[Miyata]

Would it not have been very VERY hot at Hampi? Have been there twice and even in December it had felt scorching!

[Dr.AD]

Originally Posted by PrideRed

Nice travelogue AD and amazing pictures. Hampi makes for nice/comfortable weekend outing from Bangalore.

Originally Posted by DragonHawk

Every trip report of yours about Hampi, makes me want to pack my bags right away

Originally Posted by W.S.T.R.

Superb write-up and amazing pics.

Nevertheless, it's still a location, i always look up-to to travel to.

Originally Posted by SuhasSalavathsa

The pictures you posted talks a lot. Indeed, a Solo trip can teach you a lot of things and gives a sense of pleasure.

Originally Posted by Kkumar

Nice travelogue with beautiful photos. Reminded me of my drive to Hampi and the stay in JLR last year. Thank you for sharing and keep on munching miles.

Originally Posted by justwheels

Your solo ride threads/posts are very soon going to be the most well documented ready reckoner for a quick weekend drive (if not already). You are indeed an epitome of how to spend quality time in whatever timespan you have at hand. Hats off @Dr.AD.

Hampi is a place that triggers a lot of emotions, had first visited the place in 2008, many eons back. The place still mesmerizes the same.

Thank you very much all of you for your kind words and appreciation.

Great to see that I am not alone who is charmed by the magic of Hampi. Nice to read about your own Hampi memories. It is indeed a wonderful place.

Originally Posted by Miyata

Would it not have been very VERY hot at Hampi? Have been there twice and even in December it had felt scorching!

Nope, not at all very hot. Yes, it would be hot in December, but not in August when I did this particular trip. The weather in Hampi in December and August is very different.

As I said, weather wise, probably July or August is the best time to visit Hampi. The daytime temperatures can be around 30C to 32C, with clouds and breeze making it feel nice enough. I have been to Hampi in these monsoon months a few times and always enjoyed the weather.

But even in December, the weather is not that bad. The worst weather I have seen in Hampi was in June, a few years ago. That was really hot and humid.

[Chetan_Rao]

Doc, besides the per-usual-standards A+ travelogue, may I just point out what a pleasure it is to see a stock(?) Thar out & about, in a world of modified specimens.

Nothing wrong with customising a vehicle to one's tastes of course, to each their own, but as a keep-it-as-stock-as-possible aficionado myself, kudos!

[Dr.AD]

Originally Posted by Chetan_Rao

Doc, besides the per-usual-standards A+ travelogue, may I just point out what a pleasure it is to see a stock(?) Thar out & about, in a world of modified specimens.

Nothing wrong with customising a vehicle to one's tastes of course, to each their own, but as a keep-it-as-stock-as-possible aficionado myself, kudos!

Thank you very much, Chetan.

Yes, this is a stock car. I have added some accessories, such as a dual-channel dashcam, reversing camera, a dead pedal, an armrest etc. But none of these can qualify as "modifications". That way the car is 100% stock!

I love stock cars too. I get more excited about putting the stock car to a good use as it is rather than worrying about what is wrong with it and try to improvise on that by modifications. Once I buy a car, I just accept it as it is, with both the good and the bad that comes with it, and just drive it as much a I can. So yes, that way all my cars have always been stock cars.

[arun_josie]

Originally Posted by Dr.AD

You have to fix this ASAP and you must visit Hampi soon. Just kidding, of course!

Yes, but somehow Hampi keeps missing from my radar. Its not just Hampi, even Pondicherry. Will plan these drives soon.

Jokes apart, yes Hampi is an amazing place to visit. Right now the weather is good and it will be a nice cloudy and comfortable climate there, through September. Also, the greenery around Hampi is really nice in this season. However, you will not get to see those famous sunsets and sunrises in this season.

You can wait till October and drive there in October if you want to see the lovely sunsets and sunrises too. Even November is an ideal time to visit Hampi as it will be relatively cooler and the winter sunsets are magical. Please feel free to ping me when you drive there and I will be happy to suggest specific locations to visit for sunsets and sunrises.

Thanks for this detailed information, I will get in touch with you when I plan one.

[Rev2Serenity]

Originally Posted by Dr.AD

Magical Morning at an Ancient Temple

However, I still drove to one of my most favorite places for spending a peaceful morning in Hampi - Shri Malyavanta Raghunatha Temple.

AAH! This temple is my favourite as well. It offers a splendid view for sunrise / sunset of Hampi and being not so famous, it's not crowded as well unlike other places there.

PRO TIP: The beautiful pillars which you mentioned are musical too like the ones in famous Shri Vittala Temple.

Great solo travelogue as usual DR.AD and beautiful Pics with the Thar!

Happy motoring!

[doomketu]

Hampi is still on my list of To-Go places. Everyone in my family has visited the Hampi-Pattadakal-Vatapi circuit and topped it off with a Chitradurga trip on the way back, while I sit here twiddling my thumbs. I should take a leaf (and a miniature scale model) out of your book and just ride solo to Hampi. I loved the photos as much as i enjoyed reading about it.

[ABHI_1512]

Lovely report about Hampi, again, Dr AD. It’s one place that is on my waiting list forever and I don’t know when I will be able to visit. I have now read so much about the place, courtesy you, that it feels like I know everything about the place without even visiting once !!

Also, your solo travels are now becoming a part of a future storybook about Hampi where each chapter can comprise a drive with each of your vehicle and on different seasons. Would be quite a storybook I say.

[cogWheel]

Originally Posted by Dr.AD

... in October if you want to see the lovely sunsets and sunrises too. Even November is an ideal time to visit Hampi as it will be relatively cooler and the winter sunsets are magical. Please feel free to ping me when you drive there and I will be happy to suggest specific locations to visit for sunsets and sunrises.

Lovely travelouge Dr.A.D!
We plan to drive to Hampi in the second week of October. Can you please suggest other off-beat sites like the Malayavanta Raghunatha temple for sunsets and sunrises? Destinations that need a bit of off-roading or poor roads are also welcome as we will be driving a Jimny. I guess such spots are less likely to be crowded.
The Sanapur lake area you visited also sounds interesting for a drive in a Utility vehicle like the Jimny. Any specific routes, entry / exit points you would recommend?
Thanks in advance!

[Dr.AD]

Originally Posted by cogWheel

Lovely travelouge Dr.A.D!

Thanks a lot.

We plan to drive to Hampi in the second week of October. Can you please suggest other off-beat sites like the Malayavanta Raghunatha temple for sunsets and sunrises? Destinations that need a bit of off-roading or poor roads are also welcome as we will be driving a Jimny. I guess such spots are less likely to be crowded.

Malayavanta Raghunatha temple is not really an "off-beat" place. It is one of the well known temples in Hampi. However, if you go there very early in the morning (sunrise time), it is usually empty, and that is when I like this temple the most.

For sunsets and sunrises, I would recommend the usual places first, i.e. Hemakuta Hill for sunset and Malayavanta Raghunatha temple for sunrise.

Then if you want to explore further, then Mathanga hill is the best spot for sunrise, but you need to do a decent amount of climbing for that. Please check out the details of that from one of my earlier travelogues on Hampi. That does remain my most favorite place in Hampi, but I do not visit it that often due to the climb required. I am too lazy to do that climb every time.

[jawalover193]

What a fantastic journey! Your love for Hampi shines through, and it’s inspiring to see how you’ve rediscovered its beauty across seasons and experiences. Taking your Thar to explore the rugged terrains and monsoon landscapes adds a whole new layer to your adventures. The peaceful solitude you found during your ride in unmatched. Here’s to more soulful drives in "Dusty"!