An alternative to Hampi

whinger · Nov 3rd, 2009, 00:44

Unfortunately it looks like we cant make Hampi now as the trains are all full..

Can anyone recommend an alternive place to visit/stay which will offer us a different view of that part of india?

We plan to return to Goa later on our trip and have been there many times. Anywhere in Karnataka or Maharashtra would be nice..

Cheers

Indian_Larry · Nov 3rd, 2009, 06:50

Hampi is one of a kind place in the sense that the landscape and the stone ruins is really unique so there is no alternative to it in terms of the expeirence. But if you guys want to Travel out of Goa for awhile Karnataka has Gokarna and Jog Falls which you can visit.

rebeccam · Nov 3rd, 2009, 07:12

Maybe the historical temples at Belur and Halebid?

Hal · Nov 3rd, 2009, 08:22

Try the buses?

newislander · Nov 3rd, 2009, 09:06

Badami. I love badami. It is nothing like Hampi. The ruins are better. Almost no tourists. Very Indian. Some interesting landscape but differnent. No river.

Badami, Aihole and Pattadakal that is.

Otherwise you can take the bus to hampi. Karnataka is flat. So your bus driver won't drive over a cliff. Don't sit up the front though. Sit in the middle.

newislander · Nov 3rd, 2009, 09:07

Coorg is another nice area. Access via Mysore. Its quite different from everywhere else. Green. Tropical. You can go trekking or stay in a nice homestay. Don't stay in Madikeri for more than one night. Get there by bus.

Khak · Nov 3rd, 2009, 10:30

interesting observation

Quote:

Originally Posted by newislander

Karnataka is flat. So your bus driver won't drive over a cliff. .

abhirama · Nov 3rd, 2009, 15:15

If you are looking for temple architecture then I second Belur and Halebidu. In Hassan district there are tons of lesser known Hoysala temples where the usual tourists do not tread.

Jorge Reverter · Nov 3rd, 2009, 15:37

I also think Badami is a great place to stay. Aihole and Pattadakal are a must but there are other interesting villages with monuments like Banarshakan, Chalchiguda and Mahakita deserves a visit.

Hampi is an exceptional site but there is life outside.

Jorge

whinger · Nov 3rd, 2009, 18:08

Thanks folks, thats great stuff.

The great news is we managed to get train reservations for Hampi last night.... Phew..

....

We are now there for 5 days, which is enough - we did plan for three but there is no seat availabilty on the return trains - so we had to extend the trip.

Now I'm looking for places to see in and around Hampi - Thanks for all your help though...

Cheers

Jim

Hal · Nov 3rd, 2009, 19:52

If you stay across the river for at least a couple of days and take scooters out into the countryside you won't regret it. There are banana plantations, rice fields, a huge reservoir and canals, cave paintings, the monkey temple high on a hill and villages full of friendly people. I enjoyed it as much or more than touring Hampi.

hash666 · Nov 3rd, 2009, 20:45

Also gokarna and karwar.. close to Goa..

whinger · Nov 4th, 2009, 01:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hal

If you stay across the river for at least a couple of days and take scooters out into the countryside you won't regret it. There are banana plantations, rice fields, a huge reservoir and canals, cave paintings, the monkey temple high on a hill and villages full of friendly people. I enjoyed it as much or more than touring Hampi.

That's fantastic info. Once we had got our train reservation, that is exactly what we wanted to do.

Thank you

newislander · Nov 4th, 2009, 08:09

I agree with Hal. Also take your scooter up to Anegundi. Its a village. And go further if you want. Go to the city of gangavati on your bikes. Just go anywhere. Hampi is chockablock full of foreign tourists. Its good to get away. There's the Hanuman temple you can climb up to on the way to Anegundi. You will get the gist of the place when you get there.

steven_ber · Nov 4th, 2009, 10:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by newislander

Hampi is chockablock full of foreign tourists.

I understand the point you're trying to make, but the above quote would have been enough to put me off going to Hampi, and after all, most visitors to Hampi will be heading there from Goa.

