Restaurants/Eateries in Hampi

There are lots of good restaurants in Hampi. We explored restaurants in Hampi at Temple side as well as across river side. Let me share the list. The best part is that all the restaurants which are on temple side are located in Hampi bazaar which is very small and thus you can easily explore all the restaurants. I am not at all a foodie and did not like to explore the restaurants much but In Hampi, I think the foodie inside me wake up from deep slumbers. Also, low bedding is available almost in all the restaurants.

Temple side Restaurants

Tom And Jerry: It was one of the best restaurant in Hampi. Ambience was super cool. Light mediational music was played and it always remains full. You can see lot of foreigners playing chess and having discussions. Also, food was also great. It is known for Israeli food like falafel, hummus, Bruschetta. Apart from it, North Indian food is also good. I highly recommend this place.

Tom & Jerry

Chill out: The sitting area of this place was visible from our guest house and it was very nice. Ambiance was very lively. It is famous for its drinks and soups along with Pizza and Pasta. It is also a laidback place where you can spend 2, 3 hours reading novels, playing cards and drinking coffee. It was just in front of our room at 1^st floor and thus we wake up to the sound of soothing music it plays in the morning. You will find here lot of people during morning hours for breakfast.

Chill out

Mango tree: Sometime back this restaurant was situated across river and was quite a hit but now it has been relocated to temple side and also lost its popularity. I found the ambiance quite dull although the food was great. Again, all the restaurants in Hampi serve good Israeli food as this place is quite famous among Israelis. Low bedding was comfortable because you can open your legs after sometime, there is a provision under table unlike other places.

Mango Tree

Venkateswara: It is a very small restaurant with only 4 tables and ambiance is simple but the food is ultimate. Although the preparation time is long, but the food served here is tasty, healthy and fresh. When we ordered omlette, we saw 1 guy bringing eggs and bread from outside. We also ordered poori aloo and it takes around 45 minutes but it was very tasty. Masala tea is a must have. Menu is small comprising of south Indian food, omlette and Poori aloo and some sandwiches.

Across river

 

On our way to Goan Corner.

The Goan Corner: This restaurant lies at one of the secluded corner of the Hampi and the attitude here is quite laidback. The beauty of this place is the terrific views of paddy fields that it provides. We ordered pasta here and were satisfied. The only thing that disappoints me was that when we entered in the restaurant, probably, there was no electricity and hence no music was playing here unlike other restaurants of Hampi where you find meditational instrumental music going on all day. Also, since I don’t like dogs, so pet dogs of owner approaching me is actually quite irritating for me. Although some people were really playing with dogs but it didn’t impress me. It is a place where you feel foreigner in India.

At this point, we were confident that we are going right. Some flags opposite tells us Goan Corner is near

This place is for those who love nature

Returning from Gaon Corner

Laughing Buddha: This is the best restaurant across river. It is also situated out of the way but it is well known and you can easily trace it. This place offers splendid views of Tungabhadra River along with Hampi tower. This place will appeal you better if you want to spend time and not just have food. Not only the food was tasty, even the flute music played there was fantastic. Imagine sitting and watching the river listening to flute music isn’t it relaxing. This place has perfect setting for contemplation and introspection. I would recommend this place if you have some 3, 4 hours at your disposal. Food is great.

We drink to this view

Our sitting area

Gauthami: This place is along the main road. Food and juices are good. This place was very clean and also quite big but Food is not that great but you can definitely try some mint fresh fruit juices.

