Luxury holidays in Hampi
Take a trip back in time to the mediaeval majesty of Hampi. The last capital of the great Vijayanagara Empire, this World Heritage Site is home to hundreds of ancient buildings for you to grab your trusty brown fedora and go full Indiana Jones at. The 4,100 hectare site boasts enough temples, shrines and monuments to keep even the most ardent adventurer busy. When you’re done exploring the regal ruins, climb Matanga Hill – there’s no better spot to see the sunset – shop like an emperor in the bazaar, or sip the award-winning wines of the nearby KRSMA Estates’ vineyards. Got a head for heights? Follow in the footholds of ancient stonemasons and climb the etched boulders dotted among the sovereign structures.
When to go
Visit Hampi between November and February for a little winter warmth. The summer is a little hot to handle – temperatures ramp up from March – and monsoon season runs from June to August. In November, you can catch the Hampi Festival, an extravaganza of culture and colour, or opt for early in the year for the Purandara Dasa Aradhana, a classical-music festival commemorating a local saint.