2-day Hampi tour from Bangalore: Temples, monuments & river

The oldest temples in Hampi sit next to a 1500 BC cave gallery most visitors never reach.

A 2-day guided tour from Bangalore to Hampi, the ancient capital of the Vijayanagara Empire, with private transport, one night's hotel accommodation and entry to major monuments including Vijaya Vittala Temple, Virupaksha Temple, Royal Enclosures and Anegundi Fort. Day one covers the Sasivekalu Ganesha Temple (an 8-foot statue carved from a single rock), the Hoysala-period Virupaksha Temple and the stone chariot at Vittala Temple. Day two includes a coracle ride on the Tungabhadra River and a visit to Anegundi village to see Iron Age cave paintings. A live English-speaking guide accompanies you throughout. Pickup from Bangalore is included.

The experience

The drive from Bangalore takes you to Hampi by early afternoon, leaving time to check into your hotel and start exploring the monuments. Your guide leads you through the Sasivekalu Ganesha Temple first (an 8-foot carved figure of Lord Ganesha cut from a single block of stone), then moves on to the Virupaksha Temple, the oldest structure in Hampi dating back to the Hoysala period. The afternoon ends at the Vijaya Vittala Temple and its famous stone chariot, where you spend about two hours. These stops form the core of day one, and you overnight in Hampi.

Day two starts after breakfast with a coracle ride on the Tungabhadra River, a narrow boat experience that gives you the river's perspective on the landscape. Toward evening, your guide takes you to Anegundi village to see the cave paintings: Iron Age artwork dating back around 1500 BC, preserved in the rock faces. This is the part of the tour most travelers skip, and it shifts the focus from temples to the earlier layers of human presence in the region. After the village, you return to Bangalore.

The tour runs as a private experience with your own guide and driver, so the pace stays yours and the stops hold to the itinerary without waiting for a group. Entry to all major sites is included, as is one night's accommodation and breakfast. You'll need to arrange lunch and dinner on your own, though your guide can point you toward local options.

What’s included

• Private transportation from Bangalore to Hampi and back.
• one night's hotel accommodation in Hampi.
• entry to Vijaya Vittala Temple, Virupaksha Temple, Royal Enclosures, the Group of Monuments at Hampi and Anegundi Fort.
• breakfast on day two.
• a live English-speaking guide for the full two days.

Before you book

Lasts 2d, runs every day with no fixed time, from US$ 550 per person, with a live guide in English, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day

AgesAdult (18 to 80 years) · Under 18: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Adventuresome

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to move at your own pace without waiting for a group: the private guide and driver let you linger at the stone carvings and skip ahead if a site doesn't hold you. The two-day format gives you time for both the major temples on day one and the river ride plus the Iron Age cave paintings on day two, which most single-day tours from Bangalore don't reach.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the Sasivekalu Ganesha Temple like when you get there?

The Sasivekalu Ganesha Temple is an 8-foot statue of Lord Ganesha carved from a single block of rock. It's one of the first stops on day one and gives you a sense of the scale and precision of Hampi's stone work.

How much time do you spend at Vijaya Vittala Temple?

Vijaya Vittala Temple gets about two hours on day one. The site includes the famous stone chariot and is one of the major monuments on the itinerary.

What happens during the coracle ride on day two?

On day two after breakfast, you take a coracle ride on the Tungabhadra River. A coracle is a narrow traditional boat, and the ride gives you a different view of the landscape and the river that runs through Hampi.

What are the cave paintings at Anegundi village, and how old are they?

The cave paintings at Anegundi village date back to the Iron Age, around 1500 BC. They're preserved in the rock faces of the village and represent an earlier layer of human presence in the region, before the temples and monuments were built.

Does the tour include meals?

Breakfast is included on day two. Lunch and dinner are not covered, so you'll arrange those on your own. Your guide can recommend local spots.

What is the Virupaksha Temple, and why is it significant?

Virupaksha Temple is the oldest temple in Hampi, dating back to the Hoysala period. It's one of the major stops on day one and represents the architectural heritage of the Vijayanagara Empire.