If you stay in Hampi for a few days, you can spend a day cruising the countryside passing through villages, rice paddies, and more ruins.
On the island, scooters go for Rs. 150 for and 80cc and Rs. 250 for 125cc, plus Rs. 90 per liter of petrol. Petrol can be found for Rs. 77 per liter in a few towns around, so 1 liter is enough to get you going or you can get 2.5 liters to cover the whole trip.
We spent 8 hours making the clockwise loop.
1. Sunrise at Monkey temple on Anjanadri Hill
If you want to catch sunrise at the Monkey temple, then start about 40 minutes before the he sun comes up. Else start whenever you like.
If you want to catch sunrise at the Monkey temple, then start about 40 minutes before the he sun comes up. Else start whenever you like.
2. Pampa Sarovara
We missed this, but it is listed as a top spot.
We missed this, but it is listed as a top spot.
3. Anegundi: palace and temples
In the center is an old palace and a temple, and along the river are some temples. If you cruise down smaller streets, throngs of children will chase after you yelling "pen, school pen" or "rupees, 10 rupees". If you stop, there will be many a request for photos. These kids were particularly wild, hitting each other and me, grabbing the camera, yelling.
In the center is an old palace and a temple, and along the river are some temples. If you cruise down smaller streets, throngs of children will chase after you yelling "pen, school pen" or "rupees, 10 rupees". If you stop, there will be many a request for photos. These kids were particularly wild, hitting each other and me, grabbing the camera, yelling.
There is an ATM and a new cafe offering cooking classes, Ur cafe.
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| Turn off for Anegundi |
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| Gagan mahal |
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| Taken by the boy below, who was ready to snap 100s of photos at the temple near Gagan mahal |
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| He struck a number of poses with my sunglasses on. |
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| Wild children. They were so excited for photos. Grabbing the camera. Getting extreme close-ups. |
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| River view |
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| Ladies getting off the ferry from Hampi. Looks like you can cross with motorbikes. |
4. Stone cutting
A couple kilometers later, make a left onto a new road and then cross over the river. Just after the river, there are a number of people cutting stone into large rectangular pieces and smaller chunks. It was spectacular to see the large slabs turn into neatly cut pieces.
A couple kilometers later, make a left onto a new road and then cross over the river. Just after the river, there are a number of people cutting stone into large rectangular pieces and smaller chunks. It was spectacular to see the large slabs turn into neatly cut pieces.
5. Bukkasagara
While driving through here, I took a number of mental photos and regret not stopping to take some with the camera. The houses were particularly brightly painted. There was a cow standing in front of a bright yellow ad painted on a building, a girl swinging out front of her house. Probably a good spot to stop for a fresh lime soda.
While driving through here, I took a number of mental photos and regret not stopping to take some with the camera. The houses were particularly brightly painted. There was a cow standing in front of a bright yellow ad painted on a building, a girl swinging out front of her house. Probably a good spot to stop for a fresh lime soda.
6. Hotel restaurant
A bit outside of town on the right side is a hotel where a few motorcycles were parked outside. We stopped to ask for fresh lime soda, but they didn't have any. Could be a good spot for good though.
A bit outside of town on the right side is a hotel where a few motorcycles were parked outside. We stopped to ask for fresh lime soda, but they didn't have any. Could be a good spot for good though.
7. Kamalapura
We stopped at a spot near the bus stand for good Thali and masala dosa for Rs. 130.
We stopped at a spot near the bus stand for good Thali and masala dosa for Rs. 130.
8. Hospet
Getting through the town was a bit challenging, but asking folks for "dam" helped.
Getting through the town was a bit challenging, but asking folks for "dam" helped.
9. Tungabadhra dam
It looks like you can drive across the top. We missed the road and didn't go back for it, but the photo on Wikitravel looks cool.
It looks like you can drive across the top. We missed the road and didn't go back for it, but the photo on Wikitravel looks cool.
10. Shivapura
Take the road following the river towards Shivapura. Along the way are beautiful rice paddies. We saw folks pulling the rice out and they obliged us some photos.
Take the road following the river towards Shivapura. Along the way are beautiful rice paddies. We saw folks pulling the rice out and they obliged us some photos.
11. Harlapur
You'll come to a T in the road and hang right onto SH130 (aka main road). There is a town a bit further where the road makes and turn right and then left where you can get a cold drink for Rs. 18 ("2 rupees chilling and 2 ruppees profit") and take more photos. I was also offered a baby, who started crying. I think he was onto what was happening.
You'll come to a T in the road and hang right onto SH130 (aka main road). There is a town a bit further where the road makes and turn right and then left where you can get a cold drink for Rs. 18 ("2 rupees chilling and 2 ruppees profit") and take more photos. I was also offered a baby, who started crying. I think he was onto what was happening.
12. Sanapur
A few kilometers further is a lovely village. We had been passed by a rickshaw with 2 girls riding in the back and I was informed to "catch them" so we could get a photo. This resulted in them delightedly taking our photo as well. When they got out they asked, "you want to visit the village?" We thought too long and they said, "bye!" A bit further along we stopped for photos. There was a group of women sitting outside one house, men cooking in giant pots, and kids playing. I asked one of the kids if there was a party and she looked at me blankly. I pointed at the food and she said, "lunch." Seems they all eat together. These kids were excited for photos too, so I took a bunch. It was an interesting comparison to the kids in Anegondi. This group was much calmer.
A few kilometers further is a lovely village. We had been passed by a rickshaw with 2 girls riding in the back and I was informed to "catch them" so we could get a photo. This resulted in them delightedly taking our photo as well. When they got out they asked, "you want to visit the village?" We thought too long and they said, "bye!" A bit further along we stopped for photos. There was a group of women sitting outside one house, men cooking in giant pots, and kids playing. I asked one of the kids if there was a party and she looked at me blankly. I pointed at the food and she said, "lunch." Seems they all eat together. These kids were excited for photos too, so I took a bunch. It was an interesting comparison to the kids in Anegondi. This group was much calmer.
13. Sunset at Monkey temple on Anjanadri Hill
To see another firery red sun, climb up the mountain again before heading back to the island to return your scooter and catch the 7:30pm movie of the night.
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