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Places to Visit in Hampi in 2 days

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    I spent 2 days in Hampi and came up with this blog post listing the best places to visit in Hampi. But know that Hampi in summer could be quite hot, so a 2 Days trip to Munnar could also be a great option.

    This Hampi itinerary for 2 days contains all the info you need to plan your own trip to this amazing travel destination in India. One of the unique things about Hampi is that it is easily reachable as a 2 days trip from Bangalore, Pune, Goa, Mumbai and other major Indian cities.

    If you are traveling on a long weekend or you have more time, check this 3 days Hampi Itinerary. or if you are on just 1 day hampi trip, I’d suggest pick the attractions from day one.

    I have listed below the best places to visit in Hampi in 2 days:

    Day 1:

    Hampi Itinerary Day 2:

    • Anjaneya Hill
    • Tungabhadra Dam

    Top Places to stay in Hampi

    2 Days Hampi Itinerary

    I have always been fascinated by the idea of traveling solo in India, even being a solo woman traveler didn’t deter me. And what’s better than taking a two days trip to Hampi, one of the top backpacking destination in India. It so happened during the course of a week that I made a quick 2 days Hampi Itinerary, created a rough plan and booked my Pune to Hampi bus ticket… and so began the journey to explore the ruins of Hampi.

    As my brother had already been there, I took some tips from him and went through his blog posts. You can find the all the details on backpacking Hampi blog post. 

    In this post, I have detailed the information based on my personal experience on places to visit, restaurants and places to stay. I have also carefully crafted answers on questions asked on quora like Hampi is worth visiting, how to commute in Hampi, ideas on Annegundi tour and the hippie island. There are lot of budget tips in here as well, so be attentive!

    Thinking about visiting an offbeat destination? Plan your trip with my north east India itinerary.

    Day 1: 2 Days Hampi Itinerary

    As I had only 2 days for hampi sightseeing, I decided to explore the mainland on the first day. I knew I had only 2 days in Hampi, and had to rush a bit to see the top attractions of Hampi first. I started my journey from Virupaksha temple, which is located beside the river bank and has a close proximity to Hampi Bazaar.

    Virupaksha temple

    Virupaksha From Outside View, Hampi
    Gopuram of Virupaksha Temple, Hampi

    I started my 2 days Hampi trip with Virupaksha temple . The Virupaksha temple is dedicated to one of the forms of Lord Shiva. It dates back to the 7th century AD, making it one of the oldest temples in India.

    Virupaksha Temple Complex, Hampi

    Virupaksha Temple Complex

    The temple has a huge complex that grew gradually over the period.

    Lakshmi At Virupaksha Temple, Hampi
    Lakshmi, the temple elephant

    On the left side of the Virupaksha temple complex, you can see Lakshmi, the temple elephant. She blesses the devotees with her trunk touching head when you offer her Rs 10 note. If you are lucky enough, you can see her enjoy taking bathe near the ghats at around 8 in the morning.

    Virupaksha Temple, Hampi
    Virupaksha Temple, a must visit attraction for Hampi in 2 days

    Next, I went ahead to explore the surrounding area. For that, you can hire a scooter, bike or bicycle from Hampi Bazaar which is going to cost you around Rs 200 for two-wheeler (fuel charge additional) and Rs 50-80 for a bicycle. You can consider hiring an auto at 400 bucks for the full tour. I would also recommend buying a Hampi map that shows the top places to visit in Hampi in 2 days so that you can make plans accordingly.

    Ruins At Hampi
    View from Kadalekalu Ganesha Temple

    In Hampi, you will be stunned to see the landscape around you – the huge boulders and ruins weave together a magical spell on the tourists. Hampi is all about the historical monuments and beautiful sculptures. Park your vehicle wherever you feel like and enjoy the serenity.

    Kadalekalu Ganesha Temple

    Kadalekalu Ganesha, Hampi
    Kadalekalu Ganesha, Hampi

    I stopped by the famous Ganesha temple in Hampi. Another one of beautiful place to visit in Hampi for 2 days trip. The temple has a monolithic statue carved on a single huge boulder.

    Pillar At Ganesha Temple Complex
    Pillar At Ganesha Temple Complex

    The temple hall has beautiful tall granite pillars, carved with various mythological characters. The temple has a mesmerizing view of Hampi Bazaar and Matanga Hill. I spent some time in the calm ambiance of the temple and moved to my next destination.

    Ugra Narasimha

    Ugra Narasimha Temple, Hampi
    Ugra Narasimha Temple, Hampi

    The Ugra Narasimha Temple is the largest statue in Hampi and is a major tourist attraction that one must visit in Hampi on 2 days trip. On the basis of facial expressions and eyes, the statue is referred as Ugra Narasimha, which literally means Angry Narasimha (an avatar of Lord Vishnu ).

    Underground Shiva Temple

    Going towards the Royal Enclosure you can visit the underground Shiva Temple and Queen’s Bath.

