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Website: http://travellifex.com/ To some travelers, Hampi is the place for a historical walk through time, as it is one of 35 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India. It is located in the state of Karnataka southern India, was once the capital of a grand empire called Vijayanagar, not just a Hindu society but a multi-faith society. Thus, it boasts different temples, ruins, and ancient palaces. For other travelers, Hampi is a hippie hangout that is teeming with yoga and meditation places. Regardless if these activities are your thing or not, here is our view of the best places to visit in Hampi and why it's worth a stop on any South India tour. Hampi offered us something different; stretching our plans from two nights to almost a week. We fully expected the heat, the pace, and the crowds, everywhere in India would suck the energy out of us. But not in Hampi. It is a laid-back reprieve from the hectic nature of this country. Why Hampi was the place for us. Troy and I aren’t yogis, temple trotters, or hippies – the type of people that Hampi has a reputation of catering to. Instead, we are just a mid-life couple that wants to explore India at our own pace, in our own way. We loved Hampi as it allowed us to wander through history, enjoy some natural scenery, spend our afternoons relaxing and working (when the power and internet would cooperate), and, of course, enjoying great Indian food. What is visually stunning about Hampi? Hampi is a strange curiosity. Initially, you may feel like you’ve arrived on the film set of the Flintstones or Jurassic Park. The landscape consists of immense boulders clustered in areas with 13th- 14th century stone temples scattered within the rock sections, and dotted with palm trees,banana plantations and rice fields. This is why there are many places to visit in Hampi that make it a fascinating stop in your travels. But to enjoy Hampi, we highly recommend you choose your location to stay wisely One choice is the Hampi Bazaar. It is a disorganized, makeshift town of endless shacks made of concrete, straw, and plastic, separated by rows of guesthouses, restaurants,clothing and jewelry shops. And all this, built one on top of another. It does have its own eclectic vibe with its non-stop sounds of jewelry hawkers, chai tea merchants looking for their next buyer, and rickshaws offering tours to the temples. Hampi Bazaar is an interesting spot for an afternoon visit, but it is probably the worst part about Hampi, and we wouldn’t recommend lingering there. A short visit will do just fine. For a laid back, slower pace with a small village ambiance, your best bet is Virupapur Gaddi, across the river from the Hampi Bazaar. Virupapur Gaddi can be reached by a short boat trip across the water (locals call it a ferry, but it’s just a small motor boat.) After a few quick steps up to the top of a hill, the area opens to a view of rice fields complemented with sections of boulders and palm trees. To the left is a narrow road lined with shops, restaurants, and guesthouses, serving the majority of the guests staying in the area. Sure, you will be approached to rent a motorbike, take a ride to the Monkey Temple at sunset and buy a tour of the temples – but the action on this side of the river is quite tame. Our favorite places to visit in Hampi - Virupapur Gaddi Interestingly, most of these restaurants and establishments are suited for meditation! They have low tables and cushions where you can kneel, sit cross-legged or lounge with legs out, while enjoying the views of the river or the rice fields. We had some of the best and consistently good food in this part of India. Most restaurants also double as guesthouses with well-priced rooms and cottages. In hindsight, we would have picked our choice in this area after we arrived as there are so many guesthouse options that need to be seen to suit your needs. For more about Travel Life Experiences you can find us here: Website: http://travellifex.com/ You tube:  https://www.youtube.com/c/travellifex Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TravelLIfeExperiences Twitter: https://twitter.com/TravelLifeX Instagram http://instagram.com/travellifex/ Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/travellifex/ Linked In: https://www.linkedin.com/company/travel-life-experiences Google + https://plus.google.com/+Travellifex