Showing posts with label North Karnataka. Show all posts
Showing posts with label North Karnataka. Show all posts

Chutney Pudi Recipe | Chutney Powder Recipe | Gunpowder Recipe [Video]


Chutney Pudi recipe with step by step photo and video instructions. Chutney Pudi is a popular condiment from North Karnataka. Chutney Pudi is a spicy peanut and roasted gram powder that can be eaten as a dry chutney along with ghee or oil. Chutney Pudi is served as an accompaniment to idli, dosa, chapati or rice.

In a hurry? Jump to Video or Jump to Recipe

chutney pudi

chutney pudi

This wonderful orange spicy powder with an odd crystal of sugar or a small bit of tamarind was basically my school lunch. Yes, I am not joking. I cannot tell you how much I loved chutney pudi as a school kid. Every day for four years my mother had to make me 2 chapatis and then slather them with homemade ghee (yummm) and lots of chutney pudi, fold it into small triangles and pack it off with me. I'm not sure why, but I would not eat anything else for lunch/snack. I mean my "lunch" break was at 10am, so that was definitely a snack, and not really lunch. I was definitely the teacher's pet for getting a healthy snack while some of the other kids got cookies and other sweet treats, which for some odd reason did not tempt me back then. Not so much now, I'd gobble up a cookie anytime.

Having chutney pudi at home is extremely convenient for those busy days when you don't have time to cook. It is also extremely convenient that chutney pudi has a reasonably long shelf life, it will easily last you from 6-8 weeks if you use fresh and high quality ingredients. 

Chutney Pudi is a popular condiment that is served along with idlis or dosa. Mix it with ghee or oil and make an instant chutney that can be mopped up with the idli or the dosa. It is mixed with curd or yogurt and popularly eaten along with Joladda Rotti or Jowar Roti in North Karnataka. I loved dunking my pav or bread in curd and chutney pudi back in the day. I have made butter and chutney pudi sandwiches, that taste really nice by the way. As I already told, you can eat chutney pudi with chapati or roti. Mix it along with hot steamed rice and ghee or coconut oil and make it an easy meal.

Every family, region, community in the Southern and Western parts of India makes their own version of dry chutney aka spicy lentil powders. This recipe is my mom's recipe. There are a few of her recipes that I listed down when I could and I don't change anything in them. I won't tweak them or enhance them. They are perfect the way they are. This Chutney Pudi is one of them. My recipe is made from roasted or fried gram (chickpeas), peanuts and dry coconut. Some make it with chana dal and some just with peanuts or dry coconut. Some add garlic, some don't. Except for the one with chana dal, I'll eat any other chutney pudi. 

chutney pudi

My version of chutney pudi is very simple. The ratios of roasted gram to peanuts to dry coconut is 2:1:1. The peanuts are roasted to extend the shelf life and to help you deskin them. I don't deskin them because it really doesn't make much of a difference in the end product. But you can deskin them or use skinned roasted peanuts (preferably, unsalted). The dry coconut is warmed only to extend shelf life. It doesn't need to change color. The pan was way too hot while I was shooting this video which led to the slight coloring of the coconut, but usually, it doesn't. The coconut and the peanuts need to be at room temperature before you grind them, else they will release their oils. The peanut and coconut are ground together until you have a coarse powder of sandy texture or slightly bigger grains. Grinding the coconut and peanuts longer will make them release their oil. I recommend pulsing the mixer instead of running it continuously. 

The roasted gram or puthani or futana is divided and ground with different ingredients - first time with roasted red chillies and the second time with tamarind. Lightly roasting the dry red chillies in oil makes them crispy and help them in grinding into a fine powder. While grinding the tamarind, try to grind it until the tamarind is broken into small bits. It will never become a fine powder though. Sugar is optional, but tastes good. You can add jaggery powder too. Salt is mandatory. The tempering adds to flavor and extends the shelf life. But you need to ensure that the mustard has spluttered and that all the curry leaves are crispy, undercooked curry leaves can drastically decrease shelf life. If you don't have access to curry leaves, skip them. 

chutney pudi


If you made this recipe, let me know! Leave a comment here or on Facebook tag your tweet with @oneteaspoonlife on Twitter and don't forget to tag your photo @oneteaspoonoflife on Instagram. You can also email me at onetspoflife@gmail.com I'd love to see what you are up to.

