February 29, 2016

My TripAdvisor Review No.162: Elephant Stables, Hampi.

“Best Preserved of the Hampi Monuments.”
4 of 5 starsReviewed 2 days agoNEW
This is one of the best preserved of the Hampi monuments. It is situated in a nice garden setting at the far end of the Zenana Enclosure.

It was meant for the royal elephants. There are 11 stables here, set in a symmetrical row around a larger central hall. They are all connected with small doors at the rear, probably meant for the mahouts. The ceilings are dome shaped in Islamic style.
Visited January 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

February 27, 2016

My TripAdvisor Review No.161: Vithala Temple Complex, Hampi, Karnataka.

“Fine Monuments with Exquisite Carvings.”
5 of 5 starsReviewed 2 days agoNEW
The Vijaya Vithala Temple is one of the finest examples of the exquisite carvings that the Hampi temples are known for. One is greeted by the magnificent stone chariot in the temple courtyard. It is believed that chariot could be moved by just pushing it, but now it is prohibited. The temple itself has got 56 exquisitely carved musical pillars which emit musical notes when struck. There is also a ‘King’s Balance’ nearby, where the King used to be weighed in gold, coins or food-grains, and this was distributed among the poor on some religious occasions.

One has to either take a battery operated golf cart or bus, or walk the 1 km distance to the site from the parking area. There is a Re.10 fee for the state run vehicles, and another Re.10 fee to enter this site. The latter fee is also valid for the Lotus Mahal and the Hampi Museum, so preserve the ticket if you happen to visit them on the same day.
Visited January 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

February 26, 2016

My TripAdvisor Review No.160: Vijayanagar (Hampi), Karnataka, India.

“The City of Victory, now in Ruins.”
5 of 5 starsReviewed yesterdayNEW
Vijayanagar literally means the City of Victory. But it was defeated in 1565 by the Deccan Sultanates of Central India. The beautiful temples, palaces and exquisitely carved monuments of the Vijayanagar Empire now lie in ruins amongst the giant boulderd landscape of Northern Karnataka in South India, near the industrial towns of Bellary and Hospet.

The capital city of Vijayanagar came to be known as Hampi. It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The splendidly built temples, palaces and structures have beautiful carvings and uniquely breathtaking architecture. It has also been an important religious centre for the Hindus from ancient times.

Even though the city was plundered and destroyed for more than 6 months in 1565, many of the structures still stand tall and proud in this uniquely beautiful landscape of boulders, green fields and farmland. The Tungabhadra River meanders through this enchanting land.

Any visitor to Hampi will be truly captivated by the awe inspiring views of a once glorious empire.
Visited January 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

February 24, 2016

My TripAdvisor Review No.159: Virupaksha Temple, Hampi, Karnataka.

“Main Temple of Hampi.”
4 of 5 starsReviewed yesterdayNEW
The Virupaksha Temple is the main temple of Hampi, situated very close to the Hampi Bazaar on the south bank of the Tungabhadra River. It is a live temple in the sense that worship and prayers are still carried out inside the temple, in contrast to the other monuments of Hampi.

The presiding deity is Lord Shiva. The temple is believed to be functioning since the 7th century AD. Other shrines have been added around the main sanctum, principal among these being the sub shrines of Goddess Pampa and Bhuvaneshwari, consorts of Lord Shiva.

Around the temple area is the parking lot where you can hire auto-rickshaws and guides for Hampi. There is also a tourist office where you can buy guide books and maps of Hampi. One has to be careful of the aggressive langur monkeys in the temple complex, especially if you have edible items like bananas. Lakshmi, the temple elephant blesses you when you give her a banana or money.
Visited January 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

February 23, 2016

My TripAdvisor Review No.158: Statue of Ugra Narasimha, Hampi.

“Iconic Idol of Hampi.”
4 of 5 starsReviewed yesterdayNEW
The statue of Ugra Narasimha at Hampi is one of the most iconic idols of Hampi. It is also one of the biggest monolithic idols of Hampi and is 6.7 metres tall. It is one of the finest examples of sculptures of the Vijayanagara Kingdom.

