In the print dialog pick “Save as PDF” to keep it on your phone. A5 makes a pocket booklet; A4 suits a desk printer.
Voykit pocket guide · India
Hampi
ಹಂಪಿ
Give Hampi 2–3 nights: ruins on the south bank, guesthouses on the north bank, and a scooter or rickshaw to cover the 25 km² site.
Hampi was the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire from the 14th to the 16th century, and its ruins — temples, bazaars, royal enclosures — sit scattered across a boulder landscape on the Tungabhadra river. The site is a UNESCO World Heritage area and most monuments are free; a combined ticket covers the Vithala temple, the Lotus Mahal and the museum. Two full days is the minimum to see the main clusters; three is comfortable.
- Country
- India
- Local name
- ಹಂಪಿ
- Best months
- Nov–Feb
- Avoid
- Apr–May (extreme heat), Jun–Sep (monsoon)
- Stay
- 2–3 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- INR
- Money
- Indian rupees (INR, ₹) in small notes for autos, street food, tips and entry tickets.
- Daily spend
- Budget ₹1,500–2,500 excl. bed · Mid ₹2,500–5,000 excl. bed · High ₹5,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Jio, Airtel and Vi sell tourist SIMs at airport counters and their shops; passport, visa and a photo needed; activation can take a few hours.
- Emergency
- All services 112 · Ambulance 108 · Tourist helpline 1363
- Plugs
- Types C, D, M · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin C plugs fit most sockets; D (three round pins) is the common wall socket; hotels often have universal sockets. UK and US plugs need an adapter.
- Tipping
- Street food and dhabas: Nothing.; Restaurant: 5–10% if no service charge is on the bill.; Car and driver: ₹300–500 a day at the end of the trip.; Guide: ₹300–500 for a half day.; Hotel porter / housekeeping: ₹50–100.; Auto or Uber: Round up.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap. Buy sealed bottles (check the cap), or use RO-filtered refill stations in hotels and cafés; avoid ice from street stalls.
- Toilets
- Western toilets in hotels, malls and airports; squat toilets with a water jug or hose in stations and villages. Carry tissue and sanitiser; paid public toilets (Sulabh) cost ₹5–10.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Filter coffee or chai | ₹20–60 |
| Thali or rice plate | ₹150–350 |
| Beer | ₹150–300 |
| Auto-rickshaw, Hospet to Hampi | ₹250–400 |
| Local bus, Hospet to Hampi | ₹15–20 |
| Bicycle rental, one day | ₹50–100 |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | ₹500–1,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- VDY · Vidyanagar Airport (Jindal Vijaynagar), near Toranagallu
- About 35 km east of Hampi; regional flights only — check current schedules.About 22 mi east of Hampi; regional flights only — check current schedules.
- BLR · Kempegowda International, Bengaluru
- About 350 km away; the nearest major international airport.About 217 mi away; the nearest major international airport.
Typical fares
- Hospet Junction → Hampi, auto-rickshaw
- ₹250–400
- Hospet → Hampi, local bus
- ₹15–20
- River ferry crossing
- about ₹50
Get around
Walk or cycle the main clusters; rent a bicycle (about ₹50–100 a day) or a scooter (about ₹350 a day plus fuel, check availability — rentals have been restricted at times). Auto-rickshaws do full-day sightseeing; agree a fixed rate before you start. Local buses run between Hospet and Hampi via Kamalapur. The river ferry links the two banks; the last crossing is around 17:00.Walk or cycle the main clusters; rent a bicycle (about ₹50–100 a day) or a scooter (about ₹350 a day plus fuel, check availability — rentals have been restricted at times). Auto-rickshaws do full-day sightseeing; agree a fixed rate before you start. Local buses run between Hospet and Hampi via Kamalapur. The river ferry links the two banks; the last crossing is around 5:00 PM.
