The scale and spread of the sites in Hampi demands you to plan for

many days to explore Hampi. The following gives an idea on how to

plan your Hampi exploration strategy.
First decide how do you want to do it: walk, bicycle, moped, autorickshaw, car. There is even a buggy service available for a limited
stretch. And then there is a tonga (horse cart) option too. Keep in
mind entry of motor vehicles is restricted at many sites in Hampi.
The auto-rickshaw & car options are faster, but leaves out the thrill
of you 'exploring' the sites.
A very popular strategy is to hire a bicycle or moped(if you have less
energy/time!) to cover the distances and do it on foot.
See: Itinerary and Bicycle and Moped Rentals. By the way, if you are
looking for a one day whrilwind tour of Hampi, see the 1 Day Hampi
Itineary
For the sake of explenation here, we've divided the area into 5
clusters, each needs about 4 hours to explore. Also 5 tentative
routes are suggested. The clusters and the routes are marked on the
Itinerary map. Depending on your situation, you may need to
customize your plan, than say follow it verbatim as detailed here....
Route 1: Covers the Sacred Center surrounding the Virupaksha
Temple vicinity. Start from the Sasivekalu Ganesha pavilion on the
slops of the Hemakuta Hill facing the main road. This is on the south
end of the hill.
Climb up further (it's a gentle slope) to explore the Hemakuta Hill
Shrines in a south to north direction. (there are many temples and
gateways to see here).

Exit the Hemakuta Hill through a massive, incomplete tower on the

northern slops. You'll reach the main entrance tower of Virupaksha
Temple.
After Virupaksha Temple visit take the Hampi Bazaar and come
towards the Hampi Bus stand area. Head further south on the main
road. The Kadalekalu Ganesha and Sasivekalu Ganesha shrines
appears on your left, by the slops of the Hemakuta Hill.
Now you are back to the point where begin this walk. You may pick
up your bicycle/moped parked before venturing on to Hemakuta Hill,
and head for the Krishna Temple and the Krishna Bazaar located
southward. After this head further south till you spot the signboard
for the Lakshmi Narasimha Temple and the adjacent Badavilinga
shrine. Take a detour by walk (bikes/mopeds not allowed). Back to
the main road. Head further south. The road makes a bend around
the Chandikesvara Temple and the living Uddana Veerabhadra

Temple. You'll also spot a tall monolithic lamp-post by the corer of

the Chandikeshava Temple and a sati stone (memorial of wife who
burned herself in the pyre of her dead husband) beneath it. So this
is the culmination of your sacred center lap.
You can now head for the cluster 3, that is the Royal Center cluster.
This itinerary starts at Sisters Stones, which is about 500 meters/0.3
mile south.
You may even do the Route 1 in reverse direction, that is start from
Chandikeshava Temple and end at the Hampi Bazaar/Virupaksha
Temple locality.In this case you can proceed for the Route 2 or Route
5
Route 2:
This is a 3 km/2 miles walk, rather trek, from the Hampi Bazaar area
to the vicinity of the Vittala Temple. You'll essentially covering the
Riverside Ruins and large deal of monuments, boulder formations
and of course the river Tungabadra's gorge. No motor-able trails. At
the best you can carry your bicycle, if you are prepared to carry it
about half the route which is boulder strewn trails.
After Hampi Bazaar exploration head to the far end of the street
where you'll find the Monolithic Bull pavilion.
Right next to it is a flight of steps to a small hilltop where you'll find
a tiny Hanuman shrine with a beautiful image of Hanuman in the
boulder inside the shrine. As you descend, you'll be in the vicinity of
Achyuta Rayas Temple.
After the Achyuta Rayas Temple visit take the wide street in front of
it with ruined pavilions on either sides. This is the Courtesans Street.
Midway on this ancient street you'll find a restored temple pond
called Pushkarani.
Towards the end of the street on your right is the Rangatha Temple
with a large image of Lord Vishnu in reclining posture with his
consorts sitting by his feet. Nearby is the Varaha Temple with a
incomplete gateway where you'll find the Vijayanagara Emblem
engraved on it's gateway.
Take left after you exit the Courtesans Street. You'll find a few living
temples and shrines here. Visit the Kodandarama Temple facing the
river, Yantrodhara Anjaneya Temple a little up and behind
Kodandarama Temple and of course the Chakratirtha where the river
make a sprawling expanse before plunge through a narrow gorge.
You'll also find people offering coracle crossing or short coracle tour
(recommended) around this area.
Trace the riverbank eastward from here, you'll discover some
interesting carvings and shrines, like a 1008 and 108 siva linga
carved on a sheet of rock, a beautiful image of Parvati, avatars of
Vishnu etc. No marked trails. You need to scramble over the massive

