Hampi: Everything you want to know.

Hal · Sep 30th, 2009, 19:41

One advantage of being across the river is you can rent a scooter at your guest house and head out into the countryside, which is beautiful. But the Bazaar side would be best for early mornings. I remember wandering among the hill temples when I arrived at 5am. Just me and a few drowsy monkeys.

yathri · Oct 7th, 2009, 05:29

The guest house around Hampi Bazaar are not very quite. May be that I could not find one! I would suggest that you look around Hampi bazaar and try to find a quiet one. You may have to hire a room, put your luggage there and then search for a quieter place. "Mango Tree" which is located behind Virupaksha Temple (walk along the sacred bath) is a quiet place.

Virupapur Gaddi offers you very good sunrise/sunset but not among the ruins.

Matunga Hill would be perfect for a sunrise/sunset. However, after dark, it would be very tricky to come down. It is dangerous/scary just before the summit. You can settle for sunrise here. Sunset at Hemakuta hill is just perfect and it is so close to Virupaksha Temple. You can stay here till the end of sunset without any fear.

Ali-Monbeam · Oct 10th, 2009, 22:31

We are staying over the river and wondered what happens when you need to leave to catch train home...are there taxis? we need to be at Hospet for 6.00 ish am.

machadinha · Oct 10th, 2009, 22:39

Hm. I think I might consider staying the night in Hospet, to get some rest & catch that train.

(I was thinking I'd point you to a thread where it's been discussed before. Turns out that's your own thread though

: How do we get home from Hampi ?

Mind you, I was there in 1993 or so, maybe some others can give you the current lowdown. It used to be there were only tiny coracle boats across the river, not something I'd bet my life on in the middle of the night to then move on and catch my train. Don't know about today though.)

Hal · Oct 10th, 2009, 23:06

I don't think the boats run after dark. (These days they are motor boats)

yathri · Oct 13th, 2009, 03:28

The last boat (motorized boats) is at 6 pm. The first boat is after 7 am (not punctual!). There is one more way to get out of Virupapur Gadde, that is, to catch a bus on the other side near the old stone bridge (Bukka's Aquaduct). I am not sure of the bus timings. There would not be any bus in the night. You can book a taxi from Virupapur Gaddi and travel! However, if the water level is higher, there may not be any boat at all to cross the river. Watch out for the weather report!

skk · Oct 13th, 2009, 10:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ali-Monbeam

We are staying over the river and wondered what happens when you need to leave to catch train home...are there taxis? we need to be at Hospet for 6.00 ish am.

We went to Hospet the late morning before, left our cases at the left luggage at Hospet station ( open 24 hrs); had already arranged with the same rikshaw driver we used to get us to Hospet to hang around and to take us to TB dam for 3 hours or so, then to drop us off for the evening onwards in a nice bar/restaurant at the Maligi hotel and then the hotel got us a rikshaw to take us down to Hospet station around 11 pm at night.

We spend the next 5 hours at the station in the very nice, empty air-conditioned waiting room - you are entitled to do so if you travel 2A or better; stretched out on the sofas and slept till our train arrived at 4 am or so.

Its still a bit of a drag of course but not as big a hassle as I'd expected.

When I wandered around Hospet railway station I noticed that the first floor( the one above the ground floor ) had rooms - looked sort of like hotel rooms to me. If you explore that aspect tell us what the score is.

-skk

Brisso · Oct 13th, 2009, 11:36

Arrange with a rickshaw driver to collect you at 5 am for the drive to Hospet. They will ask 200 - you might be able to haggle.

machadinha · Oct 13th, 2009, 18:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by skk

When I wandered around Hospet railway station I noticed that the first floor( the one above the ground floor ) had rooms - looked sort of like hotel rooms to me. If you explore that aspect tell us what the score is.

These would be known as railway retiring rooms, and are found at many non-totally-minor stations. I've never used them yet, but for what little I know about them, see also my thoughts here: Train Varanasi-Gaya-Calcutta dangerous?

Ali-Monbeam · Oct 13th, 2009, 20:42

I forgot i had posted that....

we had to cancel the last trip due to train not getting confirmed.

this time tho all is ok...no waitlisted train..thanks for the replies tho, great help.

Oct 10th, 2009, 22:31	#228
Ali-Monbeam Less of the 'Senior' member! Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Bradford Posts: 881	We are staying over the river and wondered what happens when you need to leave to catch train home...are there taxis? we need to be at Hospet for 6.00 ish am. __________________ (~) <.....Place holder for a small animated cow.

Oct 10th, 2009, 22:39	#229
machadinha brother my cup is empty member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 14,391	Hm. I think I might consider staying the night in Hospet, to get some rest & catch that train. (I was thinking I'd point you to a thread where it's been discussed before. Turns out that's your own thread though : How do we get home from Hampi ? Mind you, I was there in 1993 or so, maybe some others can give you the current lowdown. It used to be there were only tiny coracle boats across the river, not something I'd bet my life on in the middle of the night to then move on and catch my train. Don't know about today though.) __________________ Reading tips, all picked up at IndiaMike : INDAX's A Comprehensive Guide To India / Dinoj Surendran's Desi Humor / ITHVC on Culture Shock & Travel Health / JetLag Travel Guides For the Undiscerning Traveller / India Travel Links

Oct 13th, 2009, 03:28	#231
yathri Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 18	No Boats after 6 pm The last boat (motorized boats) is at 6 pm. The first boat is after 7 am (not punctual!). There is one more way to get out of Virupapur Gadde, that is, to catch a bus on the other side near the old stone bridge (Bukka's Aquaduct). I am not sure of the bus timings. There would not be any bus in the night. You can book a taxi from Virupapur Gaddi and travel! However, if the water level is higher, there may not be any boat at all to cross the river. Watch out for the weather report!

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Sep 30th, 2009, 19:41	#226
Hal . . . _ _ _ . . . Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Toronto Posts: 2,303	One advantage of being across the river is you can rent a scooter at your guest house and head out into the countryside, which is beautiful. But the Bazaar side would be best for early mornings. I remember wandering among the hill temples when I arrived at 5am. Just me and a few drowsy monkeys.

Oct 7th, 2009, 05:29	#227
yathri Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Bangalore Posts: 18	The guest house around Hampi Bazaar are not very quite. May be that I could not find one! I would suggest that you look around Hampi bazaar and try to find a quiet one. You may have to hire a room, put your luggage there and then search for a quieter place. "Mango Tree" which is located behind Virupaksha Temple (walk along the sacred bath) is a quiet place. Virupapur Gaddi offers you very good sunrise/sunset but not among the ruins. Matunga Hill would be perfect for a sunrise/sunset. However, after dark, it would be very tricky to come down. It is dangerous/scary just before the summit. You can settle for sunrise here. Sunset at Hemakuta hill is just perfect and it is so close to Virupaksha Temple. You can stay here till the end of sunset without any fear.

Oct 10th, 2009, 23:06	#230
Hal . . . _ _ _ . . . Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Toronto Posts: 2,303	I don't think the boats run after dark. (These days they are motor boats)

Oct 13th, 2009, 11:36	#233
Brisso Specialist muddler Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Brisbane Posts: 1,084	Arrange with a rickshaw driver to collect you at 5 am for the drive to Hospet. They will ask 200 - you might be able to haggle.

Oct 13th, 2009, 20:42	#235
Ali-Monbeam Less of the 'Senior' member! Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Bradford Posts: 881	I forgot i had posted that.... we had to cancel the last trip due to train not getting confirmed. this time tho all is ok...no waitlisted train..thanks for the replies tho, great help.