See and do
Known for
- Virupaksha Temple
- Vithala Temple and the Stone Chariot
- Boulder landscape on the Tungabhadra
- Vijayanagara Empire ruins
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Hospet | Local bus from Hampi bus stand, about 15–20 min | About 30–40 min |
| Tungabhadra Dam | Auto-rickshaw or bus via Hospet, about 16 kmAuto-rickshaw or bus via Hospet, about 9.9 mi | About 45–60 min |
| Anegundi | Ferry across the river, then a short ride; or by road via the old bridge | About 30–45 min |
| Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary | Auto-rickshaw or car, about 16 kmAuto-rickshaw or car, about 9.9 mi | About 45 min |
| Toranagallu | Car or taxi, about 35 kmCar or taxi, about 22 mi | About 1 h |
Sleep
- Hampi Bazaar (south bank)
- Closest to Virupaksha Temple and the main ruins; simple guesthouses and cafés, walkable to the river.
- Kamalapur (south bank)
- Near the museum and the royal enclosure; quieter, better for early starts.
- Virupapur Gaddi / Sanapur (north bank)
- Across the river by ferry; guesthouses, rice paddies and a slower scene. Last boat around 17:00, so plan the crossing.Across the river by ferry; guesthouses, rice paddies and a slower scene. Last boat around 5:00 PM, so plan the crossing.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello / Namaste | ನಮಸ್ಕಾರnamaskāra |
| Thank you | ಧನ್ಯವಾದdhanyavāda |
| How much is it? | ಎಷ್ಟು?eṣṭu? |
| Where is the toilet? | ಶೌಚಾಲಯ ಎಲ್ಲಿದೆ?śaucālaya ellide? |
| Please take me to this address | ಈ ವಿಳಾಸಕ್ಕೆ ಕರೆದೊಯ್ಯಿī viḷāsakke karedoyyi |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Namaste (palms together) or a handshake between men; wait for a woman to offer her hand; avoid: Hugging or kissing strangers
- Hands and feet: Give and eat with the right hand; apologise if your foot touches someone; avoid: Pointing feet at people or shrines; touching books or food with your feet
- Temples: Shoes off, walk clockwise around shrines, accept prasad (blessed food) with the right hand; avoid: Leather in Jain temples; entering sanctums that say Hindus only
- Home visit: Bring sweets or fruit; accept tea at least once; avoid: Refusing all food; wearing shoes inside
- Questions: Expect personal questions (married? job? salary?) as friendliness; avoid: Taking offence; answer vaguely if you prefer
- Saying no: A firm, polite 'nahi, dhanyavaad' (no, thank you) and keep walking; avoid: Long explanations to touts
- Dress: Loose clothes covering shoulders and knees; kurta tops are cheap and cool; avoid: Swimwear or shorts away from Goa beaches
Scams and watch-outs
- Heat and dust: carry water, a hat and sunblock; there is little shade between monuments.
- Ferry across the Tungabhadra stops around 17:00 — if you miss it, the road route back is long and expensive.
- Agree auto-rickshaw and guide rates before you set off; drivers can be persistent at the station and bus stand.
- Some temples are active places of worship — dress modestly and remove shoes where required.
- Monsoon can raise the river and strand north-bank guesthouses; check conditions if travelling Jun–Sep.
Hampi is a small, low-crime tourist village and the main risks are heat, dust, dehydration and the ferry timetable. Agree rickshaw and guide prices up front, keep valuables secure in guesthouses, and avoid walking on unlit roads after dark.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Hampi yet. Suggested stay: 2–3 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Virupaksha Temple
- Vithala Temple and the Stone Chariot
- Boulder landscape on the Tungabhadra
- Vijayanagara Empire ruins
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Karnataka Tourism — Hampi: karnatakatourism.org/
- Wikivoyage: Hampi, revision 5058172 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5058172
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Hampiಹಂಪಿ
ಈ ವಿಳಾಸಕ್ಕೆ ಕರೆದೊಯ್ಯಿ
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
Most embassies and consulates are in Bengaluru or New Delhi; there is no foreign mission in Hampi. Check your embassy's website for the nearest consular office.
Carry cash: ATMs are limited around Hampi and Hospet is the nearest reliable place to withdraw.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/hampi). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.