If you like this recipe, do not forget to share it with your friends and family! 



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Video Recipe





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Chutney Pudi Recipe | Chutney Powder Recipe | Gunpowder Recipe


chutney pudiChutney Pudi is a popular condiment from North Karnataka. Chutney Pudi is a spicy peanut and roasted gram powder that can be eaten as a dry chutney along with ghee or oil. Chutney Pudi is served as an accompaniment to idli, dosa, chapati or rice.

Recipe Type:  Condiment
Cuisine:            South Indian
Prep Time:     10 minutes
Cook time:     20 minutes
Total time:     30 minutes
Yield:                3 cups

Ingredients:


2 cups Roasted Gram (Puthani / Futana)
1 cup Dry Coconut, grated
1 cup Peanuts
1 tsp Tamarind
10-15 Red Chilies
0.5 tsp Sugar
Salt to taste
10-12 Curry leaves
1 tsp Mustard seeds
2.5 Tbsp Oil

Method:


1. Dry roast the peanuts until they are slightly browned and tiny black spots appear on the skin. Remove from heat and keep aside to cool. Peel them if desired.
2. Add the grated dry coconut to the pan and roast until warm. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
3. Add 1 tsp of oil and add the dry red chillies and roast until they are puffed up and crisp. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
4. Add 1 cup of roasted gram to the mixer and add the roasted chillies. Grind until smooth. Empty the powder to a large mixing bowl.
5. Grind the peanuts and dry coconut to a coarse powder (sand like consistency). Add the powder to the mixing bowl.
6. Grind the remaining roasted gram with tamarind to a smooth powder. Add the powder to the mixing bowl.
7. Add salt and sugar and mix well until completely combined. Add red chilli powder if the chutney pudi is not spicy enough.
8. Heat the remaining oil in a pan for the tempering and add the mustard seeds.
9. Once they splutter, add the curry leaves and fry until crisp.
10. Add the tempering to the chutney pudi and mix gently.
11. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for weeks.





Step by step photo instructions:


chutney pudi recipe steps

chutney pudi recipe steps

chutney pudi recipe steps


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Paper Avalakki Mixture Recipe | Poha Chivda Recipe [Video]


Paper Avalakki Mixture or Poha Chivda step by step video recipe. Paper Avalakki Mixture or Poha Chivda is an instant Indian snack made from paper thin flattened rice. Paper Avalakki or Nylon Poha mixture is made by tempering thin flattened rice with mustard seeds, peanuts, fried gram and spices. This recipe is gluten free, vegan and fits into a Jain diet.

In a hurry? Jump to Video or Jump to Recipe

 Paper Poha Chivda, Nylon Avalakki Chivda

Paper Avalakki Mixture is a very traditional South Indian snack that is an all-time favorite of mine. I make it so many times, but I never found it worthy enough to share on the blog. But in these hard times, simple recipes are what we crave, don't we? So here goes...

India has several grades of flattened rice - thick, medium and paper/nylon. Paper Avalakki is the thinnest flattened rice that is available. It is so thin, it's almost translucent. When you buy a packet of this flattened rice, it is almost never crisp. But you can make it crisp in two ways - either you sun dry it until it crisps up or you lightly saute it in a pan on low heat, like this recipe. I find the latter easier.

Once the flattened rice is crisp, we add flavor to it via the tempering. The tempering I make is very simple - it only has a handful of ingredients. I like adding mustard seeds, dry red chillies, curry leaves, peanuts, roasted gram or puthani (futana), turmeric and salt. A lot of people add in bits of thinly sliced dry coconut, cashew nuts or raisins. This mixture is always made with the intent of storing it for a minimum of one week, and hence, we add ingredients that will not go bad at room temperature for that duration.

 Paper Poha Chivda, Nylon Avalakki Chivda


Paper Avalakki Mixture along with homemade yogurt or curd is a popular breakfast in North Karnataka. While towards the South, one eats it with finely chopped onions, tomatoes, coriander leaves, grated fresh coconut and a squeeze of lime. I love it both ways!

