Hampi, INDIA
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The UNESCO World Heritage site of Hampi takes you back in time to discover the glory of the Vijayanagara Empire sprawled on the South Bank of the River Tungabhadra. Historians believe that Hampi was one of the most prosperous cities in the world during the 14th-century. Trace the echoes of the past among the rubble of ruins that sprawls over 42 square kilometres. Sink in and be swept away by the majesty of the former imperial city of Vijayanagara in this historic walking tour.
Exploring the ancient city of Vijayanagara (Hampi) can be a daunting task, considering its vast expanse of 42 square kilometres. Take a fascinating day tour into the former medieval city to explore its ceremonial gateways, ruined temples, royal palaces, grand step-wells, market streets and fort bastions.
Start by covering the major temples of the sacred area on the banks of the mighty Tungabhadra river, the lifeline of Hampi for centuries. Legends of rituals, festivals, Carnatic music and Haridasa (devotional movement glorifying Lord Hari – Vishnu) come alive as you wander through the area strewn with impressive structures. Among the most noteworthy are the Vijaya Vittala Temple (known for its musical pillars) & the Stone Chariot Temple. Both surpass standards of excellence with their exquisite designs and intricate carvings. Expect to see the Mustard Seed Ganesha, the Hemakuta Group of Monuments, the three-headed Nandi - the Monolithic bull, the inverted pinhole image Kodanda Rama Temple.
Walk along the Hampi Bazaar and imagine the time when it overflowed with precious jewels. The most enjoyable stops for art lovers are the fresco paintings of the Sri Virupaksha Temple Complex and the relief sculptures on boulders and Mandapas.
After lunch, the walk continues to the courtly and military structures of the Citadel in the Urban Core. Stroll through arcaded palace passageways, administrative buildings, underground chambers, aqueducts and military structures while your guide paints a picture of the city layout and helps you understand its ingenious irrigation and sanitation plans. Life and times of the past sketch out in your mind as you trail landmarks like the Queen's Bath, Audience Hall, Stepwell Tank, Aqueduct systems of Royal Enclosure, Hazara Rama Temple, Lotus Mahal, Elephant Stables and the Nobleman’s Quarters viewing point.
Stories of the origin of Hampi and trivia on social life will take you beyond the sights into the soul of a fairytale city. The ensemble of evocative ruins packed with symbolisms will stay with you long after your holiday to India.
Transport: Private Car 
Activity level: Easy
Accessible to wheel chair: Yes 
Kid friendly: Yes 
Languages: English and Local Language 
Inclusions: Some light refreshments like coconut water. An expert english speaking tour lead. Battery Cart Fee at Vittala Temple Complex Optional Add-on: If you include the “Sunset & Dinner” option the following are included – Sunset, Evening Snack and Chai, Dinner with local family 
Exclusions: We do not provide bottled drinking water to avoid single-use plastics on our tours. Please carry a water bottle or buy one on the way. Entry fee to monuments is NOT included in the price. We do this so as to keep the price same for foreign and Indian nationals Lunch is not included on this tour. We will recommend you a good place and take you there Personal Expenses and Souvenir. 
Gratuities: Not included in tour cost;payable at guest's discretion 
Meet up location: Hotel Pick Up 
End of tour location: Hotel Drop Off Duration: 8 Hours 30 Mins Price: upto 2 adults ₹3000 | Price upto 2 adults | : ₹3,000 |
| Children | : Complimentary for children below 10 years |
25% of the total cost will be charged, if cancelled 15 to 10 days prior to the tour date.
50% of the total cost will be charged, if cancelled 9 to 5 days prior to the tour date.
No refund if cancelled less than 5 days prior to the tour date.
For group size more than 4 adults, write to us at info@footprintholidays.com
We can arrange other language speaking guides based on your request and availability
The tour can be customised to suit your needs like change of time, change of pick-up point, etc. You can write to us to info@footprintholidays.com customise your tour as per your preferences.
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I must say everything was planned to perfection. Each guide in every city was knowledgeable; especially the guide you arranged for us in Udaipur. We really enjoyed getting to know our guides Musheer and Kishore. We experienced the real India and appreciated the detailed itinerary your team created for us. The hotels were fantastic! In every hotel, the chef paid us a visit to make sure that we had meals suitable for us. We also enjoyed all the extra shopping excursions that were suggested.
The trip was a mega success and your team did a great job. Thanks to Footprint for everything. The entire family had a great time! The exclusive kalaripayattu demonstration was absolutely engaging and we loved every bit of the special private stand-up by Alex Babu (of Alex in Wonderland fame).
Thank you for a great trip! We especially enjoyed driving through the desertland into Jaisalmer; we also thoroughly enjoyed Bikaner, its Havelis and the Fort. Catching the daily life in Mumbai was a unique and eye-opening experience! All the hotels chosen are excellent with wonderful staff. Thank you!
Thank you for a wonderful trip to Kerala. We loved the village life walk and Fort Cochin walk. The backwater cruise in a traditional country boat was an incredible experience. A meal with the local family, living on an island in the backwaters, offered us an excellent opportunity to interact, learn and share. We loved every minute of our holiday! Thanks!
As a solo traveller, I felt safe and was exceptionally well taken care of. The cooking class in Jaipur was extremely enjoyable. The food, chef, and his wife were all exceptional and made for a lovely evening. Also, our expectations were definitely exceeded at a private residence, spending time with the elephants and lunching. Thanks!!
I loved India and thank you very much for arranging everything. It was a fabulous trip. Big kudos to you and your team. The tour guides and drivers were excellent. I loved the artisan walk, discovering the artistic treasures of Udaipur, meeting local potters and painters.
Thanks for arranging everything to precision – it was super smooth and we had a very good darshan!
Thanks for organising a great trip to Lucknow and Varanasi. The hotels at both the places were excellent; we had a great guide in Varanasi who went beyond the designated tour route and showed us around. The food tour in Lucknow was amazing and re-discovering the Awadhi Cuisine was a great experience – the kebabs were out of the world!
It was a terrific experience to spot the King of the jungle in all their glory at Gir. We had a very good experience overall.
It was a perfect leisure getaway – thanks for organising this! We loved the French Connection Trail; the guide took us through the French quarter sharing some incredible stories from the colonisation. We enjoyed the hotel and the service!