My Tour Details of Bijapur - Badami - Hampi with information !!!

fibreclaw

Hi,

we decided to get the feel of North Karnataka and also the ruins oh Hampi . Got Lotta info from India mike site and others as well.

But there were a few areas where I felt that struggled to get the information on.. So though of sharing my trip details as much as i cud .. to help my pals out here !! here u go ..

Our trip was planned to cover these major places :

Bijapur - Badami and nearby - Hampi. We were on tight schedule and wallet as well.. .. Lets get in to my memories...

Day 1 :Friday:

17.30 - Basava express train from Yeswantpur(Bangalore) to Bijapur.

We have booked our seats in tatkal but when we went into the coach , we saw many people who have nt booked and with ordinary tickets seated along.. Felt a bit bad.. few requested to share our seats as well.. but blankly turned down.. since we were in side berths and someone in between me and my wife was not a great idea !!. After Guntakal (around 11pm), most of them got out and few managed to sleep on the floor .
Never mind , we were preparing for next day trip .. so we slept . Got up next day after a mad rush of people getting down.. It was Gulbarga.. and man.. the majority of the train got down.. Couldnt sleep much after that.. and was enjoying the country side karnataka.. the train was almost empty.

Day 2 : Satruday :
Reached Solapur at around 7.30 am and we had Vada Pav (15 bucks !! ) was quite good..

Bijapur
Reached Bijapur @ 9.45 am. Since we have gathered information on the palces in Bijapur and main attraction was GolGumbaz, We saw it right outside the station . sadly,, ffor the main entrance we had to cover a kilometer.. from the railway station..
Since we decided to walk , we gathered pace and walked thro the dusty hot streets and reached Gol Gumbaz .
Entrance Fare + 25 rs for digicam , and we decided to leave our bags at the cloak room near the entrance (rs 10).




Am not getting in to describre GG as u can gather info in that. Give u basic idea, u will enter GG and then look at the tomb of Shah, then you need to take a very narrow stair around 5 stories, to the top.. where u will can yell outta your hell to hear the echo.. even the smallest sound is magnified and echoed. it was awesome.

View from the top gallery GG :


there is a junior GG nearby in the sam compound but enrty not allowed. it took almost 1.5 hrs to chek out the structure and our photo sessions inside.

Came out and had few other places to check. U have either to take auto or Tonga ( if u dont wanto waste time on public transport, though u can trek too as they all are few kms apart !!).
We decided to try the TOnga and we wanted to check the foll places only 1) Upri Burj , Barah Kaman, Malik e maidaan( cannon place) , Ibrahim Rouza.
We agreed for 200 bucks for trip and then drop back to Bijapur Bus station.


On the way to bus station , we saw Jod Gumbaz ( like GG ), dint get in . then we reached the stop by 1 pm. We were very hungry plus we had booked our train tickets from Bijapur to badami train @ 4.45. So we dint know wat to do till that time. Had lunch at a NV hotel opp bus stop. Suddenly it struck.. we thought of checkin out Almatti Dam and then board the same train we had booked at Almatti.

U can avail private buses (pretty cramped and pathetic , outside main bus station) or cool publice ones. there are many frequent ones.

Reached Almatti by 4 pm after 1.5 hrs travel. We walked in through the main archway.. and found a small park and boating area. We dint wanto to get in. So we caught an Auto from there to go to the dam site ( one Km from there ). Sadly, we dint knw that entrance to the dam is prohibited .. so we took a small side way where all the tourist go to have a dash in water and enjoy the feel of mighty Tungabadra. and all her small islands.. and also back door view of Almatti dam.



Spent nearly an hour there.. and then took the same auto to Almatti rail station ( 10 mins drive from dam site) and caught the train to badami.


.... continued in next post (cudnt post many images here..)

wichy

fibreclaw, thanks a lot for your report, and, as I'm going the same sites this year, so I'm eagerly waiting for your next post!!!

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Past the point of no return...

fibreclaw

Day 2:

Reached Badami Rly station at 7.30 pm. It was a no fancy station with not so lit areas. Had share autos from there to Main Badami Bus Station where all the hotels are located. rs 5 per person, managed to get seats and 10 mins from there we were in the bus station. We were surpised to see all the advertised hotesl in badami - Hotel Satkar, Rajsangam, Mookambika , Anand deluxe were opp to the bus stand and only one the Badami Court was 3 mins drive from there on route to rly station.

We checked into Anand deluxe , it has decent rooms for families. both ac and non ac ones. we took a non ac for 400 per night. Sheets were clean and not smelly, with clean rest rooms too.

we retired early as we have very hectic days ahead.

Day 3 : Sunday

the hotel provides sightseeing help in arranging cab or auto( i think others do as well).

Full day trip to Badami , Aihole, Patadakkal, Mahakuta, Banashankari and Badami ( till 7 pm I guess) will cost AUTO - 400 INR , Indica Car - 1100 (non ac).

