Solapur to Bijapur to Hospet/Hampi Advice

adussias · Jun 20th, 2008, 00:37

My family and I will be visiting Bijapur and Hampi in August.

We will be arriving in Solapur by train from Pune. We have read that we can reach Bijapur from Solapur by bus or by train. I've checked out the train service, but wondered if anyone had advice on bus service (what's available? service and road quality/conditions? need to book in advance?) and on bus/train pros and cons.

After a couple of days in Bijapur, we plan to move on to Hospet and visit Hampi. I was hoping for some advice on the best way to do that. I've read there's bus service that takes about 4 hours. Has anyone taken the bus from Bijapur to Hospet and can offer advice?

Or are we best off hiring a car and driver for either or both of these trips? There are 5 of us (husband and me, father-in-law, and 2 kids, ages 7 & 9) so we'd probably need a small van (Maruti?).

Oh, and any suggestions for hotels in Solapur, Bijapur, and Hospet would be welcome, too!

Grateful for any advice,

Allison in Boston, MA, USA

aadil · Jun 20th, 2008, 00:51

It would be best by train from Solapur to Bijapur and then onwards to Hospet and Hampi. It is better to stay in Hampi than in Hospet. There is only one hotel in Hampi which is run by the KSTDC called the Mayura Bhuvaneshwari and is not exactly in Hampi village but a little away but nearer to the Vithala temple complex. You will only find guest houses in Hampi village and on the other side of the river. The rates vary according to the season and can vary from around Rs200 to Rs1000 depending on the vacancy status during festival times. The KSTDC prices are more stable from around Rs500 to 2500 depending on the type of room.

Cheers,
Aadil.

capt_mahajan · Jun 20th, 2008, 00:59

=crossposted =

I would consider the car hire. Not a maruti van. Too many people and not suited for highway driving. 5 of you (plus a driver) will mean an Innova or thereabouts.

Pune Sholapur is 250km on NH9, good condition. This is the Hyderabad Bombay Highway
Sholapur/Bijapur is 100 and a state highway, the four or five times I have used it has been more than satisfactory. 2 hour drive. Sholapur has a few tolerable hotels just off the Mumbai highway, in case/

Bijapur has a couple of hotels in the centre of the city.. can't remember names, but old style and quaint. The Adil Shahi (state government owned hotel) is not a bad option.

Bijapur to Hampi roads are not as good as the ones towards Mumbai and Hyderabad, but still better than many others around Hampi/Hospet/Gooty. No problems. About 250 km again.

Sorry can't help with Hampi hotels, rarely stay in one.

The car will be really useful at Hampi, too, btw. I would recommend that instead of buses with kids and father in law

I would start early am (4 or 5?) and reach Bijapur at or after lunch.

On the way back, too, overnight at Bijapur or Sholapur would be a good idea.

vonkla · Jun 25th, 2008, 00:27

We did a similar trip in early 2007.

From Solapur to Bijapur we took the train, it is about 3 hours. In Bijapur we stayed in Sanmat hotel opposite the Gol Gumbaz. We had a fair room for 350 rs. Somewhat further there we discovered a probably better hotel.

After a few days we hired a car and went to Badami. Since we were with two people we took an Ambassador for 1200 rs. The ride took 3 hours. In Badami we stayed in the KSTDC hotel, with rooms for 400 rs.

A few days later we hired another car for 1600 rs and after 4 hours we are in Kamalpur where the KSTDC hotel for Hampi is located, prices 900 for a non AC and 1200 for an AC room.

For more detailed information follow the link below for our travel journal.

snonymous · Jun 27th, 2008, 12:31

Have a look at this site for trains to Bijapur:
http://bijapur.nic.in/images/imp_train_timings.htm

In 2002 we did a road trip in reverse and stayed at the Mayura hotel at Bijapur, the Mayura Hotel at Hospet [most convenient for Hampi visit], Mayura at Belur [Halebid Belur temples] both run by the state owned Karnataka Tourism. The hotels were modestly priced, basic but clean with excellent meals. We enjoyed our trip immensely.

Check these sites for more info.
http://www.hotelskarnataka.com/kstdchotels.htm
http://karnatakatourism.org

If you are 5 people, a Tavera or Sumo will be more comfy than a Maruti van because the road conditions are not particularly good.

