Things to do in Hippie Island Hampi for 2020 (Secrets revealed)
Hampi is split into two sides, one is the heritage side (monuments and temples) and other is Virupapur village side, popularly known as hippie island Hampi due to its chilled-out vibes.
During my first visit to Hampi, I had explored the heritage side and hence, came back again to explore the lesser known side - Hippie Island Hampi. True to its name, Hippie Island Hampi turned out to be a super relaxing retreat and a lot of fun. Climbing the boulders for chasing sunrises, coracle rides in the Sanapur lake, driving a moped around the coconut trees and banana plantation and chilling in the cafes are some of the highlights from the trip.
So before we start, I am gonna answer the most asked question. How to reach Hippie Island Hampi? Hippie Island is situated across Tungabhadra river in Hampi. The best way to reach Hippie Island Hampi is to cross the Tungabhadra river by boat (5 minutes ride) near the Virupaksha temple in Hampi. The charges are INR 50 for one boat ride. The boat starts from 8:00 AM till 5:30 PM. Though the official timing is 8 AM till 5:30 PM, I have seen people crossing the river till 8:30 PM in the night in small coracles. In the late hours, the charges are quite high (INR 200).
Now, let’s head to things to do in in Hippie Island Hampi.
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Things to do in the Hippie island Hampi
How to reach Hippie island
Homestay in Hampi
Best time to visit Hippie island
Is Hippie Island safe for solo female travelers
How many days are required for Hippie island
Budget for Hippie Island Hampi
Things to do in Hippie Island Hampi
1 . Hire a bike and roam around Anegundi Village in Hampi
Riding around the nearby villages from Hippie Island will take you to an ancient dreamland tucked between the giant boulders and coconut trees. Anegundi is one such village and also a part of the UNESCO world heritage site. The route for Anegundi village passes through the Sanapur lake and gives the feeling of a fantasy movie set. Also, there are many craft centres in Anegundi which sell products made from banana fibre (much cheaper than the city stores). Try to check them out
2. Climb the Anjaneya Hills (also known as Monkey Temple)
Anjaneya Hills is believed to be the birthplace of Lord Hanumana. Sunset view from Anjaneya Hills is quite popular amongst the travellers for the sight of the valley and surreal view of the surroundings. To reach the summit, you will need to climb around 575 steps (easily doable in 30 minutes). Be careful with mischievous monkeys jumping around (that’s why some people call it Monkey temple)!
The temple does not have any entry fees. They charge a nominal-fees on vehicle parking.
3. Go for cliff jumping and coracle ride at Sanapur Lake
Sanapur lake is a small tranquil lake surrounded by thousands of boulders of different sizes (imagine the view)! For a different experience, take a coracle (small circular boat made up of bamboo and tree bark) ride through the lake.
If you love adventure, cliff jumping can also be a good idea (only if you know swimming)!
4. See sunset from sunset hill Point
Hampi is heaven for mesmerising sunsets with blissful orange and red sky. The magical lights bring out the spiritual side in you. The hill viewpoint in Hippie Island Hampi is famous for sunset between hippie travellers. Some come here to find their corner of solace, some for chanting mantras, and some for just absorbing the last lights of the day.
The climb is really easy and costs nothing. Also, if you are visiting during the weekends, expect some crowd :(
5. Explore the Hampi ruins (Vitthala temple, Virupaksha temple)
Hampi ruins have over 1,000 well-preserved stone monuments, including Hindu temples, forts and palaces and it is a “UNESCO World Heritage Site”. Hampi let travellers dive into its history to experience the lost tales of South India’s largest, wealthiest and the most powerful kingdom. (link to Vijayanagara empire). Some of the popular monuments are Virupaksha temple, Vitthala temple, Hemakuta Hill.
If you are keener on exploring the monuments and ruin side of the Hampi, read my detailed blog on heritage side of Hampi here.
6. Go for world-class Bouldering
If you an adventure junkie, Hampi is one of the best places to go for climbing boulders. A Bouldering workshop will be challenging and good fun! There are many bouldering centres in Hampi. You can check out the below websites.
AVOID climbing during the rainy season and the peak summer. In case you are a beginner, make sure you are trying it with an instructor.
7. Take an Ayurvedic Body Massage
There are many places for ayurvedic body message in Hampi. We had gone for "Lotus Ayurvedic Centre " and the experience was really good. It's a small centre near the main market but with really skilled people. Probably the best massage I have gone for till now. It won't cost you bomb (I paid INR 1,000 for 60 minutes).
8. Waterfall
There is a waterfall (more like a stream) in Hippie Island. Due to lack of time, I could not visit it but have heard it is worth going. You can check out with locals on its whereabouts.
9. Cafés/ Restaurants in Hippie Island
Eat, sleep, read, repeat is often referred to as the best thing to do in Hippie Island Hampi. It has so many amazing cafes to explore. Each one has a different vibe and something unique to offer. Read your favourite book at a café beside the river or play Uno with your buddies or maybe take an afternoon nap on the hammock. You can also meet travellers from around the world at these beautiful cafes. Here is a list of my favourite cafes in Hippie Island —
Laughing Buddha -
The most sought-after place for its relaxed vibes, river view and good food. I have spent hours here doing nothing! The pizza here is good! Budget around INR 1,000 for two people.