The idol of Narasimha represents the fourth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, and his body is half human and half lion. He is seated on the coils of the sacred guardian snake with its seven hoods acting as a protective canopy covering his head. The statue has been severely damaged and its four arms are broken. The seated figure of his consort Lakshmi is also missing.

The statue was carved by a priest during the reign of Krishnadevaraya in 1528 AD.
Visited January 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

February 21, 2016

My TripAdvisor Review No.157: Tungabhadra River at Hampi, Karnataka.

“No Bridges on this River at Hampi,”
4 of 5 starsReviewed 6 days agoNEW
The Tungabhadra River meanders through the town of Hampi, flowing all the way from the Tungabhadra Dam in Hospet about 15 km away. Here at Hampi it becomes more like a beautiful rivulet, sometimes wide, sometimes narrow. It twists and turns around the boulders and rock strewn hills of Hampi, it's old and ruined monuments, and past the green fields and coconut trees around Hampi.

Since Hampi has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site, the construction of bridges on the river has been prohibited near the monuments. If you are staying across the river, the only way to visit the monuments on the Southern side is by crossing in a ferry or a coracle. There are regular ferries, more like large motor boats, which get you across for a Re.10 fee. They depart when they get filled with about 15 to 20 passengers. The other option is to travel back to Hospet and then to Hampi by road which is a 25 km long route.

A coracle boat, which looks more like a huge basket made of natural materials, is another unique way to explore the riverside monuments of Hampi.
Visited January 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

February 15, 2016

My TripAdvisor Review No.156: Sanapur Lake, Hampi, Karnataka.

“Good Views of Sunrise and Sunset.”
4 of 5 starsReviewed 2 days agoNEW
This lake is on the other side of the Tungabhadra River from Hampi, and about 5 km from Virupapur Gadde. After crossing the river take a left turn on reaching the main road and travel another 4 km till you reach Sanapur village. Turn right and cross the village to climb up till you reach the wall of the reservoir. You will see a vast expanse of calm water surrounded by hills piled high with huge boulders.

We were staying at a Resort within walking distance of the lake. It was great going for morning and evening walks to the lake to witness good views of the sunrise and sunsets, as well as the surrounding landscape of boulder strewn hills and green fields.

This is a little known lake and not a regular place on the Hampi tourist circuit. It is actually a reservoir formed by the overflow from the Tungabhadra dam, and serves as the catchment for the water supply to the nearby villages.

It is worth a visit if you are staying in the Anegundi side of Hampi, or have a more relaxed itinerary.
Visited January 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

February 14, 2016

My TripAdvisor Review No.155: Pampa Sarovar, Hampi, Karnataka, India.

“Sacred Lake where Shabari met Lord Rama.”
 
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 2 days ago NEW
This lake is located about 1 km from the Anjaneya (Hanuman) Temple going towards Anegundi. You have to take a right turn off the main road and go into the forests till you reach this small lake surrounded by dense trees. There is an ancient Laxmi Temple and one devoted to Lord Shiva and his consort Parvathi (Pampa). The shrine is probably older than many of the monuments of Hampi. It is on the other side of the Tungabhadra River from Hampi.

Legend has it that Shabari, an ardent devotee of Lord Rama, waited many years at her ashram near this site to meet him. Finally one day, in his quest for his wife Sita, Lord Rama was passing through this forest with his brother Laxman, when Shabari met them and offered them the berries she had plucked from the forests. She offered him the sweetest berries which she had tasted and Lord Rama accepted them because of her devotion.

Under a nearby mango tree there is a vermillion coloured idol of Lord Ganesha. One can sit under a tree or near the sacred lake and meditate in the calm and peaceful atmosphere.
Visited January 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

February 13, 2016

My TripAdvisor Review No.154: Monkey Temple, Hampi, Karnataka.

“Birthplace of Lord Hanuman.”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 2 days ago NEW
This hill is clearly visible from most parts of Hampi as it has a white painted temple on the top. As you approach closer you can see the white and red painted steps leading up to the top of the heap of giant boulders piled upon each other.

The hill is actually known as the Anjaneya Hill since Lord Hanuman is supposed to have been born to Anjani Mata here. Only the foreign tourists call it the monkey hill because they get to see a lot of friendly monkeys as they make their pilgrimage to the top.