heaps of boulders to explore the Riverside Ruins area. Leave the

bicycle back somewhere near the Kodandarama Temple or Varaha
Temple to be picked up after you've explored this boulder strewn
stretch of your itinerary.
You'll see the pyramid shaped tower of the Narasimha Temple up on
the gentle slops overlooking the river. Nearby is the Sugreevas Cave
with ocher and white stripes painted on the boulder. From the
vantage points of Narasimha Temple you can also get a fine wiew of
the rest of the trail ahead, including the remains of an Ancient
Bridge across the river. The trail now passes through a two storied
gateway and ends in the vicinity of Vittala Temple. Before that you'll
find a tall archway like structure popularly called the Kings Balance
made of slender boulder pillars. At the base of the King's Balance
you can find the image of Krishnadevraya, the most well known
kings of the empire. Other attractions around the Vittala Temple are
the Inscribed Vishnu Temple and the Purandradasa Mantapa by the
riverside.
Like mentioned in case of Route 1 , you may do Route 2 also in the
reverse direction, that is start from the Vittala Temple and end at
Hampi Bazaar. Reserve some 3-4 hours for this route.
Route 3:
This is a 3 km/2 miles or so trail where you'll explore the core of
Hampi's citadel. This area is called the Royal Center as most of the
imperial complexes of the erstwhile capital is located. You can take
bicycle/moped to most of the monuments in this trail. Some level of
walk is indeed needed.
Start from the Hampi main road at the Sister Stones , locally called
Akka Tangi Gudda .
This is a natural archway formed by two giant boulders one leaning
on the other. It's partly collapsed recently due to a fissure one one
of the boulders.
A little south, leave the main road and take the dirt track. You'll see
signposts for Royal Enclosure at the junction.
The next stop is the Underground Siva Temple a temple complex
located beneath the ground level.
A little ahead you'll pass Noblemens Quarters which is sprawling
residence complexes , only the foundations remain. The nobles of
the Vijayanagara court lived here.
Further ahead enter the walled complex called the Dannayaka
Enclosure where you'll find a maze of walls and basement of
erstwhile palaces. Not everything is marked with signposts.
At the corner of this enclosure is a massive watchtower called
Mohammadan Watch Tower with dome roof, a fine example of
Vijayanagara military architecture.

Deep inside this area explore the Band Tower, The Mosque , the Mint
area , Palace of Vira Harihara , Palace of Krishnadevaraya , a
number of ponds, a platform to alight from elephant etc.
Exit this enclosure and continue on the mud track that will join
another trail near the Hazara Rama Temple , which is one of the
main attractions in this area.
Facing Hazara Rama Temple is an ancient street curiously called Pan
Supari Bazaar (beetle-nut market) with a number of pavilions and
other ruined structures.
Near to Hazara Rama Temple is the entry to the Royal Enclosure ,
the citadel. Right next to the entry point look for the Large Stone
Trough used to hold water for the horses of the nobles attending the
court.
There numerous attractions inside the Royal Enclosure like the
geometrically thrilling stepped tank , the underground chamber
which served as the war room for secret discussions , massive
aquatic complexes, the king's audience hall and the tallest structure
the Mahanavami Dibba from which the king watched the military
parade .
Come out of Royal enclosure, you'll find two massive Stone Doors
kept near a tree.
Heading north will take you to another enclosed area called Zenena
Enclosure (the harem) and behind it the Elephant Stable and the
Ranga Temple all must visit attractions. You may plan to visit
Zenena Enclosure on the same day you've visit the Vittala Temple as
the tickets are valid for the same if used on the same day. (So these
two monuments are included in Route 4 itinerary )
From the Stone Doors if you head south, the mud track finally joins
the Hampi main road. At the junction is the Queens Bath used as
pleasure pavilion by the royal households.
After Queen's Bath take the main road and head towards
Kamalapura direction. You'll find a signboard for the Chandrashekara
Temple and the Octogonal Bath . From Chandrashekara Temple a
trail goes towards the Saraswathi Temple (Saraswathi Temple 2) on a
small hiltop. Further ahead on this trail is the Octogonal Bath and a
number of palace complexes . Only the basement of the palaces
remain, the Octogonal Bath is worth visiting.
If you scramble through the cowherds trails in this otherwise
featureless plains , you can reach the Srinagarada Hebbagailu which
was a massive gateway to the citadel on the Pan Supari Bazaar
mentioned earlier.
Route 4
The route starts with Zenena Enclosure in Royal Center and ends
with Vittala Temple complex. By far this is the longest route (about

