Hampi Music and Dance Festival?

stephen056

Can anyone confirm the dates for this event? I'm planning on staying in Hampi November 3-6; the 2007 Rough Guide indicates this is generally the timing of this annual event. While is sounds like a bonus for visiting tourists, might it make finding accommodations difficult for me?

Thanks!

paintedlotus

A quick Google searched popped up the information that the festival won't be held until Jan 2010 because the government wants to "mark the 500th year of Vijayanagar king Sri Krishnadevaraya acending the throne."

For what that's worth.

stephen056

Hi Painted Lotus, thanks very much for searching and finding this information. When I googled prior to posting I found no such details. Indeed, I just googled again using "500th year etc...." and though I did get one hit describing this event, there was no mention of related activities such as a music and dance festival (mInd sharing it with me?). So your search is stronger/smarter than mine .

Cheers!

paintedlotus

Yeah, it's not listed until the 6th or 7th site down after searching for "Hampi Festival 2009". I found the information at the bottom of the page here: http://www.karnataka.com/tourism/ham...-festival.html

I'm actually kind of bummed that the festival isn't happening in November because that's right when I was going to be there! Oh well.

raina_zen

does anyone know the dates this festival is held in Jan 2010?

yathri

Hampi Utsav is scheduled from January 27 to 29, 2010.

See News article http://www.thehindu.com/2009/08/16/s...1650440200.htm

stephen056

Please forgive the cross-post: Will someone help and recommend a place for me to stay? I'd like to be able to enjoy the early mornings and evenings (sunrise/sunset) amongst the ruins, so I figure it makes sense to stay in Hampi bazaar rather than across the river (Virupapuragadda).

From what I can gather many of the guest homes in Hampi bazaar area are fine - but are any quiet? I'm looking for a place not party central, and preferably without a restaurant on the roof. Clean, hot water, and western toilets certainly. Is this too much to expect? Guide books steer me to the nicer sounding guest-homes in Virupapuragadda - however the convenience of Hampi bazaar is much more appealing to me than swing hammocks and rice paddy views.

Contact me directly if you like.

soundbyte

So If I showed up on Nov. 3-5 I would just find a bunch of confused tourists wondering what happened?

yathri

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.

yathri

There will be some celeberation going in the temple but would not be that grand compared to the utsav.

stephen056

Thanks for this very good information and advice! Also your note on the sunrise/sunsets in Virupapur Gaddi sound like this may be also a good option.

Question: is there any evening social 'scene' in the village of Hampi Bazaar that is worth experiencing? I'll have four nights in the area: perhaps this will be rather long and lonely if I am 'stranded' across the river after dark since I am not much into the late night party scene that VG seems to be famous (perhaps this information is dated or exaggerated?).

Most helpful response yet, Yathri; Thank you!

raina_zen

would love to see this festival. It sounds very good

soundbyte

Has the flooding been a problem there?

yathri

I dont know whether there is any evening social activities in Hampi bazaar area. I have been there when it is off season. Not much tourist (I like it that way). People do gather at Hemakuta Hill at sunset.

Flood has affected Hampi. Many of the riverside ruins were submerged in water. The situation is slowly improving.

soundbyte

Thanks!