Paper Avalakki Mixture is also extremely popular among Indians who travel abroad as it stays good for a long time if stored in an airtight bag or box. While it uses quite a bit of oil, it is definitely healthier than deep-fried snacks.

Paper Avalakki Mixture is vegan and gluten free. It also fits a Jain diet.


 Paper Poha Chivda, Nylon Avalakki Chivda


If you made this recipe, let me know! Leave a comment here or on Facebook tag your tweet with @oneteaspoonlife on Twitter and don't forget to tag your photo @oneteaspoonoflife on Instagram. You can also email me at onetspoflife@gmail.com I'd love to see what you are up to.

If you like this recipe, do not forget to share it with your friends and family! 



You can follow One Teaspoon Of Life on FacebookTwitterInstagramPinterest or you can subscribe to One Teaspoon Of Life and receive all the latest updated via Email



Video Recipe





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Paper Avalakki Mixture Recipe | Poha Chivda Recipe


 Paper Poha Chivda, Nylon Avalakki ChivdaPaper Avalakki Mixture or Poha Chivda is an instant Indian snack made from paper thin flattened rice. Paper Avalakki or Nylon Poha mixture is made by tempering thin flattened rice with mustard seeds, peanuts, fried gram, and spices. This recipe is gluten-free, vegan and fits into a Jain diet.

Recipe Type:  Snacks
Cuisine:            South Indian
Prep Time:     0 minutes
Cook time:     45 minutes
Total time:     45 minutes
Yield:                500 gms


Ingredients:


500 gms Paper Avalakki / Poha / Flattened rice
0.5 cup Oil
0.25 cup Peanuts
2 Tbsp Roasted Gram
6-8 dry Red Chillies
1 sprig Curry leaves
1 tsp Mustard Seeds
0.5 tsp Turmeric Powder
Salt to taste

Method:


1. Dry roast the paper thin flattened rice in a kadhai on low heat until crisp. The kadhai should only be filled till half, do it in batches if required. Keep stirring the flattened rice frequently so that all of it is exposed to the heat, allowing it to crisp up evenly.
2. Once the flattened rice is crisp, remove it to a large bowl or plate or even just a sheet of newspaper.
3. Heat oil in a small pan and add in the mustard seeds.
4. Once the mustard seeds splutter, add the peanuts and fry until they are slightly browned on medium heat.
5. Roughly snap the dried chillies into half and add to the oil. Fry until the chillies are crisp.
6. Now add in the roasted gram and saute for around one minute on medium heat.
7. Add in the curry leaves and once they splutter, turn off the heat.
8. Add in the turmeric powder and salt quickly and mix.
9. Immediately pour this tempering to the flattened rice.
10. Mix until the tempering has coated all the flattened rice.
11. Allow to cool and store in an airtight container.
12. Paper Avalakki Mixture can be stored for 2-3 weeks at room temperature in an airtight container.



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North Karnataka Heritage Trail - Day 4 & 5 - Bijapur & Back


A five day car trip across North Karnataka exploring the ancient architectural wonders of Hampi, Badami, Patadkal, Aihole and Bijapur.



If you are an architecture and history buff, then this is the trip for you!!

We traveled across North Karnataka on a heritage trail end of last year in a 5 day trip including driving to and from Bangalore. Karnataka has been ruled by several powerful empires and each of these empires has left a mark on the architectural landscape of the state. From the intricate carving of 5th century temples to the giant domes of 17th century, North Karnataka has a lot to offer. So these holidays instead of visiting the tourist favorites of Bangalore-Mysore, take some time out to go see these ancient beauties.

 In our 5 day trip, we covered Hampi, Badami, Pattadakal, Aihole and Bijapur.

This trip is divided across 3 posts, so keep reading. Our itinerary was as follows:

Day 1 - Travel from Bangalore to Hosapete. Visit Anegundi.
Day 2 - Visit Hampi and TB Dam. Travel to Badami.
Day 3 - Visit Badami, Pattadakal and Aihole
Day 4 - Visit Bijapur
Day 5 - Travel back to Bangalore.

This post, details the Day 4&5

Read about Days 1 and 2 in Hampi here and Day 3 in Badami, Patadkal and Aihole, here.

