Hampi’s Coziest Guest Houses And Hostels To Stay At This Summer

 Hampi’s Coziest Guest Houses And Hostels To Stay At This Summer

 

Hampi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is constantly flocked by all sorts of tourists, from backpackers to old uncles, intent on walking along its picturesque landscape scattered with monuments and boulders. This destination in Karnataka is like a rusticated Rome, everywhere you turn there is a monument of a lost empire. With over 500 monuments spread out over the sprawling hills of Hampi it’s often recommended that first timers spend a few days there to properly absorb the World Heritage Site.

However, with the constant stream of tourism the site brings, it is easy for some hostels and hotels to offer the wrong kind of shabby accommodation. When you’re visiting a place as beautiful as Hampi you don’t want the experienced to get ruined because of some avoidable unpleasantness, like, bed bugs. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of a few places that will let you kick back stress free, after a day of exploring the chiseled beauty of Hampi baking in the sun

Hampi Gowri

If you like getting away from the crowds this little hotel is right up your alley. The small rooms with bamboo interiors and thatched roofs interact nicely with the boulders and rice paddies that surround the hotel. A little ways away for the World Heritage Site, around 4 km, it is recommend travellers either rent a scooter or take a taxi.

Image source: Hampi Gowri

The Goan Corner

The Goan Corner is located one kilometer from the Virupaksha Temple and is a wonderful mom and pop hotel. Thakur and Sharmila have run their hotel since 1998 and enjoy serving up great food for their guests. Aside from being nice hosts the couple chose some primo real estate as Hampi’s bouldering plateau lives in the backyard of The Goan Corner. That’s why The Goan Corner hosts many climbers, typically hitting the boulders from 6.30am till 10am, and perhaps an afternoon session around 4.30pm till sunset.

Image source: Youtube

White Elephant

Located on the Sanapur side of Hampi, White Elephant is a relatively basic hotel, clean but not extraordinary. However, their restaurant serves some of the better food in Hampi and provides an atmosphere that is perfect for watching the sunset. At the restaurant you can lounge out on one of their many mattresses and smoke hookah or play boardgames with other travellers passing through.

Image source: Elita A via blogspot

Mowgli

This guest house is located across the river from Hampi, which is great if you like quiet evenings and don’t mind a talking a short walk and a ferry. A bit more pricey than some of the other options, this place is best suited for people looking to relax over some soothing views. A couple of food-related amenities worth mentioning are Italian (with a real wood fire oven) and Israeli food, as well as, fresh fruit juices. Also, they have pool table to kill time during those lazy Hampi evenings.

Image source: Miles And Miles And Kumar

Shanti Dhama

The guest rooms lie in the shade of a row of palm trees, and look out onto a patch of green where guests can also pitch their tent. Shanti offers a 24-hour front desk, and often sees many travellers walking through their front door.

Uramma Heritage

The Uramma Heritage is located around a ten minute walk from the Hampi ruins. They do not feature a conventional set up, and instead offer accommodation through their Uramma House, Uramma Cultural Residency, Pesheeghar House and Machan Studio Cottage. The Uramma House has two bedrooms and is usually rented out to families and the Pesheeghar House is a four bedroom house usually rented out to groups of friends and families visiting Hampi. The Machan Studio Cottage is a one bedroom cottage ideal for couples visiting Hampi. Lastly, the Uramma Cultural Residency offers seven cottages to be rented out to individuals searching for cultural learning. Typically guests spend a few months in these cottages taking part in residential workshops, courses, retreats and seminars, as well as, performances. The property is gorgeous and is a good choice for longer stays in Hampi.

Whichever your choice may be, you will certainly enjoy your time in Hampi —a veritable time capsule of stone work that is one with the terrain from which it was born.