Places to see and visit during a road trip from Bangalore to Hampi via 3 route options

Route 1: The Hospet Route
Route Map: Bangalore → Chitradurga → Hospet → Hampi

This route takes about seven and a half hours on NH48 and NH50, a distance of about 360 kilometres. This is a popular route for most road trippers.

Chitradurga Fort: Built in a series of seven fortification walls; thus the name ‘Seven Circles Fort’. It also has eighteen temples.

Ankali Mutt: Located just 3 kms from Chitradurga, it boasts a temple between huge rocks and underground carved out caves.

Chandravalli: A couple of kilometres from Chitradurga, this is a gorgeous archaeological site in an area formed by three hills.

Tungabhadra Dam: This dam is worth stopping by for its spectacular views through its watchtower and its aesthetic beauty.

Vijayshree Village: Right before reaching Hampi, one can visit this heritage Rajasthani style village, for a little bit of a culture mash-ups.




Route 2: The Hiriyur Route
Route Map: Bangalore → Tumkur → Hiriyur → Challakere → Rampura → Hampi

This route takes about 7 hours for a drive of 400 kilometres (approx) via NH 48.

Vani Vilas Sagar Dam: A 30-minute detour from Hiriyur will lead you to this pre-independence era dam, with calm and clean waters.

Ajjanagudi Temple: Make a quick stop to Challakere if you want to visit this quiet temple.

Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary: Around half an hour before Hampi, visit this fun place to gaze at bears and other animals doing their thing in all their glory.




Route 3: The Anantpura Route
Route Map: Bangalore → Lepakshi → Anantapur → Bellari → Hampi

This route of 400 kms also takes about 7 hours. This route is preferred for its smooth driving conditions.

Lepakshi: Famous Nandi statue, the Veerabhadra temple, and the famous Shiva Linga inside.

Gooty Fort: This fort makes for an interesting trek uphill, with an amazing vantage point to capture pictures from.

Bellary Fort: Built atop huge boulders, this Fort has a haunting appeal, excellent for pictures or a peaceful walk.

Chintala Venkataramana Swamy Temple: The temple has a mix of South Indian heritage architecture. It's located about 50 kilometres from Anantapur.

Hampi Hippie Island: A good place for bouldering and rock-climbing fans, people interested in souvenir shopping, or coffee shops.

Drive to Chitradurga Fort by Debarati Dasgupta in August 2015

A curious combination of symmetry and asymmetry, of natural defence and manmade fortifications, Chitradurga fort lies in the midst of a valley formed by the Vedavati River. It is built a range of seven hills that belong to the oldest rock of granitic formation in the country.

The fort, which traces its history to 3rd millennium BC, is associated with the royal dynasties of Chalukyas, Rastrakutas, Hoysalas and the Vijayanagar kings.

It achieved prominence under the dynastic rule of the Nayakas, who being the traditional local chieftains, initially served under the Vijayanagar rulers.The Nayakas were most responsible for the expansion of the fort between the 15th and 18th centuries. They were defeated by Hyder Ali in 1779. Later the fort was expanded and strengthened by Hyder Ali and his son Tipu Sultan. It passed on to the British after Tipu Sultan's defeat in Srirangapatna.

The fort is built in a series of seven concentric fortification walls with various passages, a citadel, mosque, warehouses for grains and oil, water reservoirs and ancient temples.

Indian Roadie Debarati Dasgupta was at Chitradurga Fort in August 2015 during her Mumbai - Puducherry - Mumbai drive with her husband in their Renault Duster. Chitradurga in Karnataka is 200 kms from Bangalore on NH4 towards Pune.

(Content source & courtesy: Debarati Dasgupta, Travelextasy)