Mango Café –
Good for a south Indian thali meal and Mango Lassi. They have homemade mango jam as well! Though little away from the main area, it’s a good stop for a quick lunch.
Thali will cost INR 150 (NOT KIDDING)!
Top Secret Café –
The night scenes here are good. Candlelight dinner, good food, music and of course a lot of people with a different perspective to talk to. Budget around INR 1,000 for two people.
German Bakery/ Gouthami Restaurant – Known for Delicious bakery products - chocolate croissants, carrot cake, Cinnamon rolls and coffee are really yum!! The delicious bliss will cost hardly INR 200.
How to reach Hippie Island:
By Train – Hampi does not have a railway station. The nearest Railway station is Hospet, which is around 12 km from Hampi.
There are direct trains from Mysore and Bangalore for Hospet. The best option will be to take “Hampi Express” which starts from Mysore and goes to Hampi via Bangalore. The train starts from Mysore at 6:40 PM, reaches Bangalore city Junction at 9:50 PM and reaches Hospet around 7:00 AM.
For Hospet to Hampi, you can take either a tuk-tuk (INR 250-INR 300) or local bus (INR 20). The buses run from 6:00 AM till 10:30 in the night.
Check out the availability of the trains here - www.irctc.com
By Bus – There are direct buses for Hampi/ Hospet from Mysore, Goa, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Gokarna. The bus will cost anywhere between INR 1,000 to 2,000 depending on the type you are opting (sleeper/ semi sleeper/ non-sleeper). While travelling by bus, be ready for a bumpy ride!
Check out the all the bus options here – www.redbus.com
By flight – Hampi does not have an airport. The nearest airport is Hubli which is around 150 km away from Hampi. You will need to hire a taxi from Hubli airport to reach Hampi.
From Hampi to Hippie Island
The best way to reach Hippie Island Hampi is to cross the Tungabhadra river by boat (5 minutes ride) near the Virupaksha temple in Hampi. The charges are INR 50 for one boat ride. The boat starts from 8:00 AM till 5:30 PM. Though the official timing is 8 AM till 5:30 PM, I have seen people crossing the river till 8:30 PM in the night in small coracles. In the late hours, the charges are quite high (INR 200).
Homestay in Hampi:
Hippie Island is a haven for backpackers. The rent for basic rooms can be as low as INR 700. You can also experience staying in a mud house or a cosy hut next to the rice fields. Don’t expect luxury, most of the guesthouses are run by families who have only basic amenities to offer but are extremely welcoming and helpful.
Some of the recommended places to stay – Goan corner , Sunny Guest House (hut style rooms), Uma guest house, Shanti Guest House, Goumathi guest house, Mowgli Guest house.
Best time to visit Hippie Island:
Late October to Early February will be the ideal time to visit Hippie Island Hampi. During the rainy season (ie July to September), Hampi gets inconsistent rainfall and will be humid. In case you enjoy exploring around in rain and want to see ‘Greener Island’, July to September can also be a good idea. In case of heavy rain, there may be an issue of boat rides for Hippie Island from the ruined side, do check it before going.
During the rest of the year, the temperature in Hampi will be at its peak and it will be unbearably hot.
Is Hippie Island safe for Solo Female Travellers:
I did a solo trip to Hampi for 3 days. From my first-hand experience, I would say Hippie Island Hampi is absolutely safe for solo female travellers. Since Hippie Island Hampi is a pretty chilled out place, it will be a lot more fun while travelling with friends.
How many days are required for exploring Hippie Island Hampi:
I would love to spend weeks in Hippie Island because of the laidback vibes, peace and rich history. You will for sure need at least 2 days to explore Hippie Island properly. In case you also wish to see the ruin side, do plan for at least 3 to 4 days.
What should be your budget for a trip to Hippie Island Hampi
Like I said before, Hampi is backpackers’ paradise. You can get rooms starting from INR 500 and food is inexpensive too (INR 30 for a dosa). To give you a better idea, I had spent INR 3,000 (including train ticket cos), for a 3 days’ stay.
SOME TRAVEL TIPS for Hippie Island Hampi
Carry enough cash - the nearest ATM is in Hospet which is 10 km away from Hampi. Debit/ credit cards are not accepted at almost all the places in Hippie Island Hampi.
Low mobile network – Not all the parts in Hippie Island Hampi have a good network connection. Keep your loved ones informed.
Carry Toiletries, towel, etc – As I mentioned before, Hampi guesthouses offer you basic amenities and hence, it will be good to carry your own toiletries/ towel etc.
Peak Season Travel – If you are travelling to Hippie Island Hampi in peak season, book your stay and travel in advance or else, you might end up paying double.
Bargain – Like all the other parts of India, you gotta keep the Bargain-hustle going in Hampi, especially if you are not an Indian.
What to wear – Preferably cotton clothes. No restriction or any dress code for visiting temples.
I hope you found the blog on Hippie Island Hampi helpful. I have written a detailed blog on the Heritage side/ ruin side of Hampi. You can read the blog here. Both the blogs will give you a detailed idea about Hampi.
Do tell me if I have missed adding anything or if you have any other questions. Will be happy to help! Will be looking forward to hearing on your travel experience to Hampi.
Also, in case you are exploring India around, you can read my guide on Jodhpur, Udaipur, Amritsar.
Love,
Tanned Travel Girl