Hampi Utsava
| Year | Dates |
|---|---|
| 2023 | Jan 10 – 17 , 2023 |
| 2024 | To be announced |
A cultural extravaganza with a perfect amalgamation of past and present traditions awaits you at Hampi Utsava, Hampi, Karnataka every year…
Hampi, a UNESCO world heritage site, located in the central part of Karnataka, is also known for its annual festival HAMPI UTSAVA. This ancient town becomes all the more vivacious with the festive vibrancies, music and dance when the State Government organizes the HAMPI UTSAVA every year. Recreating the magnificence of the ancient Vijayanagara Empire is the main highlight during this Utsava, and the locals and the tourists eagerly wait for this event celebrated for 2 to 3 days. The exact dates and schedule of this Utsava is announced by the Karnataka State Government and the programs vary each year. Usually, it is celebrated anytime in the months of November to January, decided by the Government.
Hampi Utsav 2022 dates are January 13th to 15th. The Karnataka government have announced the Hampi Utsava dates 2023 from 10th to 17th January. Make a plan for Hampi Utsav Tour 2023.
History behind the festival
It has been said that this festival was celebrated in Hampi since the time of Vijayanagara Empire, and the celebrations continue even today, making it one of the oldest celebrations in the country. Also referred as “Vijaya Utsava”, Hampi Utsava is a conglomeration of all fun and festivities of the Vijayaya Nagar empire, along with other events and cultural programs, making it one of the best festivals of Karnataka. The rich culture of Kannadigas showcased in the form of dance, music and art complement the artistically carved ruins of Hampi. Hampi Tour is one of the best festival tour of Karnataka, India.
Things to do in Hampi Utsava
If you want to explore the glory and grandeur of the Vijayanagar empire, along with the ancient ruins of this UNESCO world heritage site, then the best time to visit Hampi is during the Hampi Utsava. Beautifully shadowed within hills and valleys all around, with 500 ancient monuments surrounding it, with temples and bustling markets, and Vijayanagar empire at the backdrop, this ancient town is a traveller’s delight. Hampi Utsava makes this city all the more extraordinary, and tourists from all across the world throng to this place during this time to see the captivating remains of Vijayanagar Empire. The lanes of Hampi are decorated with “Gopuras” of varied colours and underneath stands decorated elephants, horses and men dressed in the likes of Golden Era’s military fashion. The 2 -kilometer stretch is decorated as the Vijayanagar theme during this festival. All the ancient monuments in Hampi are beautifully illuminated during the Utsava. All the programs are state government sponsored and there is free entry to the visitors and tourists.
The fun activities that you can enjoy during the Utsava are as follows:
- Cultural Shows: Puppet shows, song, dance and music performances by local artists, including popular artists and celebrities, light and sound shows, street dramas etc.
- Competitions: Various competitions are organized like as like Rangoli/ Mehendi Photography, Painting competitions, Kite flying etc.
- Fireworks: Spectacular fireworks dazzle the sky all night.
- Food: You can enjoy delicious food of different part of the country in the various food courts.
- Shopping: Purchase trinkets, souvenirs, handicrafts, garments from the street markets. Local artisans get a chance to display their works during this time.
- Exhibitions: Tourists can also visit the stone sculptures, books, paintings, and other exhibitions
- Helicopter Rides: One exciting activity that tourists love doing is helicopter rides, which was introduced in 2020. You could enjoy an aerial view of Hampi during this Utsava on Helicopter rides, and Hampi becomes a sight worth seeing from high above the clouds.
The last day of the festival ends with a grand procession showcasing the cultural richness of the Vijayanagar Empire and Hampi Town, which is worth seeing as the Grand Finale of Hampi Utsava.
How to reach Hampi?
Hampi is 350 km from Bengaluru. The closest airport to Hampi is Vidyanagar airport, at a distance of 40 km from Hampi. Hosapete is the nearest railway station, at a distance of 15 Km from Hampi. There are daily flights by Trujet from Bengaluru and Hyderabad to Hampi, including a good number of state and private bus services from Bengaluru.
The Government of Karnataka promotes this Hampi Utsava every year to attract people all over the globe to this magnificent heritage site. Tour operators in India make arrangement of special transport services during the Hampi Utsava. There are many travellers who prefer to book tickets in advance with the best Inbound Travel Operators of the country for this festival.
Hampi Utsav tour India is not to be missed if you want to relive the grandeur of the rich history and cultural heritage of the Vijayanagar Empire and ancient Hampi.
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