10km/6miles).
The reason for clubbing these two monuments in one itinerary is to
save some ticket cost (Rs 10 for Indians and nationals of SAARC and
BIMSTEC countries ; others pay $5) . The ticket is valid for both
Zenena Enclosure and Vittala Temple , if used on the same day.
Otherwise , you can club Zenena Enclosure with Route 3 and Vittala
Temple with Route 2 , and manage the rest of attractions in Route 4
and separate short detours.
Anyways let's start with Zenena Enclosure are where the ticket
counter is located. After Zenena, visit the Elephant Stable (a must
visit) and the guard's quarters nearby. Behind this (a roundabout
path) is the Ranga Temple with a massive image of Hanuman.
Get back to the main road and head to the Kamalapura town square.
You'll find the Archeological Museum here. A large replica of the
Hampi's site is a valuable attraction here alson with display of many
Vijayanagara artifacts. They also sells a very compact Guide Book
on Hampi.
A scoop! If you are keen on a hidden gem of Hampi, head to the
Pattabhirama Temple from the museum , its further half km from the
museum on the same road. Go along the fringes of the village, after
about half km, appears a left diversion. On this diversion you'll see a
canal and a bridge shortly. Pattabhirama Temple's entry is just a few
meters from here.
Back to Kamalapura main road. Head towards Kampili on the main
road. In 1km you'll spot Ganigitti Temple on your right by the side of
the main road. A little off from this point is the Bhimas Gateway with
some beautiful mythical themes carved on the wall.
Back to the main road, another 1km towards Kampili, appears a Y
fork. The left goes to Vittala Temple. Otherwise continue straight on
the main road for Malyavanta Hill a recommended place to visit.
About half km from the Y fork you'll see the archway to the hilltop
Malayavanta Raghunatha Temple which is a living temple. There are
many things to see here esp. the carvings on the boulder, temple
architecture in which massive boulders in its natural position is
merged into the rest of the temple complex. A cave shrine under a
boulder and so on. The view of the valley from here is fabulous. The
plus is , you can take your moped/car all the way to the hilltop,
through it is a stiff climb.
Back to the Y fork to Vittala Temple. You'll pass numerous monument
structures, some unnamed and a few major ones before reaching
the Vittala Temple. Ahmed Khans Mosque and Tomb appears on
your left and you'll pass through Talarigatta Gate. After Gejjala
Mantapa take left for Vittala Temple or continue straight for the
coracle ferry point.

A wide pavilion lined street called Vittala Bazaar leads to Vittala

Temple. Somewhere midway on the Vittala Bazaar are Kudure
Gombe Mantapa and temple pond called Pushkarani which was the
venue for the boat festival. You'll need over an hour at least to visit
Vittala Temple complex.
So this is the end point for Route 4. Further you may take the Route
2 to Hampi Bazaar area. Or take the coracle ferry (mentioned just
above) which is your gateway point to Anegondi area exploration.
This is explained as Route 5.