Day 4

We set out for Bijapur or Vijayapura, as it is known today on Day 4 of our journey. After touring Badami, Pattadakal and Aihole, we halted at Bagalkot. We set out for Bijapur early next morning after having our breakfast at the hotel. The distance between the two cities is around 84 km and can be covered in 2 hours. 

While my first two post were all about Hindu and Jain temples, this one is different. Bijapur or Vijayapura has an Islamic past. It was ruled for over a century by the Adil Shahi dynasty and then passed on to the hands of other Islamic dynasties. So the architecture here is very different from the other places mentioned in my North Karnataka Heritage Trail.

Bijapur is an important town in Karnataka, and hence has several hotels, restaurants and markets. It even has a mall now. The place can get busy in peak seasons, so book your hotel in advance. Most of the monuments are open from 6am to 6pm. In peak seasons, we suggest you start early to cover the main ones.

Gol Gumbaz


No visit to Bijapur can be complete without visiting the Gol Gumbaz. Gol Gumbaz is the mausoleum of King Mohammad Adil Shah. This mighty monument is famous for its echoes and the whispering alley. To enjoy the monument, we suggest you beat the crowd and be there early, preferably before 8am. Unfortunately, we visited the monument when there were several school children on trip and the echoing of their screaming and shouting made us feel we were in a swarming bee hive. The security guard informed us that schools usually visit by 9am, hence we suggest being here as early as possible. You will need to purchase a ticket to visit the monument. There is parking available at the monument.



Upli Burz


This is a small, but famous watchtower with two canons on the top. You don't need to buy any ticket to visit it. The steps, though few in number are very steep, so climb carefully.




Ibrahim Roza


This is a 17th century monument that houses the tomb of Ibrahim Adil Shah II . It has 2 structures, one with the tomb and one mosque. The domes are beautiful and it rises from a lotus petal base. The complex is open from 6am to 6pm and requires you to buy a ticket to visit.



Bara Kaman


This is an unfinished mausoleum of one of the Adil Shahi Kings's. It was supposed to have 12 arches, but we counted less. The place requires no ticket to visit and has no parking available close by. Park near the road and walk inside.




Jod Gumbaz


This is a set of two mosques located close to the KSRTC bus stand. Both mosques are still being used for worship. No ticket required here. You can park on the road outside.


Other places to see in Bijapur, if you have time:

  • Gagan Mahal
  • Taj Bawdi
  • Shivgiri Temple
  • Torvi Narasimha Temple
  • Malik-i-Maidan
  • Jumma Masjid
  • Mithari Mahal
  • Asar Mahal
After we finished our history filled day, we started towards Bangalore the same night. We started from Bijapur around 6pm and halted at Hosapete for the night. We reached Hosapete around 9.30 pm. 

On Day 5 we continued our journey towards Bangalore from Hosapete.

Tips:

  • You can hire autos or horse driven tangas in the city that will take you to all the monuments at a nominal price.
  • You are not allowed to carry large bags inside Gol Gumbaz complex. You can either keep them in the car or in the cloak room near the ticket counter.
  • Buy local terracotta vessels for cooking on the road between the KSRTC bus stand and Jod Gumbaz. They are very reasonably priced.
  • Eat Joladda Rotti Oota near the KSRTC bus stand if you can tolerate spicy food.
  • S Hypermart on the outskirts of the city is a huge super market that is open till 11 pm.
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North Karnataka Heritage Trail - Day 3 - Badami, Pattadakal, Aihole


A five day car trip across North Karnataka exploring the ancient architectural wonders of Hampi, Badami, Patadkal, Aihole and Bijapur.



If you are an architecture and history buff, then this is the trip for you!!

We traveled across North Karnataka on a heritage trail end of last year in a 5 day trip including driving to and from Bangalore. Karnataka has been ruled by several powerful empires and each of these empires has left a mark on the architectural landscape of the state. From the intricate carving of 5th century temples to the giant domes of 17th century, North Karnataka has a lot to offer. So these holidays instead of visiting the tourist favorites of Bangalore-Mysore, take some time out to go see these ancient beauties.

 In our 5 day trip, we covered Hampi, Badami, Pattadakal, Aihole and Bijapur.

