Hampi, the capital of the once-prosperous Vijayanagara empire, is known for its architectural heritage. The sheer number of places to visit in Hampi and around can be overwhelming. It’s home to over a thousand monuments, including ancient temples and palaces.
The historic town has also been called the World’s Largest Open-Air Museum. It’s because the ruins are spread over a large area. They truly showcase the artistic finesse of the period.
Because of its rich historical heritage, the entire city has been declared a UNESCO Heritage Site. But Hampi has a lot more to absorb apart from its history. Located on the banks of River Tungabhadra, this royal city has a relaxed vibe with an adventurous landscape.
Check this list of places to visit in Hampi to learn more about its must-visit places and explore sightseeing near Hampi.
1. Virupaksha Temple
Virupaksha Temple is a famous temple in Hampi and the main pilgrimage centre in the city. It’s also considered one of the oldest functioning temples in India, making it among the top places to visit in Hampi.
Among the ruins of Hampi, this temple has stood the test of time the best. It was originally a small shrine. And it’s said that it has been an active place of worship since its inception in the 7th century. Its present magnificence is all credited to the rulers of the Vijayanagara empire.
The temple is dedicated to Lord Virupaksha (an incarnation of Lord Shiva). His idol is in the form of Shivalinga.
- Entry Fee: Free
- Timings: 6 AM – 1 PM and 5 PM – 9 PM
- Distance from Hampi: Close to city centre
2. Monkey Temple
Monkey Temple (or Yantrodharaka Hanuman Temple) is dedicated to Lord Hanuman. It’s a popular religious site situated atop Anjaneya Hill near the city, and it’s one of the best hill places to visit in Hampi.
The atmosphere is serene and filled with spiritual energy at the top. So, to visit the shrine, you need to ascend a long flight of stairs. On the way, you might also meet the playful and mischievous monkeys of the temple. They are considered sacred.
The temple is also widely renowned for its natural charm. It provides panoramic views of the surrounding landscape.
- Entry Fee: Free
- Timings: 6 AM – 9 PM
- Distance from Hampi: Close to city centre
3. Vijaya Vittala Temple
Vijay Vittala Temple in Hampi is another of the architectural wonders of this historical city. It’s also considered the largest of all historical structures in Hampi. The temple dates back to the 15th century. And it’s a masterpiece of Vijayanagara architecture.
While the temple complex is spread over a large area, it’s best known for its stone chariot and musical pillars. It’s dedicated to Lord Vittala (an incarnation of Lord Vishnu). The huge pillars and intricate carvings make it a historical eye candy.
Apart from the main temple, the complex has several small temples, making it one of the most important places to visit in Hampi. Each temple has distinct intricate carvings.
- Entry Fee: Free
- Timings: 8.30 AM – 5 PM
- Distance from Hampi: 10 km from city centre
4. Old Palace
Old Palace of Hampi, also known as Gagan Mahal, was the residence of the Vijayanagara kingdom rulers. Its architectural grandeur, like many other Hampi monuments, boasts of the brilliance of the Vijayanagara empire.
It’s a beautiful, yellow-coloured building from the 16th century, and much of it is in ruins. But it’s one of the most beautiful historical places in Hampi. It has intricately decorated windows and tall towers at its corners.
It should definitely be on your list of places to visit in Hampi and nearby. You can still see the fragments of regal splendour that once graced this remarkable site.
- Entry Fee: Free
- Timings: 6 AM – 6 PM
- Distance from Hampi: 19 km from city centre
5. Royal Enclosure
Royal Enclosure is an expansive, walled complex that once used to be the ceremonial and administrative hub of the empire. It contains the ruins of several palaces, water tanks and temples, among other structures.
Mahanavami Dibba (or Dasara Dibba) is the most impressive structure in Royal Enclosure. It’s a high platform with carvings bordering it. Apart from that, there’s a large stepped tank nearby, and an underground chamber.
The Durbar Hall (or 100-Pillared Hall), granaries and water supply wells are other structures you can find here. During your visit, you can also see Hazara Rama Temple nearby.
- Entry Fee: Free
- Timings: 8 AM – 6 PM
- Distance from Hampi: 4 km from city centre
6. Zanana Enclosure
Situated close to Royal Enclosure is Zanana Enclosure. It’s a walled area that once housed the royal women. Each of the four corners had watch towers, but today, only three remain.
While the place was built during the Vijayanagara rule, the architecture here reflects a mix of Indian and Islamic styles. The queen’s palace’s basement is the largest palace base among the ruins in Hampi so far.
Lotus Mahal, treasury building and several other structures are part of Zanana Enclosure. A row of large chambers that used to house royal elephants is also nearby.
