Hampi Badami Vijayapura (Bijapur) Heritage Tour
This extended heritage tour across northern Karnataka combines the historic regions of Hampi, Badami and Vijayapura into a single, culturally rich itinerary. The journey begins in Hampi, the former capital of the Vijayanagara Empire, known for its vast landscape of temples, royal enclosures and ancient ruins. It then continues to Badami and nearby sites such as Pattadakal and Aihole, which showcase the early Chalukyan style of temple architecture. The tour concludes in Vijayapura (formerly known as Bijapur), a city famous for its grand Indo-Islamic monuments and historic structures. Together, these destinations offer a comprehensive exploration of Karnataka's architectural and cultural heritage across multiple eras.
Tour Summary
| Starting From | Bangalore | Ending at | Bangalore |
| No of days | 8 | Number of nights | 7 |
| Night stays at | Hampi / Hospet (3 nights) Badami (2 nights) Vijayapura (2 nights) | ||
Hampi Badami Vijayapura Tour Itinerary Overview
This itinerary is designed as a deep heritage circuit covering three of northern Karnataka's most historically significant regions. The tour begins with the grand ruins and temple complexes of Hampi, followed by the cave temples and early stone structures of Badami, Aihole and Pattadakal. It then continues to Vijayapura, where monumental Islamic architecture reflects a later chapter in the region's history. The schedule is planned to balance travel and sightseeing, allowing enough time to appreciate each destination without rushing.
Key Highlights of the Hampi Badami Vijayapura Tour
Hampi's temple complexes: Explore the Virupaksha Temple, Vittala Temple and royal enclosures of the Vijayanagara capital.
Badami Cave Temples: Visit the famous rock-cut cave shrines carved into sandstone cliffs overlooking Agastya Lake.
Pattadakal temples: A UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its early Chalukyan temple architecture.
Aihole temple town: Often called the 'cradle of Indian temple architecture', with numerous early stone temples.
Vijayapura monuments: Discover grand structures such as Gol Gumbaz and other historic Indo-Islamic buildings.
Almatti and Kudala Sangama: Scenic and spiritual stops that add depth to the heritage journey.
Day wise Itinerary of Hampi Tour
Day 1: Bangalore - Chitradurga - Hampi
Start from Bangalore early in the morning. Drive for about 3-3.5 hours to reach the historic town of Chitradurga. Chitradurga is known for its massive hill fort, stone ramparts and dramatic landscapes. The fort complex features multiple gateways, ancient temples, water reservoirs and panoramic viewpoints spread across a series of rocky hills. Later, visit some pre-historic caves behind the fort in Chitradurga.
After exploring Chitradurga, it is time to drive further towards Hampi (2.5 hours). Visit Tungabhadra Dam in the evening. Later, checkin to a hotel and relax.
Day 2: Explore Hampi
Today, you will need to hire a guide and explore the historic Hampi. Start with Vittala Temple and the iconic Stone Chariot. Later visit Royal Enclosure, Elephant Stable, Lotus Temple, Pushkarani, Hazar Rama Temple, Queen's Bath, and many other historic sites. As the sun starts getting milder, we head back to our hotel and relax.
Day 3: Explore Anegundi, Anjanadri, Sanapur
Have an early breakfast and checkout of hotel. Drive to Anegundi (formerly known as the Kishkinda Kingdom or the Kingdom of Vanar Sena). It is here that Lord Rama met Sugriva. The nearby Anjanadri Hill is also the birth place of Hanuman. Visit Anjanadri Betta, Pampa Sarovar, Durga Temple, Chintamani Temple, Krishna Devaraya Tomb.
After lunch, it is time to move towards Sanapur. Visit the Sanapur Lake, a less crowded but beautiful lake with a picturesque background. Get a little adventurous with some water activities like coracle ride or cliff jumping. In the evening, drive towards Sanapur Waterfalls. Though there is not real waterfalls here, the amazing riverside is a perfect place to watch sunset.
Drive back to hotel and relax.
Day 4: Hampi - Badami
After breakfast, checkout of hotel. We will first explore a small and extremely offbeat historic site which used to be a village from stone age era. This will involve a small trek / walk for 40-50 minutes. Be amazed by the way of life during that era.
Later, drive towards Badami. After lunch at Badami, visit Badami Cave Temple, Badami Fort and Bhoothnath Temple
In the evening, drive back to hotel and relax.
Day 5: Aihole Pattadakal Excursion
After leisurly breakfast, you can drive towards Pattadakal which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the temple complex and be stunned by the architectural details of the variety of temples in the temple complex.
Next stop is at Aihole, which is popular for Durga Temple Complex. This temple complex is yet another magnificent architectural wonder. Walk through the various temples with the complex and understand the architecture more closely
Aihole also used to be the test bed for the Chalukyan to build temples. Befor finalising the architecture for Badami Cave Temple, a number of temples were carved out at Aihole. Most of the temples are in ruins, but we can visit some of them during the day.
After going through the prehistoric days, it is time to return to Badami.
Day 6: Badami - Kudala Sangama - Almatty - Vijayapura
Today, we will proceed to few offbeat but interesting places. After breakfast, checkout of hotel. Drive to Kudala Sangama. This is a popular pilgrimage place Lingayat community of Karnataka. The place has samadhi of Basavanna who is the founder of Lingayat community. It also houses a linga, which is believed to be self-born. The place is also beautiful as it lies exactly at the confluence of two rivers: Krishna and Malaprabha.
Later we drive to Almatty Dam. This is the largest dam in the region and is built over River Krishna. You can drive to KSTDC guest house which gives an amazing view of the dam. After spending some time at the view point, you can proceed a park near the dam area. Enjoy some peaceful time near the dam and explore the region.
In the evening, drive to Vijayapura (formerly known as Bijapur). Checkin to a hotel and relax.
Day 7: Vijayapura Sightseeing
Vijayapura has a rich history, and was the capital of Adil Shah Dynasty. The most popular place in Vijayapura is Gol Gumbaz. The architecture of this is going to leave you astonished. It will make you think about the amount of thinking that was done before building it that way.
Later you can visit Jamia Masjid, 12 kaman, Ibrahim Roza, Gagan Mahal, Asar Mahal, Sangeet Mahal and Shivagiri Temple
Day 8: Vijayapura - Bangalore
After an amazing week of exploring the places of rich history, it is time to head back to Bangalore. It is going to be a long drive, but you now have even longer set of stories to share with your friends and family. By evening, you will be dropped at Bangalore.
Why Visit Hampi, Badami and Vijayapura Together?
These three destinations represent different chapters in Karnataka's long and layered history. Hampi reflects the power and grandeur of the Vijayanagara Empire, while Badami, Aihole and Pattadakal showcase the architectural achievements of the early Chalukya dynasty. Vijayapura represents a later era, known for its impressive Indo-Islamic monuments and cultural influences. Traveling through these regions in one itinerary reveals how different kingdoms shaped the architecture, culture and history of the Deccan over centuries.
Best Time to Take the Hampi Badami Vijayapura Tour
The best time to take this tour is between October and March, when the weather is cooler and more comfortable for exploring outdoor monuments. Summers can be quite hot, especially in the rocky landscapes of Hampi and the sandstone regions around Badami and Vijayapura. The monsoon season adds some greenery but may bring occasional travel disruptions.
Who This Heritage Tour Is Ideal For
Travelers interested in history and architecture
Cultural travelers exploring temple and monument circuits
Photographers looking for dramatic landscapes and historic structures
Travelers who prefer deeper, less crowded heritage experiences
