Hampi Badami Day 3

To read the previous blog on Hampi-Badami Day-2 click here

Day 3: Transition to Hampi

After a leisurely breakfast, we hit the road again, this time towards Hampi. A scenic 3.5-hour drive later, we arrived at the Goan corner / Zostel Gangavathi, our cozy home in Hampi, where we enjoyed a relaxing afternoon.

We chose the non-air-conditioned private cottage huts, and even in the intense heat outside, the interior of the houses was pleasantly cool. The vacation was made even more memorable by the presence of amiable creatures like dogs, cats, rabbits, and birds.

We met a lot of other travellers and the staff was quite friendly, which added to the enjoyment of our stay. The entire property was kept up nicely, and the bathrooms were immaculate, which made for a cosy and restful stay.

This place is much more than just a stay—it’s an experience in itself! The beautifully designed café overlooks a serene pond filled with fish, and the property is home to a variety of friendly animals including dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, ducks, and more, adding a heartwarming charm to the visit.

While it’s located a bit away from the main Hampi area, the property makes up for it with a range of unique activities. From scenic sunset treks and lakeside coracle rides to fun game tournaments and peaceful drives, there’s always something happening. The on-site café at Zostel serves delicious food and exudes a laid-back, relaxing vibe—perfect for unwinding after a day of exploring.

Note: Although it is a little farther from the main Hampi attractions, getting about was easy because cars and bikes could be rented immediately outside.

It is very difficult to get a strong Maharashtrian chai in South India since South Indians have more of coffee. After having multiple number of tasteless chais in Karnataka, we finally found a place where you get chai which tastes exactly like the chai from Amruttulyas of Pune. This hawker selling special tea and coffee is at Kadebagilu cross. I could not read the name of his stall since it was in Kannada, but you may refer the image below to find his stall.

It started drizzling when we were on the way to Anegundi. The rocks which looked golden in the afternoon started looking grey. On the other side of the road, we could see lush green crops. The view of the grey rocks, bright green crops, rainbow and dew on the glass of the car was mesmerizing.

By evening, we were ready to explore Gagan Mahal Palace in Anegundi, a grand structure with remnants of Vijayanagara architecture. Gagan Mahal, also known as the “Sky Palace,” is a historic building located in the Karnataka village of Anegundi, close to Hampi. Built as a royal mansion during the Vijayanagara Empire in the 16th century, it may have housed the queen’s rooms.
Located at Annegudi, on the outskirts of Northern Hampi, is the Mahal. It is a rather little construction that takes ten to fifteen minutes to view in its entirety. No limits or admission fees. During the height of the Vijayanagara Empire, the realm was adorned with numerous palaces, including this 500-year-old one. The palace reportedly served as the Queen’s residence. In the past, queens liked to observe processions and other events from above without being directly visible to the general public.

With its four towers, ornate balconies, and arched windows, the palace is a magnificent example of Indo-Islamic architecture. Interestingly, it was designed to stay cool throughout the sweltering summers, demonstrating the sophisticated building methods of the time.
Huge wooden pillars support the Mahal, a spacious rectangular hall with private apartments above. The ladies may have been able to observe the court’s activities thanks to galleries. The monument’s large central arch and two narrow side arches that span the facade, however, are its most intriguing features. In order to give the king and his nobles a united view of the assembly and the various military operations that took place in front of it, it was desirable to have a clean open area between the facade and the Darbar Hall that was unhindered by pillars or any type of masonary. It did, however, have an impact on the structure’s proportion of elevation.

To read the next blog on Hampi-Badami Day-4 click here