The hotel areas and half of the main bazzaar had lots of tourists, but once you head of on a walk in any direction you will be mostly alone, and that was one of the wonderful things about the place.

Nov 3rd, 2009, 00:44	#1
whinger Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Yorkshire, UK Posts: 48	An alternative to Hampi Unfortunately it looks like we cant make Hampi now as the trains are all full.. Can anyone recommend an alternive place to visit/stay which will offer us a different view of that part of india? We plan to return to Goa later on our trip and have been there many times. Anywhere in Karnataka or Maharashtra would be nice.. Cheers

Nov 3rd, 2009, 15:15	#8
abhirama Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 10	If you are looking for temple architecture then I second Belur and Halebidu. In Hassan district there are tons of lesser known Hoysala temples where the usual tourists do not tread. __________________ Cheers, Abhi http://abhirama.wordpress.com/category/travel/

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Nov 3rd, 2009, 06:50	#2
Indian_Larry Biking and Living in Mother India Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Bangalore, India Posts: 15	Hampi is one of a kind place in the sense that the landscape and the stone ruins is really unique so there is no alternative to it in terms of the expeirence. But if you guys want to Travel out of Goa for awhile Karnataka has Gokarna and Jog Falls which you can visit.

Nov 3rd, 2009, 07:12	#3
rebeccam Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Oakland, California, USA Posts: 336	Maybe the historical temples at Belur and Halebid?

Nov 3rd, 2009, 08:22	#4
Hal . . . _ _ _ . . . Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Toronto Posts: 2,303	Try the buses?

Nov 3rd, 2009, 09:06	#5
newislander Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Australia Posts: 67	Badami. I love badami. It is nothing like Hampi. The ruins are better. Almost no tourists. Very Indian. Some interesting landscape but differnent. No river. Badami, Aihole and Pattadakal that is. Otherwise you can take the bus to hampi. Karnataka is flat. So your bus driver won't drive over a cliff. Don't sit up the front though. Sit in the middle.

Nov 3rd, 2009, 09:07	#6
newislander Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Australia Posts: 67	Coorg is another nice area. Access via Mysore. Its quite different from everywhere else. Green. Tropical. You can go trekking or stay in a nice homestay. Don't stay in Madikeri for more than one night. Get there by bus.

Nov 3rd, 2009, 15:37	#9
Jorge Reverter Maha Guru Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Murcia - Spain Posts: 1,466	I also think Badami is a great place to stay. Aihole and Pattadakal are a must but there are other interesting villages with monuments like Banarshakan, Chalchiguda and Mahakita deserves a visit. Hampi is an exceptional site but there is life outside. Jorge

Nov 3rd, 2009, 18:08	#10
whinger Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Yorkshire, UK Posts: 48	Thanks folks, thats great stuff. The great news is we managed to get train reservations for Hampi last night.... Phew.. .... We are now there for 5 days, which is enough - we did plan for three but there is no seat availabilty on the return trains - so we had to extend the trip. Now I'm looking for places to see in and around Hampi - Thanks for all your help though... Cheers Jim

Nov 3rd, 2009, 19:52	#11
Hal . . . _ _ _ . . . Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Toronto Posts: 2,303	If you stay across the river for at least a couple of days and take scooters out into the countryside you won't regret it. There are banana plantations, rice fields, a huge reservoir and canals, cave paintings, the monkey temple high on a hill and villages full of friendly people. I enjoyed it as much or more than touring Hampi.

Nov 3rd, 2009, 20:45	#12
hash666 Lord of the Flames Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Land of the Free Posts: 370	Also gokarna and karwar.. close to Goa..

Nov 4th, 2009, 08:09	#14
newislander Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Australia Posts: 67	I agree with Hal. Also take your scooter up to Anegundi. Its a village. And go further if you want. Go to the city of gangavati on your bikes. Just go anywhere. Hampi is chockablock full of foreign tourists. Its good to get away. There's the Hanuman temple you can climb up to on the way to Anegundi. You will get the gist of the place when you get there.