Wanderlust is nothing but a strong desire to travel. I’m sure most of you would be travel lovers or at least would be having that one family member or friend who loves travelling. India is a rich and diverse country when it comes to different languages, cultures, cuisines, and people. As a matter of fact, the topology and climate in all the cities and states are also very different.
There is a kaleidoscope of places to visit in India be it the North part or South. One such place that is a treat to visit is the land of boulders, a village in the Southern state of Karnataka called Hampi. Situated near the Tungabhadra River, the center of the Vijayanagara Empire and famous for the abundant temples. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There are enough reasons why Hampi should surely be one of the places on your bucket list to tick off when in India. Let’s Dive into the most fun things to do at Hampi.
Fun Things to do at Hampi
1) Bouldering
Bouldering is a special form of rock climbing. If adventures excite you ,then bouldering is surely the thing for you. What better a place than Hampi to enrol yourself for a one day course or be a part of the bouldering camps which last for 2 or 4 days. So all you adventure freaks must visit Hampi and try your hand at bouldering. It is definitely one of the fun things to do at Hampi.
2) TEMPLE HOPPING
Hampi is known for the numerous temples and ancient architecture present here. The Virupaksha temple in Hampi is famous because of the presence of an elephant. The elephant blesses the people offering him Prasad by keeping his trunk over their heads. The elephant is considered to be a form of Goddess Lakshmi.
If you are a fan of sunsets then you cannot miss the sunset at the Monkey temple in Hampi. It is located on the other side of Hampi. You need to cross the Tungabhadra river using a Coracle or Taxi Boat. Situated on top of the Anjayena Hill. It marks the birthplace of Lord Hanuman. It is a 600 step journey to the hilltop. A scenic view can be witnessed here.
Cycle Boat rides are something one must try when in Hampi. They are nothing but light weight, circular boats called coracles. They are used to get to the other side of the Tungabhadra river and these short rides are a lot of fun.The Royal Enclosure is yet another marvellous place to visit when in Hampi. This area is densely occupied by the military and courtly structures. It used to be the citadel of the Vijayanagara capital. Right now it is only used to provide connectivity to various structures. When in Hampi one of the fun things to do is definitely temple hopping.
3) Street Junkie shopping
All you shopaholics have to check out the Hampi bazaar or the flea market as it is called there. From Hippie ornaments, fabrics, baggie harems, loose dresses, hippie kurtas, beaded silver jewellery to what not, the list is never-ending. Hand-made leather bags and Buddhist antiques are also sold in many shops. All of these items are available at a very reasonable price and I’m sure you will be satisfied by your purchases at the flea market here. Street junkie shopping is definitely one of the fun things to do when in Hampi.
4) Delicious food
Who on earth does not want to eat tasty and delicious food? I guess no one. Since Hampi is a village located in the north of Karnataka, it is famous for the typical extravagant south Indian thali. Right from idli, dosa, chutney, vegetable curry, rasam, papad to rice. It’s a treat to the stomach of a hungry soul.
Hampi also has a lot of rooftop cafes and restaurants which are famous for their continental and north Indian dishes. The good ambience and central location make them amazing places to have a meal. Sasi cafe and the evergreen cafe are famous for the same.Hampi witnesses a very tropical hot weather and the best way to survive the heat is coconut water. The coconuts here are really huge and the water is extremely sweet. They are a must try. The local people here call coconut water Eliner. This is undoubtedly one of the fun things to do when at Hampi.
5) Bike riding on the Hippie Island
The gear-less scooters called mopeds are a lot of fun to ride. If you are someone who loves bike adventures just hire one for a day and explore the place. Unfortunately, they are only available on the other side of the river, on the Hippie island now. Impecabily one of the fun things to do at Hampi.
6) Lakeside Views
About 5 km away from Hippie Island, there is a beautiful lake surrounded by rocks near Sanapur. The lovely breeze and isolated location help you rejuvenate. Cliff jumping is another adventure you can try here. Deadly crocodiles are waiting right under the cliff to pay you a visit. It’s an experience of a lifetime if you are a risk taker. Hampi is a place to do fun things and enjoy to the fullest. Your trip will be a sheer waste of time if you don’t come here and try out these amazing adventurous things. So don’t miss out on them as they are the most fun things to do at Hampi.