This trip is divided across 3 posts, so keep reading. Our itinerary was as follows:

Day 1 - Travel from Bangalore to Hosapete. Visit Anegundi.
Day 2 - Visit Hampi and TB Dam. Travel to Badami.
Day 3 - Visit Badami, Pattadakal and Aihole
Day 4 - Visit Bijapur
Day 5 - Travel back to Bangalore.

This post, details the Day 3.

Read about Days 1 and 2 in Hampi here.

Day 3:

After we covered the world famous ruins of Hampi, we moved on to visit the even older temples of the 4-8th century at Badami, Patadkal and Aihole. These temples are ancient and still so beautiful. I was as mesmerized as I was when we visited the Angkor Wat temple complex in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

After completing our site seeing in Hampi on Day 2, we proceeded towards Bagalkot in the evening. We had a late check-in at a hotel, but this ensured we could start day 3 early. We stayed in Bagalkot city as we couldn't find accommodation in Badami. We started out at around 8am from Bagalkot and had our breakfast in Badami. There are several Udupi restaurants in Badami that are open for breakfast.

Badami 


Badami is a small town in North Karnataka famous for the set of cave temples. Four caves are carved out of the sandstone hill that surrounds lake Agastya. Badami Caves open at 9am and close at 6pm. The parking is pretty much a nightmare, as it involves going through a single lane road that is being operated as a two lane (for entering and exiting). During peak seasons, the parking gets full pretty fast, so we suggest reaching the caves as early as possible. You need to purchase a ticket for entry and for parking. Guides speaking Kannada and Hindi are available around the entrance to the caves. There was no bargaining with the price (we thought it was slightly steep), but we still hired a guide. The guide showed us some unique carvings and puzzles on the pillars that we may have missed, had we chosen not to hire him. You can combine groups on your own and share the price too.




Cave 1:


The first cave is dedicated to Lord Shiva. On the outside of the cave you will see a Nataraja Statue. On the inside, there is a carving of Ardhanarishvara and Harihara on the right and left sides on the cave respectively. There is a Shiva Linga in the temple, however, it is not worshiped as of today.




Cave 2 and 3:


The second and third caves are dedicated to Lord Vishnu. There is no deity in the temple, but the carvings in the cave indicate there was once a statue of Lord Vishnu. The third cave is the largest in the complex with several carvings and paintings. These two caves depict various scenes from mythology and show the different avatars of Lord Vishnu. There are carvings on the ceiling too.




Cave 4:


Probably the simplest of the 4 caves, this cave is dedicated to Jainism. It has the statues of Bahubali Mahavira and Parshvanatha.

Apart from the caves, you can also visit the Archaelogical Museum (closes at 5pm) on the other side of the lake. There are also two Bhootnath Temples along the lake, while the Yellamma temple is closer to the parking.

Tips:

  • Be very careful of monkeys, they can snatch your food.
  • Parking is a nightmare, reach early to get a good parking. Caves open at 9am.
  • English and Hindi speaking guides are available near the entrance to the caves.
  • Plan to spend around 1-1.5 hours at the caves. 



Pattadakal


Pattadakal is temple town with 7th and 8th century architecture. It is 23 km from Badami and it houses a huge temple complex with 9 Hindu temples and 1 Jain Temple. The Hindu temples are close by and the Jain temple is 1 km away towards Badami. The temples depict scenes from Ramayana, Mahabharata and other epics. The Virupaksha Temple in the complex is still worshiped till date while the others are not. 

The Pattadakal temples are open from 6am-6pm. You need to purchase a ticket to enter the temple complex. Parking is available outside the temple complex. 

Tips:

  • Eat Joladda Rotti Oota or the local thali that has jowar rotis and curries just outside the temple complex. 
  • You can hire a guide at the entrance.
  • Plan to spend 1.5-2 hours here including time for lunch.






Aihole

Aihole is around 10 km from Pattadakal and is the oldest temple town of the three. Aihole has several temple complexes spread out over the village. The village has more than 100 monuments. The temples in Aihole show that the architects tried different styles. There are temples which you cannot circumambulate (pradakshina) and some where you can. There are temples with gopuras and temples with a second storey. Some temples also have North Indian influences. 

