Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
CENTRAL KARNATAKA
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Hampi
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Unreal and bewitching, the forlorn ruins of Hampi dot an unearthly landscape that will
leave you spellbound the moment you cast your eyes on it. Heaps of giant boulders perch
precariously over miles of undulating terrain, their rusty hues offset by jade-green palm
groves, banana plantations and paddy fields. A World Heritage Site, Hampi is a place
where you can lose yourself among wistful ruins, or simply be mesmerised by the vagaries
of nature.
Hampi is a major pit stop on the traveller circuit; November to March is the high season.
While it's possible to see the main sites in a day or two, this goes against Hampi's relaxed
grain. Plan on lingering for a while.
The main travellers' ghetto is Hampi Bazaar, a village crammed with budget lodges,
shops and restaurants, and towered over by the majestic Virupaksha Temple. Across the
river is also popular, a more tranquil setting that's love at first sight for many a traveller.
The Vijaya Utsav (
Click here
)
festival in January is a good time to visit, with three day
spectacle of dance, music, puppetry and a grand finale procession. The
Virupaksha Car Festival
( Mar/Apr)
in March/April is another big event, a colurful procession characterised by a gi-
ant wooden chariot (the temple car from Virupaksha Temple) being pulled along the main
strip of Hampi bazaar.