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Complete Hampi trip Posts Compilation so far

About Hampi and what to expect in Hampi

Day 1:

Day 1 Itinerary

Mustard Ganesha, Krishna Temple and Queen's Bath 

Vijaya Vittala Temple

Day 2:

Day 2: Itinerary 

Trek to Mathanga Hills

Day 3:

Day 3: Itinerary

Restaurants in Hampi

Trip to Hampi - Part 3: Day 1 - Mustard Ganesha, Krishna Temple and Queen's Bath

7th Dec, 2013. Saturday

Mustard Ganesha

Mustard Ganesha. Snake is visible at tummy

We started our sightseeing with this great structure. Associated legend is that once Lord Ganesha ate too much and to protect his tummy from bursting, he tied a snake around it. This structure is carved out such that snake is visible on Lord’s tummy. As most of the people start their tour from this place, Site map of Hampi is also installed here to assist the tourists. This place is built in very large area and if you will explore the place, there are also some Jain temples nearby and also , you can also go to Hampi tower as they are connected from behind. I must recommend you to at least go to the top as one can get a very good view of Hampi. Please refer some pictures that I am sharing.  

Another way to Hampi tower through Mustard Ganesha: Famous among those who explore by walking

Sometimes I wonder how these stones are balanced. Even at some of the places, I was scared thinking that stones can fall anytime

  

Krishna Temple

This temple was built by the King Krishnadevraya to push the boat out in memory of successful conquest of the kingdom which is referred as Orissa presently.  King brought the idol of Balakrishna (Lord Krishna as a child) and installed it here, however not the idol is shifted to museum of Madras. One strange thing I noticed that there is no idol in any temple in Hampi except Virupaksha. All the idols were now shifted to different museum where they are more safe, to preserve the culture and history. The walls of the temple are adorned with some very exquisite carvings. 

This temple is also in very dilapidated state like other structures of Hampi. Some construction was going on when we visited the temple to prevent it from collapsing. Outside the temple, you can see the huge hall like structure which was once the happening Market of the era called as Krishna Bazaar. It is evident from the structures that it was kind of Market. Halls were built the way we can see the vendors in any fair and exhibition. 

Krishna Complex

This was a nice place and we spent quite a good time here simply observing the place.The best part was that nobody was here except for 2,3 people. Hampi is a kind of place where in some of the sites, you feel that there is no else in this world, they are acutely desolated.

Just after Krishna Temple: On our way to Queen's Bath

 

 

Queen’s Bath

This looks very splendour and exotic and is used by the Queen’s to take the bath. As soon as I saw this, the song “Is Reshmi Paazeb Ki Jhankar” from the movie Laila Majnu came to my mind where the actresses take the bath in similar striking pool. This place can be compared with the best of Spa’s of this age. It would be difficult for me to explain the grand structure of this place which is also the engineering marvel of that era showcasing the talent of craftsmen of that era who took care of inflow, outflow, and sewage and also heating the water naturally and so on. 

Queen's Bath

It is believed that queen used to take bath with the assistance of other ladies/servants who also used to throws flower from the top. Such majestic baths can be found at many places in India, for example Red fort is one of them. Though the structure is now in very dilapidated state and one can imagine its charm when it was alive.

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Complete Hampi trip Posts Compilation so far

About Hampi and what to expect in Hampi

Day 1:

Day 1 Itinerary

Mustard Ganesha, Krishna Temple and Queen's Bath 

Vijaya Vittala Temple

Day 2:

Day 2: Itinerary 

Trek to Mathanga Hills

Day 3:

Day 3: Itinerary

Restaurants in Hampi

Trip to Hampi - Part 2: Day 1 itenerary

 7^th December, Saturday

“Wandering re-establishes the original harmony which once existed between man and the universe.” – Anatole France

 

Hampi was always on my mind but the plan was never materialized. This unusual secret place is still hidden and tourists yet to hit this place in decent statistics. However, this place is heaven among bloggers and photographers. The best part of this place is that it is not very commercialized and thus moving in this sacred zone will give you a feeling of entering in different era. I was dreaming that some magical time machine has transported me to older times like it happen in movies.

Hospet is a nearest Railway station. I have booked my tickets 2 months in advance this time to ensure the availability of tickets. I have booked ticket from Hyderabad to Hospet on 6^thDeember, Friday in Kacheguda (KCG) – YesvantpurJn (YPR) express. We were 2 people, me and my wife. This train started at 9 pm from Hyderabad and reached Hospet. at 6: 30 am. From Hospet, Hampi is 13 km. and one can take auto or local bus or auto for Bus stand which is 1.5 km and from here, one can take the bus to Hampi. We decided to go by Auto and reached Hampi at 8 am.

I was flabbergasted by the rustic sight-seeing of the route.

“Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.”
― Gustave Flaubert

While going, one can really feel that he is going to the interior of the countryside. When we reach Hampi, there were 3 options of selecting guest house/hotel.

1.  Either you can choose to stay across the river but generally the foreigners who came here for long time stays there. Once you cross the river, the culture is altogether different. It is very Gaon kind of culture although alcohol is banned in Hampi but you can find alcohol in many hotels across the river who charges a premium. Also, generally, alcohol is not available for Indians; only foreigners get it somehow or may be the people are reluctant to open among Indians. We were here for 2days only so we rejected this place.

2. Near Bus stand, there were good no. of guest houses here but I was already convinced about staying in Hampi Bazaar. View is great from this area but in my opinion it can be compromised for the other things you get if you stay at Hampi Bazaar,

3. The third one is Hampi Bazaar which is no doubt the best place to stay in almost all the respects. Guest houses here provide a very good view of river and temple. There are no hotels here, people have constructed 2, 3 rooms in their houses only. We stayed in Gori guest house in front of Kiran guest house which was irresistibly, homely. Prefer to stay on rooftop. 

Our cute Moped

Once the room was finalized, we took bath and started our tour at 9 am. We rent a TVS Moped for 150 bucks/day and purchased the petrol from the same guy who charged a premium. Although the bikes were available, we prefer it because it gives me a feeling of slow and ancient times. We did not prefer bicycle because we did not have enough time and may be stamina (of which I am not sure) to explore by bicycle.

Fun Moments at Road

We hired Moped from Virupaksha temple and also came to know that all the other sites closes at 6 pm but Virupaksha temple will remain open at 8pm. So, we started our journey from Mustard Ganesha. After visiting this fabulous temple, we headed straight to Krishna temple which is very near. Then we visited Queen’s bath, Lotus Mahal, Elephant Stable, HazaraRanachandra Temple, Royal enclosure, Vitthala and many more monuments which I cover in different posts.

“Travel teaches toleration.” – Benjamin Disraeli

Rustic Roadside

All the monuments are located at 6 Km circular road but this circular road is connected with foot path only at the very end. So, if you are exploring by bike/moped, you have to trace back this road after visiting all the monuments. And if you walk down the places, so the roads will converge at the end and you don’t have to trace back. 

This route is fantastic with no heavy traffic and rustic settings. 

Heavy Banana Plantation and Coconut plantation looks amazing

After visiting all these places, we were exploring the city on Moped and reached at the place from where the coracle boat starts. It was already 6 pm. We have scheduled for that trip the other day but we decided to have a short tip on this boat as it was irresistible. Coracle boat union told us that they do not run the boat after 6 pm but 1 boatman agreed to give us a very short trip for 20 minutes. This was lifetime experience.

After that we went to visit Virupaksha temple and Hampi Tower.

Finally when we reached back to our guest house, we were very tired. We ordered for a tea and I bring some Pakoras from the Market. Now, nights do not have anything to offer in Hampi but to explore the markets and restaurants. Please note that days start early in Hampi and also ends early as generally in most of the villages.

We visited Chill out restaurant and Tom and Jerry. I was already aware about these restaurants and the best thing is they are very close to each other: 2 minutes’ walk and hence become possible for us to try both at the same time.

If you like this post, please like my Facebook page.

 

Complete Hampi trip Posts Compilation so far

About Hampi and what to expect in Hampi

Day 1:

Day 1 Itinerary

Mustard Ganesha, Krishna Temple and Queen's Bath 

Vijaya Vittala Temple

Day 2:

Day 2: Itinerary 

Trek to Mathanga Hills

Day 3:

Day 3: Itinerary

Restaurants in Hampi