Heritage Hampi Caravaning

About the experience

Hampi is situated in Hospet taluk of Ballari district in Karnataka. Hospet is the nearest town to Hampi. Set off on an extraordinary trip guided by the Questra team, as you travel back in time to discover the stories of the erstwhile Vijayanagara empire, a grandiose kingdom.

4 Days

Hindi, English

Up to 4 people

Itinerary & instructions

Day 1. Drive to Hampi We will pick you up from your doorstep at 6 am or from the airport on the day of departure. Ensure that you are packed and ready to go when we get there. You can get fresh, have a simple snack and experience some in-house entertainment aboard. The drive from Bangalore to Hampi is about six hours with several interesting towns and villages along the way. Dusty roads and elevated noise levels slowly give way to quiet stretches and growing greenery as you leave the main city and drive towards Hampi. We’ve found the perfect place to stop for a delicious breakfast. The spot has been specially chosen for its local delicacies to bring you a flavour of the native cuisine in the region. In the next couple of hours stretch your legs and relax on the caravan before you arrive at our camping site at Jungle Lodges and Resorts in time for Lunch. At 3.30 PM head for an organised drive to the Daroji Bear Sanctuary, an unique sanctuary for sloth bears in India. You will be back to the caravan at 6.30 pm and as the sun sets you can build a bonfire and bring out the grillable for a picnic under the stars. Unwind with the gentle music of the passing breeze as you prepare for a journey back in time the next day. Distance from Bengaluru: 352 Kms District: Ballari
Day 2. Stay at Hampi There is a laid back, spiritual aura that captivates every traveller who visits Hampi. Spend the morning in quiet reflection as you prepare for a day filled with stories of a wondrous past. Find your way through the remains of the ancient capital of the Vijayanagar empire. The fortified city holds temple complexes, military buildings, aqueducts, and canals. The surrounding rocky terrain frames the old structures, adding to the evocative air of the town, with a number of different hiking routes winding their way through the landscape. You will cover Virupaksha Temple – Kadale Kalu (Peanut) Ganapathi – Sasive Kalu (Mustard Seed) Ganapathi – Krishna Bazaar & Temple – Ugranarasimha – Badavi Linga – Underground Shiva temple – Mohammaden watch Tower – Lotus mahal – Royal Elephant Stables in the first half. After lunch at Jungle lodges, you will cover Vijaya Vitthala Temple – Queen’s Bath – Hazaara Rama Temple – Dasara Platform – Public Bath – Secret Chamber and King Darbar hall. A packed day of discovering history needs a quiet evening of admiring the starlit sky around a campfire.
Day 3. Stay at Hampi Wake up early as you have a busy day ahead. Try to catch the sunrise for that ‘perfect moment’ that you want to save away as a memory. You can continue to explore Hampi and start with a Nature Walk and Bird watching Tour before breakfast. The tour will cover Aanegundhi Village and Fort – Durgashakthi temple – Pampasarvara temple – Anjanaadri Parvatha. After Lunch at Jungle Lodges, you can relax and proceed to the Zoological gardens (ZOO). As the sun starts setting, you can go for a walk along the Tungabhadra river or watch the sunset atop a hill. If you want to explore the region, then you can take an OPTIONAL PAID full-day trip to other interesting sites in the region to places of historical importance. You may drive to Bagalkot district to visit amazing historical sites like Badami, Pattadakal & Aihole which were the key power centers of the Chalukyan empire. Badami is famous for its four cave temples – all cut out of a monolithic (single) rock of sandstone on the precipice of a hill. The first three temples are dedicated to Hindu gods and goddesses and the last one is dedicated to Jain Tirthankaras. Proceed to Pattadakal which is an impressive series of nine Hindu temples that were used for royal commemoration and coronation. It is a UNESCO World Heritage site that harmoniously blends architectural forms from North and South India. You may then drive to Aihole, which is known as one of the cradles of temple architecture holding 125 structures built in varying architectural styles. It takes time to unravel the wonders of Hampi, but we’ve covered its key highlights. Take a few pages out of history and add them to your book of memories. Return to campsite by 8 pm for campfire and dinner
Day 4. Return to Bengaluru Say “Hello” to a beautiful morning in Hampi. After a sumptuous breakfast that includes the sampling of local delicacies, you can prepare to head back. While returning to Bangalore you may stop at the Chitradurga fort if time permits. The fort is built in a series of seven concentric fortification walls with various passages, a citadel, masjid, warehouses for grains and oil, water reservoirs and ancient temples. There are 18 temples in the upper fort and one huge temple in the lower fort. There is a famous story about Onake Obavva, the wife of the watchtower guard, who is said to have defended the fort with an Onake (pestle). You’ve paid tribute to the architectural and archaeological wonders of the region, but your heart seeks more. It’s impossible to leave Hampi without making a promise to return. The caravan will drop you off at your home or the airport.