionally high rating on booking.com (9.8!), and the costs were reasonable. I had checked with a friend who had visited Hampi about a month back. He suggested the reviews may not be super trustworthy, and they had chosen to stay back in Hospet instead of staying in Hampi.
I had some bit of apprehension. But, we knew if needed, we could always shift to Hospet, in a more standard hotel accommodation.
We reached at around 4 – 4 30PM.
The accommodation was okay. The property was decent. However the deal breaker was that the AC was faulty, and the ceiling fan did not work properly. None of them working correctly in Hampi’s summer heat was scary.
READ more about our review of Saptami Homestay here.
We decided to check back later in the evening to see if the temperature inside would be bearable.
First Day Evening Sightseeing
Since you reach in the evening, it gives you some respite to check around Hampi. If you are staying in Hospet, you will need to leave little early since places in Hampi close at 6 PM.
We visited the Virupaksha temple on this evening. We purchased a full branch of bananas for the temple elephant (Lakshmi) during our walk to the temple.
If you choose to take bananas for Lakshmi, be a bit careful of the monkeys that will approach you while you walk to the temple. While they did approach me now and then, it was not too difficult to ignore them and walk straight into the temple.
We engaged a guide during the visit, and it was undoubtedly helpful. In fact, a guide can make your visit hundred times more enriched than you by yourself!
Find list of tour guides in Hampi here.
Where is a good place to have dinner in Hampi?
The homestay we stayed in did not offer dinner. So we had dinner at the Mayura Bhuvaneshwari. The food was good. They have an open air and an enclosed AC place for seating. However, the AC place is generally kept open. So the temperature is not effectively controlled.
However, still the food and general experience is quite decent.
Day 2: Hampi to Badami
Since early mornings in Hampi are pleasant, we visited some places in Hampi before starting for Badami later that day. The main place we visited was the iconic Viththal temple. The temple was originally built by King Devaraya II and then later augmented by Emperor Krishnadeva Raya. The approach road to the temple is massive and it is astonishing to imagine the grandeur of the place 5 centuries in the past!
The plan was to utilize early mornings, travel on during the afternoons and reach late afternoon or early evenings. Since evenings are cooler, we could spend sometime doing some local sightseeing.
Since the post is on Hampi, we shall skip the details on Badami.
Day 3: Badami to Hampi
The following day, early we had an elaborate exploration of the Badami Fort, Bhootnath temple, the Chalukyan Badami cave temples. The trip and sightseeing were mind boggling.
We shall dedicate a separate post for details of Badami and places to visit there.
We returned back to Hampi around 5 PM. This time we stayed in Hotel Malligi, Hospet, which is around 10-12 kms from Hampi. It was a great stay with excellent food and great hospitality. The availability of our vehicle was reassuring and the distance did not make any difference.
READ our review of Hotel Malligi here.
We stayed back and rested in the hotel the evening. The dinner was pleasant and we had a restful night.
Day 4: Visiting Kishkindha
This was the last day of our stay. We planned to visit Anjaneyadri (Anjanadri Hill), Pampa Sarovar and Shabari Gufa (Shabari cave). All three places have exceptional historical importance for India as they are intimately associated with the epic Ramayan.
We left for Hampi after a fulfilling breakfast at the hotel. The hotel serves an unlimited breakfast at 7 AM in the morning. The variety and quality of the food was great. We were careful to not overeat but, have enough for an exerting day that was to follow!
The climb to the Anjaneyadri temple is 575 steps. It can be stressful. It is a moderately difficult climb. Though of late, part of the steps (I think 250 steps) have been covered with shade. This makes the climb bit easier.
READ about the Anjaneyadri temple here.
Near the temple you should visit the Pampa Sarovar and Shabari gufa, while you are here.
Returning back to Bengaluru
By the time we covered Kishkindha, it was early afternoon. The temperature was uncomfortable.
We returned back to the hotel. The lunch was very good and enjoyable. With the last meal at the hotel, we left for our return journey to Bengaluru.
Though the timing of the trip was not ideal, however, our approach to utilize early mornings and evenings proved to be very effective. The peak heat was avoided, and the trip was quite fruitful. The hotel selection could be crucial in your experience. For us Hotel Malligi was a pleasant experience. However, we did hear good feedback for Hotel Krishna Palace as well. But, I do not have a first hand personal feedback.
If you plan to visit Hampi, our advise is to travel in the cooler months. However, if you are planning to visit during this time, following a similar schedule will make your trip enjoyable and pleasant!