There is parking outside the monument and you need to buy a ticket to visit the monuments. The temples are open from 6am to 6pm. 

Tips:

  • There are lots of monuments beside the main Durga temple complex. If you have time, walk through them.
  • Aihole is a village and there are not many places to eat, so carry your own food.
  • You can hire a guide at the entrance.


Read more ...

North Karnataka Heritage Trail Day 1 & 2 - Hampi


A five day car trip across North Karnataka exploring the ancient architectural wonders of Hampi, Badami, Patadkal, Aihole and Bijapur.





If you are an architecture and history buff, then this is the trip for you!!

We traveled across North Karnataka on a heritage trail end of last year in a 5 day trip including driving to and from Bangalore. Karnataka has been ruled by several powerful empires and each of these empires has left a mark on the architectural landscape of the state. From the intricate carving of 5th century temples to the giant domes of 17th century, North Karnataka has a lot to offer. So these holidays instead of visiting the tourist favorites of Bangalore-Mysore, take some time out to go see these ancient beauties.

 In our 5 day trip, we covered Hampi, Badami, Pattadakal, Aihole and Bijapur.

This trip is divided across 3 posts, so keep reading. Our itinerary was as follows:

Day 1 - Travel from Bangalore to Hosapete. Visit Anegundi.
Day 2 - Visit Hampi and TB Dam. Travel to Badami.
Day 3 - Visit Badami, Pattadakal and Aihole
Day 4 - Visit Bijapur
Day 5 - Travel back to Bangalore.

This post, details the first 2 days.

Of all the heritage places in North Karnataka, the most famous one is Hampi. Mythologically, Hampi is also known as Kishkinda, the place in Ramayana where Lord Rama met Lord Hanuman and Sugriva and asked for their help to rescue Sita. Historically it is famous for the group of monuments built during the reign of the Vijayanagar Empire in the 14th Century. Hampi is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. There is so much to see in Hampi, there are a total of 85 places listed down at Hampi. There are several large and small temples spread across a large area. It will take you a good 2-3 days if you want to explore every little nook and corner of Hampi, but if you are only looking for the main attractions, then you can cover it in one day. But it will be one tiring day. This post is laid out as follows:

What to See in Hampi:


1) Virupaksha Temple: 



One of the temples in the entire complex that is worshiped till date. There is the main god and several more smaller enclosures with other shrines. There is a ticket counter at the entrance that sells tickets if you want a closer view of the god. If the temple is not crowded, you can first enter the temple and then decide if you want to buy the ticket. We did not buy the ticket and we didn't feel we missed anything.

2) Hemakuta Group of Monuments:


On the left of the Virupaksha Temple is a hill that is full of temple ruins. There is no deity in any of these structures. You can sit on the giant granite rock and relax, if the day is cool. You can lose sense of time while exploring this area. If you are in Hampi for only one day, we suggest you time yourself at this place, else you may miss out other sites.

3) Kadalekalu Ganesha:




The Kadalekalu Ganesha is a 4.5m tall status of Lord Ganesha with a stomach shaped like a chickpea, hence the name Kadalekalu. The status is in a sanctum surrounded by carved pillars. This is right next to the Hemakuta monuments.

4) Sasivekalu Ganesha:



Sasivekalu is Kannada for mustard seed. But this Lord Ganesha statue is nowhere near as small as a mustard seed. It is very huge and the details are very clearly visible even today. There is a car parking right near this monument. Also, if you are hungry, the parking lot has small shops that sell very nice Dosa and Goli Soda. If you are sensitive about the water you drink, avoid these shops. We ate and drank here and no one fell sick. They mostly use RO purified water as the water purification plant is close by.

5) Nandi or Monolithic Bull:



This statue of Nandi Bull is carved out of a single boulder. It is massive! This is a short walk from the Virupaksha temple that goes through the Hampi Bazaar Street.

6) Yanthrodharaka Anjeneya Temple:


In between the Virupaksha temple and the Nandi Statue, is a road along the river that leads to this unique Hanuman temple. This is apparently one of the only temples of Hanuman where he is carved sitting down rather than standing upright. This deity is worshiped till date.