We took the less expensive and started by 8 am after breakafast near the hotel. Food shouldnt be a problem.

First Stop - Pattadakkal - it opens by 9 am. we spent nearly 1.5 - 2 hrs there.





ride back to Mahakuta , 30 mins.



there is a small but beautiful temple and a small tank to dive into and have fun. U can get snacks and drinks here too. it should take an hour max(if u nt diving into the tank). then drive back to Badami via Banashankari .enroute.

reach Badami main caves at around 2 pm. stopped near the junior GG like structure , its a mosque.

Badami :


Badami caves - an hour it took and we drove to the opposite side of the tank.
to the hill opp the badami caves. 15 mins drive from there.

not as packed as the caves location. we decided to walk as much as we can upto the temples and a watch tower like structure.

View from the hill opposite badami caves..


it took an hour for us to go to the top and cheek out a small temple and another structure. and come back.

then we left to the Bhoothanatha temple area ( along the side of the tank. ).



This has couple of temples one on the sides and one like an island but u can walk up to there. It was nice place with the badami caves view on ur left and the other hill on ur right. It has luzh grass where u can rest a while too..

It should take an hour max. and we dint go the other Hill top structure near Badami caves since we were very tired. probably u can chek it out. but.. by 5.30 we were done with mostly all important landmarks of Badami sector. and we reached hotel by 6 .

U can have good food from Hotel Mookambika( bar an restaurant) or a similar one near Anand deluxe hotel. too. If u wanna much higher standard go to raj sangham.. but u have many good options... !!
Badami Bus station -


Day 4: Monday

Buses to Hospet start from Badami @ 6.45 , 7.30 am and 6.30 and 7.30 pm( only 4 busues and last one is a AC meghdoota).
we decied to take the first one but it arrived at 7.30 am only !! .

this bus goes throug gudlegudd, kustagi, Ilkal to hospet.
On the way before Hospet, u get a view of the tungabhadra dam .. very good view !! actually.



reached Hospet by around 11.30 am. ( 4 hrs by bus from Badami).



continued ......

fibreclaw

.... continued....


Day 4: continued...

HAMPI:

Reached Hampi at around 12 pm . U have lot of buses from Hospet every 5 mins.

Had breakfast in the Hampi bazaar street. this is the main bazaar road.

Got a map and a guide book near a book store at the temple main entrance. Now there are two options to stay :

1) Stay in the main bazaar area - where many Indian and handful foreginers stay.
2) get to the other side of the river and get a good guest house. ( this area is famous among foreigners and it is a happening place too.. with good fun as it is located in a relaxed greeen location. but u need boat to cross over and the last one for the day is at around 6-7 pm.. so u hv to decide..!!

I dint want to get tied up with the boat timings and chose to stay in hotel near main bazaar . it was hotel Shambu Guesthouse. It s a very good newly built rooms with ac..
cost - ac- 700 , non ac - 500 for a double bedroom. but no tv. it was ol for us..

as usual. sure to chek in the place before u pay.. and try to avoid brokers... !! coz it might add up a bit to ur room cost. !!

rest till 2pm and started to figure out a plan. Now this is how it goes :


there are 3 main areas in Hampi and this is how we covered and u have lot of other options as well..

area 1: Main Bazaar area
area 2: Vitthala complex area
area 3: Hampi Metropolis area ( stepped tank and palace area)

Start @ 2.30 pm : we started of with the Hemakuta Complex, near the main temple in bazaar area. to the left of it. It should take an hour to cover it. resist the temptation to step down the hill area to the neaby twp Ganesha statue areas, as u have to cover it later.


We decided to cover the Vithala area first :

1) head opposite Main temple to the bazaar road with remains of ancient structure on both side of the road. Head to Matanga Hill from this side or u can also take the route from behind from the other side( its a touhger one compared to this side).

we decided to head straight to Achutaraya complex. On the way u will cover the Kodandarama and Anjaneya(monkey god complex) and U can also take a coracle ride to a small hillok where there are 1000+ and 100+ lingas etched on the rock and a few other small rock cut works. Boatman may charge u around 100-150 . we paind 120 for two.

After that, we head straight to the Achutaraya complex , where u have a small tank, a beautiful temple and the ancient bazaar way. it should take an hour to two hour . the ascned to matanga hill has another way from the temple. careful it s pretty touhg one from this side.

finish this and head further straight to the Kings balance and Inscribed Vishnu temple area . It takes 15 mins to check out the places.

then walk further to Vithala cmplex. It takes atleast an hour to check out the palce and also u can cover Gejjala temple and the Bhima Gate from here as they are nearby.we did not cover the latter two.

then track back the same way back on the way, u will also cover a couple of temple complexes , pretty small ones.

overall the entire trip should take max 5 hrs by walk. and you are done with the Vithala complex area and few from the Mian bazaar area. tough day next.. have good food and take rest !!

