Hampi

Información

You’ll tick off an ancient civilization on this tour. It kicks off with a train ride to the pretty village of Hampi, where you can expect lots of greenery, streams and free-roaming monkeys. When you arrive, you’ll make your way to the ancient city of Vijayanager. Once a wealthy Hindu kingdom, this is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and, when you see the ruins here, you’ll understand why. It’s crammed with crumbling temples and palaces, all of which date back to the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries. One of the must-sees is the Vitthala Temple. It was dedicated to Hindu goddess, Vishnu, and its pillars make the sound of different musical instruments if you tap them. What’s more, it boasts an impressive stone chariot drawn by a pair of elephants – originally the wheels of the chariot revolved. Another of the site’s showpieces is the Virupaksha Temple. It boasts a 50-metre tower that’s still used for worship today. You’ll have plenty of time to explore, before heading back to the train station and back to your hotel. Just so you know, your accommodation in Hampi will be air-conditioned, but the train will not be air-conditioned.