Hampi Festival

This is the largest festival at Hampi. Generally they are scheduled for 3 days during the first week of November. The celebrations typically packed with shows of music, dance puppet shows fireworks and a pomp procession as the grand finale showcasing the cultural richness of the place. Of late items like rock climbing, water sports and rural sports also has been included in the schedule. The programs are state sponsored and the admission is free. The celebrations attract are too much crowd for this otherwise low profile town to handle. So if you are planning to visit Hampi during these 3 days be prepared to face the associated troubles (overbooked lodges, overcrowded sightseeing, packed buses& trains etc). Also note that in locale language the Hampi Festival is referred as Vijaya Utsav or Hampi Utsav

The celebrations for the Hampi Festival in Karnataka include various programs that keep the spirits of the people high and give them an opportunity to rejoice and relive the glory of their land. The celebrations include dance, drama, music and also colorful puppet shows. There are also beautiful fireworks at display that light up the sky and spectacular processions carried out, all of which recreate the splendor of Hampi. This 3 day cultural extravaganza is one of the most popular festivals in Karnataka.
You can reach Hampi, the nearest Airport would be Bellary which is about 74 kms from Hampi while other airports nearby are Bangalore, Belgaun, Bijapur etc. Hospet is the closest railway station

History of the Hampi Utsav – Let’s see where it all began!
The marvelous festival celebrated in Hampi, Karnataka is a cultural extravaganza. Since the Vijayanagar reign, the festival has been a part of the life of Hampi’s locals. With a colorful and lively ambiance, the festival is conducive to an overflow of happiness and joy. The festival is celebrated in the ruins of the ancient city of Hampi. The region relives the past of the Vijayanagar Empire and its ancient and medieval grandeur during these three days of celebration.

Hampi is nestled at the banks of Tungabhadra River. It is 373 km from the Silicon Valley of India, the technological hub Bangalore. Hampi served as the capital for the Vijayanagar Empire, which was the 14th century’s most prosperous empire in the subcontinent. The empire was a center of traditions, culture, as well as commerce and trade. The empire was brought to its zenith by Krishnadeva Raya, Tuluva Dynasty’s famous ruler. With Beijing in China being the largest city during the medieval era, Hampi followed it as a close second.