Only egg and veg items are available on this side of Hampi. coz of the temple. and by 9 most of the shops close.. so arrange for dinnner soon . U have also have many small places ( pretty cools ones here all the whites hand around.. too. may be a bit expensive but u get good food. )

Day 5: tuesday

Start early morning 7 am to check out the main Virupaksha temple and the Boat crossing area nearby. 1.5 hrs max .

.5 hrs breakfast

9 am start -

We swore to walk to most places and we did so. we walked all the way to the the the two ganesha locations 10 mins walk from Hampi bus stand.


After the Ganeshas , we went to Krisha temple complex. We have a tank(pushkarni) , a temple with awesome work inside. it take an hour max .


10 am :

Next walk to the nearby lakshmi Narasimha and badavalinga complex . 5 mins walk. Lakshmi Narasimha is wat you will see in most Hampi related albums.


this has a huge Lakshmi Narasimha and a big Linga( badava Linga as well).. .5 hr max here.

Now we are done with the Virupaksha area and the Sacred area. and we are heading to the Royal enclosure.

U have two temples on the way( pretty small ones ), we decided to skip them.

11 am :

Its better to catch a bus coming from Hampi( if traveling by Bus) from here and get down at the underground temple. this places is before kamalapura. Do not got further as we will connect to all the other places from here..

its nearly 2-3 kms from here.

12 pm :



Head further up where u can see a small fort like structure. 3 mins walk.
U will crash in to a Mohammand watch tower and Noblemen's enclosure and a Band tower. .5 hrs max here.

head straight from here ( there is only one way from here.. so keep going )

from there another 200 metres, you will see the palace area, and the mint aread. check out them and shouldn't take much time here .

Now from here, we have road bifurcating.. on your right is the Hazara rama complex and Mahanavami Dibba and on ur left will the the Elephant stable area.

head left , 3 mins walk, u will see a museum , and then head further down for 2 mins a small fortwalled structure.


1 pm:

Inside you will have the ZANANA TOWER ,BASEMENT OF QUEENS PALACE, MUSEUM, LOTUS TEMPLE, ELEPHANT STABLE, RANGA TEMPLE and another small temple.


it takes 2 hrs maz here to cover all these. and track back the same way to the Place where the roads split.

3 pm

we are now going to the Hazara rama temple. You should spend some time here and possible with a guide as the walls are full of inscruptions and stories.. it was awesome..

3.45 pm
an hour to the max and we head to the Mahanavami Dibba and its 4 mins walk from hazara rama.

there you will see the ancient ruins site . here you will find a Pyramid like structure and an underground temple and a stepped tank with water ducts supplying water.

it takes max 1 - 1.5 hrs here.

then we walked to Queens Bath from here and its a 5 mins walk from here .
5 pm : Queen's bath :

It has a small structure and a old dry tank.. it takes 15 mins here.a dn thats ir you are done.

Now U can come out of Queen's bath and its on the road. Catch a bus to Kamalapura. Try to check out the Museum and I think it closed by 6 pm.

We were done with this by 5 pm. and we headed to Hampi to pick our bags and then head to Hospet for our train to bangalore at 8.15 pm.
Now the whole tale wasnt without a twist right.. yeah if u though so..

when we went to kamalapura and waited to catch a bus to hampi ( to pick our bags) , there came a bus.. with no english ( not surprisingly) and I asked the ticket giving guy whether it will go to HAMPI.. miscommunication, he took us onboard by nodding.. How stupid I was... the bus took the road to KAMPILI..... ( oh oh.. ) after ten minutes I realised that smthing was fishy and asked a guy sitting next me whether it will go to Hampi.. and again he nodded yes.. ( thanks to the Dolby surround music playing in the bus..) and then again when i asked him whether it will go to Hampi BAZAAAAR.... he said a plain NO... a ******* NO .and i confirmed with the conductur guy as well.. we got donw somewhre in small village stop..

No autos.. No buses anytime soon.. I was pretty kikd out.. suddenyl a car cameby and offered to give us a lift. and we reached to kamalapura back !! ufffffffff....

then headed back to Hampi and picked our bags and off to Hospet.. this bus took the route via Kadirampur and on the way we saw a couple of Mohammadan structures on the way.


thats it... had dinner at Hospet and headed to Rly station.. again by walk !! he he.. just love it..

thanks guys to all mike friends.. and to the sticky post.. !!

Let me knw if you need any information on any of this.

fibreclaw......

fibreclaw

You can avail full day auto / taxi options from Hampi. if you not too much into trek..

hotels in Badami - Hotel Satkar, Mookambika, rajsangam, Anand deluxe.

Hampi - Mowgli Guest house, Shanthi guest house..

where we stayed - Shambu guest house - +91 94487 - 95096

Thanks..

snonymous

Very nice post Fibreclaw, brought back memories of our trip to Hampi and Bijapur in 2002 or was it 2003.......

Very well edited with appropriate photos.

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martin-v

thank you very much for the information. We're planning a trip from north to south Karnataka. Your information has been very useful to us.

martin