- Entry Fee: ₹10 per person
- Timings: 8 AM – 6 PM
- Distance from Hampi: 5 km from city centre
7. Ugra Narasimha Temple
Ugra Narasimha (also called Lakshmi Narasimha) is another major attraction of Hampi. The presiding deity here is Narasimha, an avatar of Vishnu who is half human and half lion.
The highlight of the temple is the statue of Narasimha. The deity is shown as sitting in a cross-legged position with a fierce expression on his face. It’s said to be one of the largest monolith statues in Hampi.
You should also visit Badavalinga Temple nearby. It’s a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, right next to Lakshmi Narasimha Temple. It has a Shivalinga carved out of a single black stone. It’s partly submerged in water inside a closed chamber.
- Entry Fee: Free
- Timings: 6 AM – 6 PM
- Distance from Hampi: Close to city centre
8. Kadalekalu Ganesha Temple
Another among the top 10 places to visit in Hampi is Kadalekalu Ganesha Temple. It’s a large hall with granite pillars and a Ganesha statue at one end. The temple got its name from the shape of the statue’s belly. It resembles kadalekalu (Bengal gram, in local language).
The temple is close to Ugra Narasimha Temple. The Lord Ganesha statue here is a tall monolithic statue. At 4.6 metres, it’s one of the highest statues of Ganesha in South India.
There’s also Sasivekalu Ganesha Temple nearby. It, too, has a Ganesha statue carved out of a huge boulder. It’s 2.5 metres high, about half the height of Kadalekalu Ganesha.
- Entry Fee: Free
- Timings: 6 AM – 6 PM
- Distance from Hampi: Close to city centre
9. Achyutaraya Temple
Also called Tiruvengalanatha Temple, Achyutaraya Temple is also among the major temples in Hampi. It’s dedicated to Lord Tiruvengalanatha (an avatar of Lord Shiva).
Although the temple is in ruins, you can still have a glimpse of its grandeur. It has maintained the elegance of the Vijayanagara’s architectural style while transitioning to a more modern form. It’s one of the last temples built during that period.
You can see detailed carvings on the temple pillars, walls and monolith blocks. Scenes from Ramayana and Mahabharata have also been elaborately carved. A magnificent idol of Lord Tiruvengalanatha was once established amidst a rectangular concentric structure.
- Entry Fee: Free
- Timings: 8 AM – 6 PM
- Distance from Hampi: 3 km from city centre
10. Hemakuta Hill Temples
Hemakuta Hill Temples is a cluster of temples and ruins near the city. The hill is dotted by structures like mandapas, galleries and gateways of various sizes. It also offers panoramic views of the monuments in Hampi and the surrounding landscape.
While many Hemakuta temples are dedicated to Lord Shiva, they’re also referred to as Jain Temples. They’ve been built throughout several centuries, and some of them are from the pre-Vijayanagara period.
Although the temple complex lies in ruins, the place has a charm that’s hard to resist. You need to climb stairs to reach the place.
- Entry Fee: Free
- Timings: 6 AM – 6 PM
- Distance from Hampi: 2 km from city centre
11. Prasanna Virupaksha Temple
Prasanna Virupaksha Temple is among the oldest ancient places to visit in Hampi. Prasanna Virupaksha is an avatar of Lord Shiva, and the temple is dedicated to him.
The temple is also known as Underground Shiva Temple. It has been built below the ground level, and you can reach the interior only after climbing down a series of stairs. Its sanctum, however, remains underwater and unreachable for the most part of the year.
It’s believed that Prasanna Virupaksha Temple was used for private ceremonies. Even if the temple is underground, its architecture is elaborate. Apart from the sanctum, it has a hall and a courtyard.
- Entry Fee: Free
- Timings: 6 AM – 6 PM
- Distance from Hampi: 3 km from city centre
12. Matanga Hill
Matanga Hill, being the highest point in Hampi, is a popular spot to watch the sunset over the ruins. It’s a picturesque destination from where you can also capture aerial views of the city. It offers breathtaking views of the landscape.
Atop the hill, there’s a small temple from where you can get panoramic views of Hampi and its surroundings. It’s one of the main places to visit in Hampi in the evening. A short trek takes you to the hilltop.
You’ll also find a small cave during your trek. It’s believed to be where King Sugriva (from the Hindu epic Ramayana) hid.
- Entry Fee: Free
- Timings: 6 AM – 6 PM
- Distance from Hampi: 2 km from city centre
13. Hampi Bazaar
Hampi Bazaar, also known as Virupaksha Bazaar, is a unique attraction of Hampi. It’s an ancient street, in front of Virupaksha Temple that stretches over a kilometre. It’s lined with ruins of pavilions, which were once part of a booming market and houses of rich merchants.
This marketplace used to have shops that sold jewellery, precious stones, silk clothes and other such luxury items during the Vijayanagara rule. It’s said that domesticated animals like cows and horses were also traded here.
