From Maybe to Magic: My Diwali Adventure Through Hampi

It was during Diwali that I found myself packing for an impromptu trip to Hampi with Nikhita, my flatmate. Honestly, I wasn’t all that excited about it at first—Hampi didn’t scream adventure to me. But Nikhita? Oh, she was determined. So, with a shrug and a “Why not?” attitude, I went along for the ride. We left Bangalore, ready for whatever the journey had in store.

The plan was simple: scooty around Hampi like true explorers. Except, hold on—it wasn’t me doing the riding. That was Nikhita’s domain. I was happily content being the pillion rider, soaking in the sights and chirping directions from the back.

First things first—we took an overnight bus journey from Bangalore to Hospet, the closest major stop, since there’s no direct bus to Hampi itself. From Hospet, it was a quick 12-kilometer ride to Hampi. We hopped on a local bus—crowded, noisy, and buzzing with chatter that made the journey all the more real.

Now, here’s where things got interesting. We’d booked a guesthouse online at the last minute, so naturally, options were less. But when we arrived, surprise, surprise—it wasn’t in service. Some mixup on the booking site left us standing there, bags in hand, ready for a plot twist. “Well, guess the adventure starts now,” we laughed. After a few calls, the owner—a surprisingly kind and accommodating guy—came to our rescue and showed us three of his other properties. We ended up choosing Hampi Calling in Ajanahalli at the back of Ajanadri Hills.

Unlike the hustle and bustle of main Hampi, Ajanahalli was all about peace. Quiet, and surrounded by paddy fields and boulders—it was exactly what we needed. But, of course, we ended up visiting Hampi’s main bazaar four times during our stay. Convenience? Curiosity? Maybe a bit of both.

Our itinerary was meticulously crafted—or rather, curated from countless Instagram reels, blog posts, and a thick guidebook we’d bought on an impulse. No FOMO here! First stop: the Gagan Mahal in Anegundi, Banana fibre workshop, Pampasarovara and famous Sanapur Lake. Now, Sanapur was something both of us had been really excited about—ready for cliff jumping and a coracle ride. But guess what? When we got there, we found out that all activities had been halted due to high tides and “some incident.” Although we were offered a coracle ride at another spot, it just didn’t feel right, so we passed.

Despite the disappointment, riding the scooty along the winding road made us remember why we came—it was simply beautiful. Nikhita suggested we “quickly check out the lake.” I was more interested in snapping some pictures, but we ended up staying much longer, completely mesmerized by the calm waters. Later, we strolled around the Sanapur Bazaar, did a bit of shopping, and just like that, our first day in Hampi wrapped up—slightly disappointing, but still memorable in its own way.

Our second day in Hampi began with visits to the Queen’s Bath, Lotus Mahal, and the impressive Elephant Stables. Each site hinted at the grandeur of Hampi's royal past. Nikhita and I marveled at their beauty, clicked countless photos, and tried to imagine life centuries ago.

Next, we headed to Vittala Temple, a place I’d seen in photos but was far more breathtaking in person. The intricate stone carvings, the musical pillars—everything seemed frozen in time. While we both snapped away like a pro, then we lost in the intricate stone carvings and the aura of ancient history.

We ended the day climbing to Hanuman Bala for sunset. Now, getting to Hanuman Bala Hill required some serious legwork—steps, and more steps. But reaching the top and watching the sun dip behind the boulders was magic. As night fell, we rested with a quiet buzz of excitement, knowing there was more to come.

Day three began with a sunrise trek up Matanga Hill. Watching Hampi all from that height felt surreal and totally worth the early start. As the day heated up, we found ourselves sitting near a monolith, watching someone nearby skillfully carve shapes into stone—it felt like magic. Inspired, Nikhita took it a step further and carved a little rabbit on her own, while I managed to create a few rough shapes myself. Her work wasn’t exactly a masterpiece, but it’s moments like these that stay with you.

Next, we made our way to the famous Mango Tree Restaurant—something we’d heard a lot about and didn’t want to miss. We treated ourselves to their South thali and a banana dessert, and I have to say, it lived up to the hype. Totally worth it!

Afterward, we returned to our stay to pack our bags. Packing up was bittersweet. We said our goodbyes to Hampi Calling and, more importantly, to the kind host who had saved our stay at the last minute. With heavy hearts, we returned the scooty, took a final ferry ride across the Tungabhadra River, and walked one last time through the bustling Hampi Bazaar. And of course, we couldn’t leave without one final stroll through Virupaksha Temple. With that, we made our way back to Hospet, ready to catch our bus to Bangalore.

On the last night, when we flipped through our Hampi guidebook, we realized we had covered nearly every major site. The realization was sweet; we didn’t miss much (if anything). Scooty adventures, endless photos, reels, serene temples, and breathtaking views—the trip that started as a hesitant “maybe” became a story I’d tell a hundred times. So, if you ever find yourself debating a Hampi trip, my advice? Go for it. And if you have someone like Nikhita, all the better—you’ll end up with stories to last a lifetime.