    Queen's Bath, Hampi
    Queen’s Bath, Hampi
    Underground Shiva Temple, Hampi
    Underground Shiva Temple, Hampi

    This temple has been built several meters below the ground level. It is believed that the royal family used to worship here. I went inside the main temple but quickly moved out as the place was full of bats due to darkness and moisture.

    The underground Shiva temple is a must visit attraction in a 2 days Hampi itinerary.

    Royal Enclosure

    Hampi was the capital of Vijayanagar empire and the royal family used to reside here. The Royal Enclosure is the resident and durbar area of the royal family. It has around 45 buildings including a stepped tank, Durbar hall, temples, and platform.

    Mahanavami Dibba, Hampi
    Mahanavami Dibba, Hampi

    As soon as I entered the Royal Enclosure, the platform is the first thing I noticed. Mahanavami Dibba is a stone platform that has a three-tier structure. It is believed that the King used to celebrate the festival of Dussehra here.

    Pushkarini, Hampi
    Pushkarini, Hampi

    Next structure that I noticed is the Pushkarni, the sacred water tank. One of the beautifully constructed ruins of Hampi. These stepped tanks are generally made near the temples and are used for ritual bathing and cleaning.

    I was amazed to see the symmetrical structure and instantly clicked few pictures to behold the moment. From there, I moved toward the Zenana Enclosure, which was a secluded area for the royal women. The main highlight was the Lotus Mahal.

    Elephant Stables, Hampi
    Elephant Stables, Hampi

    Just outside the Zenana Enclosure, I saw the Elephant Stable which was used to provide shelter for the royal elephants of the Vijayanagara Empire.

    There are so many historical monuments to visit in Hamp for 2 days i that you will feel overwhelmed. This is exactly what happened to me!

    Vijaya Vittala Temple

    One destination that is a must visit place in Hampi is the grand Vijaya Vittala Temple. The Vittala temple is located at around 15-20 minutes away from the Royal Enclosure. Once you reach the temple area, you need to wait for a ride to the main entrance of Vittala temple. A non-combustible vehicle (golf cart) will pick you up and will drop you at the main entrance of the temple (around 1.5 km).

    Outside Vittal Temple, Hampi

    Outside Vittala Temple, Hampi

    There is an entry fee of Rs 10 for Indians and Rs 500 for foreign nationals. The tickets are sold at the main entrance fo the Vittala temple, Hampi. The Temple has a huge complex that consists of amazing structures.

    Vijaya Vittala Temple, Hampi
    Vijaya Vittala Temple, Hampi

    There are many halls, pavilions, and shrines inside the Vittala campus. I couldn’t stop myself to ask someone to click a picture of me. So here you go!

    Sculptured Pillars At Vittala
    Sculptured Pillar at Vittala Temple
    Stone Chariot, Hampi
    Stone Chariot, Hampi

    The Stone Chariot of Vittala Temple is the main attraction here and a must do in a two days Hampi trip. Do you know the Stone Chariot of Hampi is one of the three chariots in India! The other two stone chariots are located in Konark and Mahabalipuram. It is a shrine dedicated to Garuda. However, the sculpture is extensively damaged now.

    Vittala Main Temple, Hampi
    Musical Pillars, Hampi

    Ranga Mantapa is another highlight of the entire campus. I was fascinated by the musical pillars (56 in total) that are known as SAREGAMA pillars. It emanates the music when tapped gently!

    Matanga Hill, Hampi sunset point

    Matanga Hill is one the most talked about place here, you can experience an astonishing sunset in Hami and an aerial view of the entire city from the Matanga hilltop. Unfortunately, I couldn’t go there as the last ferry to hippie island is at 5:30 pm and I couldn’t afford to miss it. Otherwise, I had to take auto that would have charged around 1500 bucks to drop me to another side of the river!

    The Hampi island side has a lazy and soothing vibe. You can easily spend several days there, laze around in your shack or just indulge in endless conversations with strangers at the cafes. Hampi has a vibe that is hard to resist and where even strangers look like friends.

    Day 2: Hampi Itinerary of 2 Days

    So for the next day, I rented a scooter. The other side of the river has its charm of own, I ride through the lush green paddy fields in the backdrop of mountains and trees and headed towards Anjaneya Hill.

    Anjaneya Hill

    The ancient town of Kishkindha, which is mentioned in Ramayana is the present town of Anegudi, about 5 km from Hampi. That is why Hampi is known as The Monkey Kingdom.

    Road Towards Hanuman Temple, Anegudi
    Way to Anjaneya Hill, Anegudi
    Anjaneya Hill, Hampi
    Hanuman Temple at Anjaneya Hill

    Anjaneya Hill is the birthplace of Lord Hanuman. You can see the temple on the hilltop. The way to the Hilltop is quite a climb, almost 600 stairs.

    Sunset Point At Hanuman Temple, Hampi
    Sunset Point At Hanuman Temple, Hampi

    But the climb was worth it definitely. The view was marvelous; coconut trees, patches of paddy field, the ruins spread across the city and the Tungabhadra River.

