Luxury holidays in Hampi

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.

Getting there

• Planes

  Flights from London, Paris, Frankfurt and more touch down at Kempegowda International Airport in Bangalore. From there, you’ll find daily connections to Jindal Vijaynagar Airport, a convenient 20 miles south of Hampi. If you’re travelling from London, you can also connect via Hyderabad.

• Boats

  Cross the river on one of the regular boat shuttles to explore the laid-back Virupapur Gaddi area or the ancient village of Anegundi. The boats don’t run during high waters in monsoon season.

• Trains

  Overnight trains run from Bangalore and Goa to Hospet several times a week, and then it’s just a 30-minute auto-rickshaw or taxi ride to Hampi.

• Automobiles

  Auto-rickshaws and taxis are readily available; or hire a private driver to sightsee in style.