A part of the place still functions as a marketplace, and it’s among the top shopping places to visit in Hampi. This vibrant local market has items like ethnic bags, traditional handicrafts and other souvenir items.
- Entry Fee: Free
- Timings: 6 AM – 11 PM
- Distance from Hampi: Close to city centre
14. Archaeological Museum
Although small, the archaeological museum of Hampi houses a number of historical artifacts and other exhibits found during excavation in Hampi. The gallery is divided into four main sections, each dedicated to a different set of exhibits.
Coins, statues and metal plates are among the several things kept in the museum. You can also see sculptures of various Hindu deities here. It’s one of the most exquisite tourist places in Hampi, especially for kids.
Scaled models of the city, along with all its historical monuments, are a must-see exhibit in this museum.
- Entry Fee: ₹5 per person
- Timings: 10 AM – 5 PM
- Distance from Hampi: 5 km from city centre
15. Hippie Island
Hippie Island (officially called Virupapura Gadde) is a riverside village across Tungabhadra River. It’s a quaint village that attracts tourists who want to enjoy a laid-back atmosphere. It’s for people who want to relax and unwind in Hampi.
You can find cafes to dine in and shacks to live in on the island itself. Then, you can shop for clothes, get massages or indulge in yoga.
It’s an offbeat tourist spot that’s full of different activities. And the quickest way to reach the place is via a coracle ride across the river.
- Entry Fee: Free
- Timings: 6 AM – 6 PM
- Distance from Hampi: Close to city centre
16. Sanapur Lake
Sanapur Lake is a serene lake near Hippie Island, perfect for a relaxing day and a refreshing swim. The lake is formed by the River Tungabhadra. And it’s one of the most idyllic tourist places in the region.
You can enjoy coracle rides in the lake or just sit at the banks enjoying the surrounding lush greenery. You can best enjoy the serene ambiance during the sunset hours. The lakeside area has ample space for you to unwind in the natural surroundings.
For the more adventurous, Sanapur Lake also offers cliff-jumping opportunities.
- Entry Fee: Free
- Timings: 6 AM – 6 PM
- Distance from Hampi: 5 km from city centre
17. Anegundi
Anegundi (previously called Kishkindha) is a historical village situated across Tungabhadra River. It’s believed to have been the kingdom of monkeys (ruled by King Sugriva) once, as mentioned in the Hindu epic Ramayana.
The village has its own unique cultural and historical heritage that captivates tourists. It’s dotted with ancient temples and archaeological ruins, and it’s worth exploring. It’s older than Hampi, and it’s often also considered the old Hampi.
The blend of mythology and archaeology in Anegundi has an irresistible allure, making it one of the best nearby places to visit in Hampi.
- Entry Fee: Free
- Timings: 6 AM – 6 PM
- Distance from Hampi: 20 km from city centre
18. Tungabhadra Dam
Tungabhadra Dam, built on Tungabhadra River, is a blend of natural beauty and human ingenuity. The scenic beauty around, with its lush greenery and serene waters, creates a tranquil setting for you to enjoy your vacation. It’s pure natural bliss.
The dam is one of the most romantic places to visit in and around Hampi. If you stay there until evening, make sure you watch the beautiful music fountain in the garden on its side.
Also, you can find boating opportunities on the way to the dam and nearby. A traditional coracle boat ride on the river offers a unique perspective of the surroundings.
- Entry Fee: ₹20 per person
- Timings: 8.30 AM – 7.30 PM
- Distance from Hampi: 27 km from city centre
19. Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary
Rich in Sloth Bears, Daroji Bear Sanctuary is a protected forest area near Hampi. And it’s a haven for nature enthusiasts and wildlife lovers. It’s one of the few places in India where you can observe Indian sloth bears in the wild.
You can see lovely Sloth bears strolling around and playing with each other. The place is spread across rugged hills and rocky outcrops, providing them a natural habitat.
The sanctuary was established in 1994, and today, it has over 100 sloth bears. A trip to the sanctuary can be a good break from the exploration of historic ruins. It also has other animal species like tiger, leopard and mongoose.
- Entry Fee: ₹50 per person
- Timings: 2 PM – 6 PM
- Distance from Hampi: 9 km from city centre
Hampi serves as a reminder of the grandeur and riches of the Vijayanagara empire. Sites like rock-cut temple complexes and sprawling residential enclosures are some of the best places to visit in Hampi with family. Whether you visit Vijay Vittala Temple or Kadalekalu Ganesha Temple, you can’t help but be in awe at their delicate carvings.
Even when these sites are in ruins, they show us the imagination and architectural capability of the bygone era. These stone structures are a witness to the rich history, culture and architecture of that period.
Plan your Hampi trip in winter (November-February) when the weather is pleasant. You can explore the ruins and other places to visit in and near Hampi properly during those days.