7) Kodandarama Temple, Surya Narayana Temple, Ranganatha Temple, Vishnu Temple, Pushkarani, Achyutharaya Temple, Varaha Temple


All these temples and sites are around the Yanthrodharaka Anjeneya Temple. While a few of them are worshipped, the others are ruins. You can visit them if you like. At this point, make a decision to either walk ahead until the Vijaya Vittala Temple or return to your mode of transport and reach the other monuments from the Gejjala Mantapa side of the main road through an electric buggy.



8) Sugriva Cave, Purandaradasa Mantapa:


A cave where Sugriva lived apparently. It is not really a cave but a small space between boulders, and can be skipped. It is accessible if you decide to walk to the Vijaya Vittala Temple. A short walk from here leads to an open space where you have a few stalls of sugarcane juice, ice cream, and some North Karnataka snacks. Purandaradasa Mantapa is located along the river right here.

9) Kings Balance:


If you are walking, you will reach this immediately after the short snacks stop. If you are coming from the Gejjala Mantapa side, you will find this after the Vijaya Vittala Temple. It is supposed to be a place where scales were hung to weigh the king against gold aka "Tulabhara". You can give it a miss.

10) Vijaya Vittala Temple:




This is the most famous complex in Hampi. You need to buy a ticket to visit this monument. The ticker is valid for a few more sites, so don't throw it away just yet. The Vijaya Vittala Temple can be reached either by walking from the Virupaksha temple along the river. It is around a 2 Km walk. Or you can take the bus to Gejjala Mantapa and take an electric buggy from there. Vehicles are not allowed around this monument as pollution was damaging it. The Vijaya Vittala temple complex houses the Stone Chariot that is the most photographed structure of Hampi and also found printed on the new Rs.50 currency note. Everyone wants a photo with the chariot, so you may need to wait a while to get the perfect click. The complex also houses the famous musical pillars, access to which is now blocked. You can see them, but are now allowed to play them anymore for the risk of damaging the structure. The complex has several other structures and also a Frangipani tree which some guides claim to be 100-150 years old. If you reached here walking, it is time to get back to your car/auto to see the other monuments.




The route we took:


We parked the car near Sasivekalu Ganesha and walked. Google only allows me to add 10 destinations, so Sasivekalu Ganesha is missed.



11) Ugra Narasimha Temple



This is a damaged status of Narasimha with Goddess Lakshmi sitting in his lap. The Lakshmi sculpture is no more there, only one hand is visible. The Narasimha is also partially damaged but definitely worth the visit. This temple is 350m from the Sasivekaalu Ganesha.

We visited it on our way back while exiting Hampi.

12) Underground Shiva Temple


This temple is called underground because it is below the current ground level. During monsoons or immediately after, the main temple may be filled with water and be inaccessible. It was accessible when we went. There is a Shiva Linga in the temple but the sanctum is dark and houses bats, so be careful not to disturb them. On the way from Ugra Narasimha Temple to this temple there are some more temples and 2 boulders called Sister Stones that can be visited.

13) Public Bath and Queen's Bath


These are structures with sunken baths, one for the public and one for royalty. Aqueducts and canals apparently filled these baths with water. We did not visit these as we were tired, but they are on the way out/in of Hampi and you don't have to go out of the way to visit them.

14) Lotus Mahal



This is a beautiful palace situated inside the Zanana Enclosure. The architecture is very different from what you find around Hampi. While entry inside the Lotus Mahal was allowed up to 10 years ago, it is currently not allowed to protect the monument. You need to buy a ticket to enter this complex if visiting it first, else, the ticket purchased at Vijaya Vittala Temple works here. The complex also has several other structures like the Elephant stables, Watch towers and a few temples towards the back.


15) Hazara Rama Temple


This is right opposite to the Lotus Temple. It is small temple dedicated to Lord Rama. We were very tired by this time, so skipped visiting the temple.


There are several other ruins and structures around these areas that you can visit. I have listed down all that we visited.

Route we took:




If you have another few hours, you can also visit the following:

1) Anegundi 



This is a small village across the river Tungabhadra. You can drive across the river to reach it. It is almost 20Km and takes around 45 minutes to reach. Anegundi houses the Anjanadri Hills, known as the birthplace of Lord Hanuman. You have to climb 570 steps to reach the top. The sunset from this point is very beautiful. You get a birds eye view of Hampi from up here. Apart from this, Anegundi also houses the Nava Brindavana, a shrine to 9  Hindu Madhva saints.
We visited this on the day we arrived in Hosapete and had only a few hours before sunset.


