About the property

Hampi Heritage and Wilderness Resort, operated by Jungle Lodges and Resorts, is a unique and eco-friendly resort located in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hampi, in the Indian state of Karnataka. The resort is situated in the heart of the ancient city, surrounded by the beautiful landscape of the Deccan plateau. The resort offers a wide range of accommodations, including cottages and tents, all of which are designed to blend seamlessly into the natural surroundings. The cottages are constructed using traditional materials such as stone and thatch, and feature large windows that offer stunning views of the surrounding landscape. The tents are spacious and comfortable, and provide a unique camping experience in the midst of the ancient ruins.

This craggy red terrain, located on the outskirts of the Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary, is the natural habitat for the regal sloth bears who stretch themselves out languorously in the countryside. Aside from these magnificent beasts, you can also see wild-naped hares, pangolins, porcupines, jackals, and leopards at the resort's watchtower perched atop a hillock. Driving 8 kilometres into the forest is an experience that will make you smile. Peafowl, spurfowl, yellow-throated bulbuls, sand grouse, quails, sirkeer malkohas, and stone curlews live under the green canopy of the trees.

The resort also offers a variety of activities for guests to enjoy, such as guided tours of the ancient city, bird watching, and nature walks. The resort's naturalist guides are knowledgeable about the area's history, culture and flora and fauna, and are able to provide guests with an in-depth understanding of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. In addition to the natural beauty and historical significance of the area, the resort also focuses on preserving and promoting the local culture. 

In conclusion, the Hampi Heritage and Wilderness Resort, operated by Jungle Lodges and Resorts, is a unique and eco-friendly resort that offers guests a chance to explore the ancient city of Hampi while also immersing themselves in the local culture and nature. The resort's accommodations and activities are designed to provide guests with a truly authentic and memorable experience.

The Hampi Heritage and Wilderness Resort Experience

The Hampi Heritage & Wilderness Resort is a popular JLR property with a backdrop of renowned World Heritage Sites. The rugged terrain that is a natural habitat for sloth bears and is located on the outskirts of the Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary adds an element of adventure to this JLR experience. The scrub-covered stark landscape adds a new dimension to the term rustic.

The resort has a lot to offer. If you're lucky, you might see wild boars, black-naped hares, pangolins, porcupines, jackals, and leopards as well as sloth bears in their natural habitat from a watchtower perched atop a hillock. The 8-kilometer drive into the forest also provides a good opportunity to see the area's avian residents, which include numerous peafowl, spur fowl, yellow-throated bulbuls, sand grouse, quails, sirkeer malkohas, and stone-curlews. Aside from the sloth bear safari, other activities include temple trails, nature walks, and bird watching.

Mornings are best spent exploring Hampi's heritage sites, which are divided into the Sacred Centre, the Royal Centre, the Urban Core, and the Suburban sites. Across the Tungabhadra River is Anegundi, also known as Kishkinda in the Ramayana, with its old-world charm - quaint houses, aqueducts that irrigate its paddy fields, and mythological landmarks. The Sloth Bear Sanctuary is also an excellent base for exploring the magnificent heritage of Badami, Aihole, and Pattadakal, all of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Retire to a delicious dinner at the end of the day. Even on your third day at the property, you will have only scratched the surface of all the wonders that are accessible from the resort.

Things to do at the property

The Hampi Heritage & Wilderness Resort offers a variety of activities for guests to enjoy. Guests can go on safari in the Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary to see sloth bears in their natural habitat. Guests can also take a walk in the beautiful natural surroundings of the resort. Besides this, birdwatching is a popular activity for guests to indulge in at the property. Guests can also go on heritage trails at nearby sites like Badami, Aihole and Pattadakal. The property even arranges for a wildlife film show at the conference hall, white basking in the warmth of the campfire, followed by a delicious dinner at the Gol Ghar.

Accommodation and Amenities

This resort has received positive reviews for its clean, spacious and airy cottages, strict COVID sanitization protocols, tasty and hygienic food, and excellent hospitality and service that meets or exceeds 5 star standards. The staff speaks Hindi and Kannada, and is said to be very accommodating and accommodating to guest needs. The resort is located in a large area in the middle of a forest, with secluded cottages, an on-site restaurant, and multiple bicycle trails. The resort also offers a variety of activities such as safari and guided city tours, and pick-up and drop-off service to Hospet Railway station. The overall experience is comfortable and satisfying, with a wide variety of food options and natural beauty.

Cottage Package: This cottage type accommodation includes stay, lunch, dinner & breakfast, jeep safari, visit to Hampi, forest entry charges and GST 18% and comes equipped with amenities like AC, bathroom, housekeeping, parking, umbrellas, torch, luggage assistance, wake-up call/ service, living room and seating area.

Special Cottage Package:  This cottage type accommodation includes stay, lunch, dinner & breakfast, jeep safari, visit to Hampi, forest entry charges and GST 18% and comes equipped with amenities like AC, bathroom, housekeeping, parking, umbrellas, torch, luggage assistance, wake-up call/ service, living room and seating area and a coffee maker.

Your itinerary at Hampi Heritage and Wilderness Resort

Upon arrival guests will check in at 1pm  and have time to freshen up. After that, they can enjoy lunch at the Gol Ghar. At around 3pm guests will gear up for a safari into the Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary with a tea/coffee at 6:30pm and safari briefing at the reception area. The safari will be led by naturalists who will share their experiences and knowledge about the jungle and the animals that live there.

After the safari, guests will have tea/coffee and snacks at the Gol Ghar. In the evening, guests can watch a wildlife film show at 7:30pm at the conference hall and enjoy the warmth of a campfire. Afterwards, enjoy dining in the Gol Ghar from 8:30 pm onwards, while sharing stories of their safari experiences with other guests and staff.

The next day at the Hampi Heritage & Wilderness Resort begins with a wake up call at 5:30 am. After a warm cup of tea or coffee, start your morning with a nature walk. Guests will then enjoy a sumptuous breakfast at the Gol Ghar at 8:00 am. After breakfast, guests can take a drive into the Hampi Temple Trails around 9:00 am. By 10:30 am, if guests need to leave, the staff of the resort look forward to their next visit to discover more of the secrets of the hills.

Best season to visit

The Hampi Heritage & Wilderness Resort is open all year round, but the best time to visit is from July to March when the weather is pleasant and it is a good time to spot wildlife. Sloth bears can be sighted across the year, but summers can be hot. After the monsoons, the landscape is lush with green. The peak season for the resort is from November to February.

How to get there

By road: The Hampi Heritage & Wilderness Resort is located 347 kilometers from Bangalore and 373 kilometers from Hyderabad, and is easily accessible by national and state highways.

By rail: The nearest railway station is the Hosapet Junction, which is very close to Bangalore and Hyderabad.

By air: The nearest airport is the Jindal Vidyanagar Airport, Bellary, which is 28 km away from the resort. The Jindal Vijaynagar Airport is well connected to Hyderabad and Bangalore by daily flights. 

Things to note

When visiting the Hampi Heritage & Wilderness Resort, it is important to dress for comfort and avoid bright colors, instead opting for muted shades of green, black, grey, and brown. This will help you blend in with the natural surroundings. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended, and avoid smoking as it can start a forest fire. Since you will be spending a lot of time outdoors, don't forget to bring a hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a torch. The resort is also trying to reduce the use of plastics, so please avoid using them. Pets are not allowed on the property.