    Tungabhadra Dam

    Spend the evening at the Tungabhadra Dam or you can take a coracle ride in the river.

    Tungbhadra River Bank, Hampi

    Tungabhadra River Bank, Hampi

    I had a bus to catch from Hosapete to Pune at 6 pm. In the end, two days in Hampi felt like breeze. I left the place with the hope of coming back here again and explore the places that are left to get discovered.

    Getting there – Pune to Hampi

    I started my journey from Pune at 11 pm and reached Hospet at 8 in the morning. There are also direct buses right to Hampi bus stand but I could get one as it was already fully booked. As hospet is nearest town (with railways station) I had no issues to set it as my starting point. This was the first day of my 2 days in Hampi. You can easily get government buses and autos that will take you from Hosapete to Hampi. Hosapete to Hampi buses are relatively cheaper as that will cost you around Rs 25, while the autos charge around Rs 200.

    As soon as I reached the town of Hampi for my weekend trip, I was spellbound by the mystical boulder landscape and the ancient monolithic architecture around. It might even remind some of you of Roman Kingdom. You will surely experience the best of both worlds in Hampi.

    Tungbhadra River, Hampi

    Tungabhadra River, Hampi

    The village side has all the major historical monuments of Hampi, and as well as temples while the other side of the Tungabhadra river is known as ‘Hippie Island’ by the locals. Hippie Island is a popular destination among backpackers including young travelers from abroad. If you too are in same league, I will recommend you to stay on the Hippie Island. Also, to mention that there are often rave parties in Hampi that go on this side!

    I chose to stay on the Hampi island for 2 days, for that one has to take a ferry from the ghat to cross the Tungabhadra River. The ferry is going to cost you Rs 20-50 depending on the luggage you are carrying along. The ferry point is right behind the Virupaksha temple, very close to the Hampi market.

    Homestay At The Hippy Island
    Homestay at the Hippie Island

    Once you cross the river you can find plenty of homestays. During the off-season, it is relatively easy to find a place to stay in Hampi but I will still recommend to book prior if you are planning to visit Hampi in the season (from October till February). I paid around 500 bucks for a single room. These homestays in Hampi have in-house cafes that will amaze you with their menu, from Idli Dosa to European breakfast they serve a variety of deliciously cooked food. And my hunger pangs were well satisfied for my 2 days of stay, no complaints!

    I would strongly recommend setting aside more than 2 days to truly see the wonders of Hampi. No matter whether you want to chill in the hippie culture of the Hampi island or get amazed by the history and captivating architecture of the city, this ancient Indian town has lot to offer.

    27 Comment on this post

    1. Very detailed itinerary.
      I have always been looking for such posts which tell a bagpacker to directly pack the bags and rest will be taken care by this post.
      Awesome work…
      And mesmerizing clicks…great work..

      1. Thank you, Reshma. Yes, it was a wonderful experience. We have such amazing places in India that many people aren’t even aware of. I will try to explore more and share my experience 🙂

    2. Impressed☺️ to go through the Journey of Hampi & your amazing experience Naina.👏 Fabulous pics. Awaiting for more updates!

      1. Thank you for the appreciation Suseela ☺️ This motivates me to share my journey more. Will definitely keep you updated.

      1. Thank you Pooja 🙂 I hope you will also set out soon to explore Hampi soon. Stay connected for future updates 🙂

    3. Thanks a lot for the write-up. We, eight senior citizens, are planning a trip to Hampi, Aiholae and Badami in September. We plan to spend five days there . Kindly give us some tips

      1. Hello Sir, five days for all the three places would be a little less. I would recommend you to spend 3 days in Hampi and rest in Badami and Aihole.
        You can stay in Hosapete that is only 13 km from Hampi and hire taxis from there. They will offer you full day tour and guide if you ask for.

    4. I am planing for a solo trip to hampi from pune,

      i concerned about bus to hospet from pune,

      How was your experience with pune to hampi travle , and which travels you selected?

      also which home stay you used to stay at hampi?

      1. There are several buses from Pune to Hospet. I traveled in SRS AC Sleeper bus, while you can check others too in Redbus or Paytm.
        The roads are mostly smooth and without any hassle, I reached Hospet in the morning.
        I am not being able to recollect the name of homestay however, it was near Laughing Buddha cafe. There are several available online too.

    5. Beautifully depicted itinerary Naina. This year old article has made my Hampi visit planning not only easy but also more comprehensive.
      Also, can you please share your Instagram handle? Being a traveler, I personally feel I would get more exposure to places.

    6. Hi,
      Your detailed travel information looks quite helpful. One thing is that you mentioned about auto transport from hampi bazar at 400 bucks for a full tour.

      Can you let me know what are the places that auto covers in a “full tour”??

      T

    7. Very nice itinerary. i just read the whole. I’m going to Hampi today from Bangalore. This helps me a lot so i’m thinking to follow the same itinerary.

    8. Very nicely written, I have been planning visiting Hampi, and your article made me decide that my next trip will be to Hampi and soon

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