Jun 20th, 2008, 00:37	#1
adussias Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: US Posts: 28	Solapur to Bijapur to Hospet/Hampi Advice My family and I will be visiting Bijapur and Hampi in August. We will be arriving in Solapur by train from Pune. We have read that we can reach Bijapur from Solapur by bus or by train. I've checked out the train service, but wondered if anyone had advice on bus service (what's available? service and road quality/conditions? need to book in advance?) and on bus/train pros and cons. After a couple of days in Bijapur, we plan to move on to Hospet and visit Hampi. I was hoping for some advice on the best way to do that. I've read there's bus service that takes about 4 hours. Has anyone taken the bus from Bijapur to Hospet and can offer advice? Or are we best off hiring a car and driver for either or both of these trips? There are 5 of us (husband and me, father-in-law, and 2 kids, ages 7 & 9) so we'd probably need a small van (Maruti?). Oh, and any suggestions for hotels in Solapur, Bijapur, and Hospet would be welcome, too! Grateful for any advice, Allison in Boston, MA, USA

Jun 20th, 2008, 00:51	#2
aadil Aircraft Service Engineer, Astronomer & Traveller Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Mumbai, India. (Lat 18.967 N, Long 72.833 E, Alt 11 m) Posts: 1,802	It would be best by train from Solapur to Bijapur and then onwards to Hospet and Hampi. It is better to stay in Hampi than in Hospet. There is only one hotel in Hampi which is run by the KSTDC called the Mayura Bhuvaneshwari and is not exactly in Hampi village but a little away but nearer to the Vithala temple complex. You will only find guest houses in Hampi village and on the other side of the river. The rates vary according to the season and can vary from around Rs200 to Rs1000 depending on the vacancy status during festival times. The KSTDC prices are more stable from around Rs500 to 2500 depending on the type of room. Cheers, Aadil. __________________ Climb high; climb far; Your goal, the sky, Your aim, the stars!!!

Jun 25th, 2008, 00:27	#4
vonkla Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: netherland Posts: 140	We did a similar trip in early 2007. From Solapur to Bijapur we took the train, it is about 3 hours. In Bijapur we stayed in Sanmat hotel opposite the Gol Gumbaz. We had a fair room for 350 rs. Somewhat further there we discovered a probably better hotel. After a few days we hired a car and went to Badami. Since we were with two people we took an Ambassador for 1200 rs. The ride took 3 hours. In Badami we stayed in the KSTDC hotel, with rooms for 400 rs. A few days later we hired another car for 1600 rs and after 4 hours we are in Kamalpur where the KSTDC hotel for Hampi is located, prices 900 for a non AC and 1200 for an AC room. For more detailed information follow the link below for our travel journal. __________________ . See our travel journal Mumbai-Dehli in three months

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Jun 20th, 2008, 00:59	#3
capt_mahajan (in charge of navel affairs) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 9,729	=crossposted = I would consider the car hire. Not a maruti van. Too many people and not suited for highway driving. 5 of you (plus a driver) will mean an Innova or thereabouts. Pune Sholapur is 250km on NH9, good condition. This is the Hyderabad Bombay Highway Sholapur/Bijapur is 100 and a state highway, the four or five times I have used it has been more than satisfactory. 2 hour drive. Sholapur has a few tolerable hotels just off the Mumbai highway, in case/ Bijapur has a couple of hotels in the centre of the city.. can't remember names, but old style and quaint. The Adil Shahi (state government owned hotel) is not a bad option. Bijapur to Hampi roads are not as good as the ones towards Mumbai and Hyderabad, but still better than many others around Hampi/Hospet/Gooty. No problems. About 250 km again. Sorry can't help with Hampi hotels, rarely stay in one. The car will be really useful at Hampi, too, btw. I would recommend that instead of buses with kids and father in law I would start early am (4 or 5?) and reach Bijapur at or after lunch. On the way back, too, overnight at Bijapur or Sholapur would be a good idea.

Jun 27th, 2008, 12:31	#5
snonymous Maha Guru Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 707	Have a look at this site for trains to Bijapur: http://bijapur.nic.in/images/imp_train_timings.htm In 2002 we did a road trip in reverse and stayed at the Mayura hotel at Bijapur, the Mayura Hotel at Hospet [most convenient for Hampi visit], Mayura at Belur [Halebid Belur temples] both run by the state owned Karnataka Tourism. The hotels were modestly priced, basic but clean with excellent meals. We enjoyed our trip immensely. Check these sites for more info. http://www.hotelskarnataka.com/kstdchotels.htm http://karnatakatourism.org If you are 5 people, a Tavera or Sumo will be more comfy than a Maruti van because the road conditions are not particularly good.

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