2) TB Dam 



Tungabhadra Dam is the largest Dam in Karnataka. The Dam is located on the outskirts of Hosapete. While you are not allowed on the dam bridge, you can go up to the reservoir and to the gardens. There are shuttles available for Rs.20 at the parking lot that will take you to the reservoir and up the hill and back. We visited this on the day of our exit from Hosapete.


How to Reach Hampi:


Hosapete is the closest city to Hampi and is well connected by road and by train. There are regular trains and buses from Bangalore to Hosapete. You can also drive down to Hosapete from Bangalore, the roads are mostly good and the drive may take you around 5.5-7 hours. If you are driving on a long weekend or during peak season, be prepared for long queues at toll booths, the highway has several tolls. Very soon the Bangalore-Sholapur highway will be complete and make driving even better.

There are local buses from Hosapete to Hampi. The distance is 13Km and the fares are very cheap.

We drove from Bangalore to Hosapete.

Travelling in Hampi:


There is ample parking at Hampi, in case you are driving. You can park your vehicle right at Virupaksha temple or at any of the parking spaces just before the temple.

Once you reach Hampi, you can either take an auto rickshaw, that will take you to several places giving you time at each of the popular monuments. Auto rickshaws are available around the parking space and you don't need to worry about finding them, they will find you.

You can rent also a bicycle and move around on your own. Bicycles can be rented near the Virupaksha Temple. However, keep in mind that some places can only be visited while walking as there is no motor-able track near them.

An electric buggy/van will also take you from the main road to the Vijaya Vittala Temple.

We drove from Hosapete to Hampi and walked the spots 1-9 marked above.

Where to stay:


Hosapete is the best place to stay. It has hotels for everyone - budget, luxury, family, couples etc. Make sure you book the stay well in advance as Hampi is a popular tourist destination and hotels get full fast. Especially in peak seasons like year end and school holidays. We stayed in Ananya Comforts and loved the place. The hotel has good service and a new restaurant with good South Indian food. There is a small tea/coffee shop outside that we felt was the best tea we found in our entire North Karnataka tour.

Hampi, itself has quite a few resorts that have cropped up in recent times. You can choose to stay here. But keep in mind that Hampi may get pretty lonely after dark.

When to visit:


Hampi has a hot and dry climate most of the year. The weather is most pleasant in December-January. But try to avoid the last week of December as Hampi can get very crowded. Also, a lot of school children are brought on trips around this time and they can overwhelm you with numbers.

Hampi celebrates "Hampi Utsav" usually in November. The festivities include music, dance, puppet shows and processions. It basically showcases the culture of the region. While the festivities are mesmerizing, be prepared to battle crowds.

Unfortunately we visited in December and it was extremely crowded, but the weather was pleasant.

Where to eat:


Hosapete also has several restaurants and eateries catering to all sorts of crowd. Hampi has a lot of small eateries to the right of Virupaksha temple. The South Indian food there is cheap and delicious and there is relaxed seating.

We ate in several restaurants around Hosapete - Naivedyam, Ananya Comforts, Shanbhag Hotel etc and most places will give you decent South Indian food. Also, we ate Dosa in Hampi and it was delicious.
We filled up on goli soda, sugar cane juice, salted fried peas and sunflower seeds, mirchi bhajji, mandakki, buttermilk, ice creams, and bhoochakra gadde while we walked around in Hampi.

Some pointers...

  • Hampi is open to public from 6am to 6pm. Plan to start the day early to beat the crowds and the sun. Breakfast is available in restaurants around the Virupaksha temple in Hampi from 7-7.30 am.
  • There are lot of monkeys around Hampi, be careful around them. Hang on tightly to your belongings.
  • You can hire guides at Hampi, but we did not feel the need. Just read up on the monuments before going or purchase a book near the Virupaksha temple.
  • The government tourism counter (KSTDC) is located around the Hampi Bazaar area. Approach them for any help.



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