You get a 360 degree sweeping view of the ruins of Hampi, with the Tungabhadra River meandering through the boulder strewn landscape. In addition there is a pious temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman where you can pay your respects to the Monkey God, as well as to Lord Ram, Sita Mata and Brother Laxman.

There are over 550 steps to climb to get to the top, but it’s really worth the effort. It can take anywhere between 20 minutes to an hour depending on your level of fitness. It’s best to do this climb early morning or evening and get to witness a beautiful sunrise or sunset. Keep in mind that this hill is on the other side of the river from Hampi, so budget about half an hour for the crossing. Carry drinking water and some snacks with you. There are some stalls at the bottom of the hill where you can buy them.

In my opinion a climb to the top of Anjaneya Hill is like the icing on top of the cake of your Hampi visit. Keep aside one evening (or morning) just to do it.
Visited January 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

February 12, 2016

My TripAdvisor Review No.153: Hotel Brindavan, Dharwad, Karnataka.

“An Excellent Budget Hotel.”
5 of 5 starsReviewed 2 days agoNEW
This hotel is an excellent budget hotel to break journey if you are travelling from Mumbai or Pune to Bangalore by road. Dharwad lies exactly midway between Pune and Bangalore on the NH4 highway. You have to leave the highway and drive in about 6 km into Dharwad city to reach the Court Circle where this hotel is located.

Though we did not have a booking we were immediately allotted a non a/c deluxe room at a very reasonable rate. There was a basement car parking which can easily accommodate about 10 cars. The room was spacious and well ventilated. The furniture and fixtures were relatively new and there was an LCD TV with a satellite connection. The bathroom was large and clean.

There was a South Indian Fast Food restaurant on the ground floor which seemed quite popular with the local crowd. We had our dinner there and were quite satisfied with the taste of their butter dosas. Service was fast and courteous.

All in all it was a value for money stay. I would definitely stop here again if I have to break journey at Dharwad.
  • Stayed January 2016, travelled as a couple
    • 5 of 5 stars
      Location
    • 5 of 5 stars
      Rooms
    • 4 of 5 stars
      Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

February 11, 2016

My TripAdvisor Review No.152: Sagar Hotel, Hampi Bazaar.

“Best Breakfast Eatery in Hampi”
4 of 5 starsReviewed 2 days agoNEW
We arrived early in Hampi Bazaar for a day of sight-seeing so we asked our local guide to take us to a good place for a quick South Indian breakfast. He brought us to this small eatery, which was more like a food stall cum kitchen, which was ‘manned’ by about 4 or 5 ladies, just outside their residence, in a small lane.

There was a makeshift table with some plastic chairs to sit on. Idlis, dosas, gundalpangalas, chilly bhajjis were served up in a jiffy, followed by filter coffee in a paper cup.

It was one of the tastiest, cheapest and quickest South Indian breakfasts we have ever had.
  • Visited January 2016
    • 5 of 5 stars
      Value
    • 4 of 5 stars
      Service
    • 5 of 5 stars
      Food
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC

February 10, 2016

My TripAdvisor Review No.151: Mango Tree Restaurant, Hampi, Karnataka.

“Colourful Ambience Appropriate for Hampi”
5 of 5 starsReviewed yesterdayNEW
Our guide at Hampi took us straight to this restaurant in Hampi Bazaar when we asked for a good place for lunch. There were proper dining tables with chairs, as well as tables at a lower level with mattress and cushions to have a more relaxed meal. Though the restaurant was large and crowded, everything was neat, clean and well organised. Service was prompt and efficient.

I ordered a ‘Mango Tree special vegetarian thali’ and my wife asked for ‘alu paratha’ which is referred to as the ‘Indian Breakfast’ by the foreigners in Hampi. The food tasted good. We also had a glass of ‘salted lassi’ each (thick and creamy buttermilk). We quite enjoyed our lunch.

The restaurant does cater to the foreign tourists too, specially the breakfast menu.

The restaurant gets crowded at meal times, and you may have to share your table or wait your turn in a queue, so arrive early.
  • Visited January 2016
    • 4 of 5 stars
      Value
    • 4 of 5 stars
      Service
    • 5 of 5 stars
      Food
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC