The impressive main temple overlooks the main road of Hampi

Hampi is a very good place to stay with children, for short time as well as for long time. It combines beautiful landscape, the treasures of old temples, indian village-life and a rich traveler-scene to a multifaceted experience.
Further options open up, because a river separates Hampi from the "other side", where you find more secluded places and even more of a countryside lifestile. The season lasts from december to march, april is already very hot.
Nappies are difficult to find in Hampi, if you need them, come in well-stocked.

In Hampi you will find a huge number of possible activities. It is easy to have fun with children of any age.

You can wander for hours in the pittoreske rock formations

Landscape of Hampi: The rock-strewn landscape of Hampi invites to explore the surroundings. If children are above the age of four, it's fun to climb over the rocks alongside the river.

Lanes of Hampi Bazaar: The small lanes of Hampi Bazaar are full of indian children, who integrate foreign children willingly into their games. In the same lanes you can experience the full range of indian domestic animals. map

Temple elephant: Around 10am the temple elephant "Laxmi" takes his daily bath at the ghat near the ferry. map

The Achyutaraya Tempel is near, relaxed and is still beeing renovated

Achyutaraya Tempel: If you walk 30 minutes east along the main street, crossing a small saddle, you end up at Achyutaraya Tempel, a huge, 500-year-plus stucture that gives a lot to explore for every age. For the time beeing (2007) the entrance is still free. map

Crocodiles: Approx. 4km upstream the river is a place where wild crocodiles live, the longest measuring daunting 3.5 meter! Ask around in the village for someone to lead you there.

Hanuman temple: Across the river, about 3 km from the ferry, a Hanuman temple is situated on top of a hill. To relish the amazing sight from there, you have to climb up 600 steps. Only for strong parents or older children.

Anegundi Banana Fibre Products

Anegundi: In Anegundi, another 3km from Hanuman temple, you find a small, unattractive village, whose biggest attraction is a little factory for banana-fiber-products. They sell bag and other stuff in a small shop nearby. Added by "Asp": Check out www.thekishkindatrust.org. The people there are doing a wonderful job with rural tourism and education. They also have a lovely place to stay.

You can stay either in Hampi Bazaar or on the other side of the river. Both are connected by a ferryboat (10 Rs per head, 5RS per heavy luggage) that operates from dusk till 6pm.

Nearly every house in Hampi Bazaar is converted to a guesthouse now, so you have the choice between around 80 places. All of them offer basic, small rooms with double bed, electricity and normally they have an attached bathroom. Prices vary from 300 to 800 Rs.

While staying in Hampi Bazaar you still get a little bit of an indian feeling (including the noise).

Terrace of Kiran Guesthouse

Kiran Guest House: We appreciated Kiran Guest House at the end of one of the lanes - not so much because of the rooms (they were of average quality, 400 Rs), but because of the rooftop-restaurant and the many indian children that live in and around the guesthouse. Very soon we felt integrated into the owners family. map

Tel: 08394-204159
Price: ca 400 Rs

The other side of the river is more laid-back - and ironically more touristy. Every single structure here has to do with tourists. Around 30 small resorts line up along the river. This side of the river is favoured by israelian tourist-groups - so be prepared of another sort of noise.

Hema Guest House

Hema Guest House: Hema Guest House has well-kept gardens, decent huts with hammocks in front of the door and a restaurant overlooking the river. map

Tel: 08533-387074
Price: ca 350 Rs

The common area of Shanti Guesthouse is shaded by a big roof and invites to a good hangout

Shanti Guest House: Is comparable to Hema Guest House, but a 10 minutes walk further down the road. map

Tel: 08533-387038
Price: ca 350 Rs

There are plenty of restaurants in Hampi, so finding food for children is no problem. We ate through a handful of them and found two recommendable places:

Mango-Tree-Restaurant

Mango-Tree-Restaurant: The Mango-Tree-Restaurant (founded 1988) serves good food and is superbly located at the banks of the river, around 800 meter upstream from the ferry on Hampi-Bazaar-side. Stone-covered terraces invite you to ponder the meaning of life over a cold drink, while your child tries the huge swing fixed high up in the mango tree. map

Sandhya-Guesthouse: The best food in Hampi Bazaar is been found in Sandhya-Guesthouse, one of the many roof-tops. The restaurant is popular for its superb Korean thali, but all other dishes we tried were fresh too, nicely spiced and outstanding. map

Dr. Raju is a - very busy - childs doctor in Hospet. You find his private clinic near LIC-office (Live Insurance Company of India). His mobile is 9448135791.

Hospet is on the main Goa to Bangalore railway line and well connected to both sides. From Hospet get a Risksha (80 Rs, 40 min) to Hampi.

To and from Goa you might also go for the overnight sleeper bus. We tried a 2+1-sleeper (meaning that on one side of the aisle there are double beds, on the other side only singles, giving you a bed size of 60 x 180 cm.) We slept ok during the ride from 6.30 pm to 5 am - our child even enjoyed the shaking and didn't wake up for the whole ride. It can't compare to a sleeper-train, but is much better than a sitting bus.