Explore the Sacred Sites of Central Hampi
06:00 AM – 12:00 PM
When in Hampi, you must begin your sightseeing with the sunrise at the Matanga Hills.
Matanga Hill is the highest point in Hampi and from the hilltop, you get a 360-degree bird’s eye view of the entire city of Hampi and the Vijayanagara Empire. The place is ideal for witnessing the sunrise as well as the sunset. Our recommendation is to witness both. To reach the hilltop, you have to climb for 40 – 45 mins. Definitely not a place for elderly people and people with knee problems.
Matanga Hill is named after Rishi Matanga whom can be found in the Aranya Kanda from the epic Ramayana.
Time Duration: 1.5 – 2 hours
Mode of Transport: Rent a bike/motorcycle/rickshaw.
On the eastern side of Matanga Hill, you can see the Achyuta Raya Temple.
Achyuta Raya Temple was a significant pilgrimage center during the prime of the Vijayanagara Kingdom. Now in a partially ruined condition, the architecture of the temple is still intact and depicts the Vijayanagara style in its best form. You won’t find many visitors here due to its secluded location. This gives you an opportunity to explore every corner the way you want to. If you are fond of heritage and architecture then you should not skip this. The temple forms the Group of the Monuments that is listed in the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Time Duration: 1.5 – 2 hours
Mode of Transport: 10-min walk from Matanga Hill
After this, you begin exploring the prime and ancient attractions of central Hampi on foot. Here you come across various ruined temples, monuments, and structures. The sequence you should follow is as follows:
1. Yeduru Basavanna – The sacred bull of Lord Shiva, locally known as Yeduru Basavanna. The sculpture is made out of a single rock and hence it is called the Monolithic Bull. The sculpture is believed to be more than 500 years old and one of the landmarks of Hampi.
2. Hampi Bazaar / Virupaksha Bazaar – Hampi Bazaar is spread along the 1 km that stretches from the Yeduru Basavanna to Virupaksha Temple. The area was once a thriving marketplace during its prime. You can spot the primeval pavilions.
3. Virupaksha Temple – The iconic sacred site of Hampi, Virupaksha Temple, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The 50-meter high gopuram draws your attention within seconds and can be seen from some distance. This is an active temple and devotees pay a visit to seek blessings.
For luncheon, there are multiple outlets outside the Virupaksha Temple. Mango Treehouse is the famous one and where you find some rush.
Also read: Explore Heritage Sites in Hampi
Sacred Sites along the Hampi Street
02:00 PM – 06:00 PM
Mode of Transport: The attractions spread along the Hampi Road can be explored on foot. All the attractions are 400 m to 600 m apart from each other. All can be covered in 4-5 hours starting from Kadalekalu Ganesh and ending with sunset at Hemkuta Hill.
500 meters south of the Virupaksha Temple is the Kadalekalu Ganesha. Kadalekalu Ganesh is a 15ft monolithic sculpture of Lord Ganesha. Kadalekalu is the local word for chickpea. The belly of Lord Ganesh appears to be in a form of a chickpea hence it is named Kadalekalu.
Time Duration: 30 mins
Walk 400 meters south of Kadalekalu Ganesh and you reach Sri Krishna Temple. The temple is dedicated to Balakrishna. The temple complex was built in the 16th century by the then ruler of Vijayanagara, Krishnadevaraya to commemorate his victory over the king of Odisha, Gajapati. In front of the temple, you can find the ruined pavilions of Krishna Bazaar.
Time Duration: 45 mins
500 meters south of Sri Krishna Temple is the Lakshmi Narasimha Temple and Badavilinga Temple. Lakshmi Narasimha Temple is famous for the gigantic sculpture of Lord Narasimha. The 6.7-meter-high monolithic sculpture is the largest monolithic sculpture in Hampi. Adjacent to Lakshmi Narasimha Temple is the Badavilinga Tempe. Badavilinga Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The shivalinga situated in this temple premise is a monolithic structure.
Time Duration: 1 hour
400 meters north of Badavilinga Temple, you find the Sasivekalu Ganesha. Similar to Kadalekalu Ganesha, Sasivekalu Ganesha is a monolithic sculpture with a height of 8 ft. Here, you can spot a snake tied around the belly of Lord Ganesha.
Time Duration: 30 mins
The final attraction of the day is Hemakuta Hill.
The hill is famous for its group of temples, archways, pavilions, and boulders. The top of the hill is an ideal vantage point to witness the sunset.
Time Duration: 1 hour
