32 Hours – Bangalore to Hampi and back

It will be a hot there, it will rain there. I heard that a lot but what I heard the most was - one day is really not enough. I had a simple choice – one day or zero days. I chose one day. So this is a summary of 32 hours – from Bangalore to Hampi and back. For some funnier incidents read - Oye, you are not a foreigner?

Timeline, experience and cost:

Time	Experience	Cost
10:15pm	Bangalore Cant for Hospet (AC 2 Tier) - Hampi Express	660
7:40am	Auto from Hospet Station to Bus Stand	30 (actual 15 but it was early J and I am a meter + twenty ;))
8:15am	Bus to Hampi (runs every 20min)	15
8:50am	Walk from Bus Stand to River to find an elephant being bathed	Free (would have paid for it)
9:30am	Good breakfast at New Shanthi Resturant with free guide book to Hampi, plus intro to some good autorikshaw guides	120
10:30am	Haggled with guide and got one with an auto for the next four hours	350
2:30pm	Exhausted but WOWed by the many sights of Hampi. Only Queens grounds required a ticket ( Rs 250 for foreigners, Rs 10 for Indians)*	10
3pm	Horrible lunch at Hotel Moonlight	140
4pm	Awesome lunch at Mango Tree (really nice)**	110
5pm	Exploratory trip up Matunga hill	Free (Priceless?)
6:30pm	Bhel puri and cuppa sweet tea for me and two friends I made	45
7:10pm	Bus back to Hospet (last bus leaves at 7:30pm)	15
7:55pm	Walk to station from bus stand	Free but little longer than I expected
8:20pm	Freak out at station as the train was at 8:40pm not 10:40pm as I had misread.	Free Adrenaline and relief
8:30pm	Shared a masala dosa from railway canteen with a dog	20
8:50pm	Unknowingly entertained a few people with photos on my iphone	Free (could have charged and got a full dosa for the dog)
9pm	Train was slightly late but my RAC ticket had a confirmed berth so found my seat.	Free
6:05am	Bangalore Cant Station, in time to rush home and see kids off to school	660
TOTAL:  32 hours	Too Many	Rs. 2175 ($ 48)***

* Four hours in not enough to see these ruins. I took it slow and spent time in places that I really enjoyed. I did not have a check list, I just wanted to see and be there. Places I loved – tank at the recently excavated marketplace. A little stand with an amazing 360 view at the Royal properties and the view from Matunga hill.  Climb up the hill – it is worth the steep and rock steps.

** The best eatery in Hampi. It is by the side of the river with an nice view and really good food. FYI – Hampi is an all vegetarian town.

*** Splurge on the best tix you can afford if you are down this kind of a round trip. A good night’s sleep helps a lot going and you are tired on the way back. I could have paid less by taking a cheaper train ticket and more by taking an AC taxi for the day from Hospet. I deliberately chose and paid for the experiences I wanted.


The river was full from the recent opening of Tungabadra Dam so there was no boat service and thus no way to see the other side ( not that I had too much time). But that is another place to goto if you have time. Shanthi Hotel on that side is recommended as a good place to stay. Gopi on the Hampi side is recommended if you don't want to chance the river.

Contact info of my nice autowala who explained all the places in decent English - only the basement remains cause the rest of the building was fired ;) -  (just don't take his recommendation on Hotel MoonLight) - Raghu 9449135915.