Hampi Things to Do

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This page will only featuring my point of views as a photographer and i will not comment much on spiritual influence.

Ok, i travel by rail transport to Hospet which is 12km from Hampi ruins. Public bus transportation or auto can be hired to bring you to Hampi at minimal charges.


I will not explain on which position to expect what kind of statues or idols because everyone who are writing about Hampi will most likely mentioning them. I try not to bore you by repeating those information, and please do not write to me to ask about pilgrimage stuffs.

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The main tower viewed from the Hampi quarter. The King's or Bistappaya Tower turned out to be a bit of a mystery for me. I could find no documentation as to when or who built it, only that it was renovated in 1510 by Krishbadevaraya. Visible from great distances, it is the focal point and main area of the Hampi district.

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Beware, you must be bare footed to enter, and boy is the stonework hot. At the entrance to the courtyard sits a boy with who you must leave your footwear, for the princely sum of two ruppes, these will be safely guarded. Now seeing these people have the common sense to sit in the shade, you don't feel the effects till you step into the courtyard, and then you cast your mind back to that program about fire walkers that you once saw, and how did they manage to switch off the part of the brain that recieves messages from your feet. Be warned it is HOT, it can blister "soft" feet, if visiting, maybe carry something to drop on the ground, it's a long way between bits of shade. Visiting here can be a "painful" experience, but worth it.

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The Stepped Tank, an innovative piece of engineering to store water, also used for social gatherings. My figures may not be correct, but i worked it out at over 100ft square and over 60ft deep. It is filled by way of a stone aquaduct that runs throughout the area.

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At 22Ft. the biggest idol in Hampi, the Ugra Narasimha, is really the prime emblem of Hampi. Carved out of a single piece of granite, he stands about 6.7 mts. high. Narasimha, the four armed man-lion sits under a seven-hooded snake, making this an impressive structure worth viewing.

Staying in accomodation across the river creates no difficulties no matter what you wish to transport. As you can see from the photo, even motorbikes can fit into a coracle boat. Remember to spread the weight evenly around the rim of the boat, they are not very stable, but are an essential part of daily life in Hampi.

During the festival, these huge decorative chariots, are attached with ropes, and pulled through the Hampi Bazaar by villagers numbering over 1000. I don't have any dimensions for these chariots, but if you enlarge the picture you will see a calf standing under the axle, this should give you some idea of the size of the chariots. I was informed that the larger of the chariots, weighs in excess of 40 tonnes, but can't say for sure if this is true or not.

Just one example of the carvings to be found at any temple or ruin of the Vijayanagar Empire. Though many sites are falling into dis-repair, the authorities seem to have some clean up and restoration programmes in force to preserve this magnificent area.