We are taking our first trip to Goa at the begining of Dec this year(25 anniversery), staying at the Cavala in Baga. What we want to know is has any one taken the Trip to Hampi from here, did you do it DIY or organised, by taxi or train, wich way do you reckonmend for first timersand with whom?

We have done the Hampi trip, it was great, do it organised on the train. It is the best trip going.

Samtheboater
What hotel did you stay in. I have read that the one you eat at is not the one you stay in
Thanks

Hi
We've been to Hampi 3 times and although we've booked with different companies (Jewel in the Crown, Cosmos and John's Boat Tours) we have always ended up going with Melo Tours.

Everyone joins up at Margao Station, after being collected from your various hotels.
The rep from Melo Tours is waiting at Margao and stays with you for the duration of the tour.

The hotel they use is the Hotel Priyadarshani (Priyadarshini), Station Road, Hospet.

We've found it to be OK with clean rooms.

As they serve alcohol (I believe a lot of the hotels in Hospet don't), the restaurant gets very busy in the evening with locals. Consequently, the service can be very slow.

It's a great trip, but very tiring.
Do try to find time to take a walk through Hospet town, you'll see a bit more of the 'real India' than in Goa.

Polly

Ginlizzy,
prettypollycat (thats a long name) is absolutly right.
One of the best things for us was the early morning starts following the buffollo carts from Hospet to Hampi.
Steve

Samtheboater
Cant wait sounds great
Thanks

Prettypollycat
was there any cockroaches in the hotel and was the toilets clean
Ta

Ginlizzy
The toilets were fine.

We didn't have any problems with cockroaches, but the last time we did the trip (Feb 2006), some of our party said they'd had some in their rooms.

Do take lots of mozzie spray and put some on before you go out of your room early in the morning as it will still be dark - and have it handy for the return journey as it will be late when you arrive back.

Samtheboater (not such a short name either LOL ) is right about the buffalo carts.
There's also bicycle rickshaws.
I got some great photos of pigs and chickens and cows wandering down the main road.
We also tried some cardomom ice cream from a street vendor, it was delicious. We had to point at what we wanted as he didn't speak any English.

We really enjoyed the train journey too.
It stops for about 30 minutes at a station (can't remember the name just now) and you can get fresh cooked omelettes with onions and chillies.

I'm sure you'll have a great time.

Polly

Has anyone stayed in Hampi itself lately?

Ginlizzy
The station that the train stops at (for 20 minutes my hubby says) is HUBLI.....
It took a few hours and a couple of G&T's to remember.

You asked about the toilets....
on the train, they're a bit iffy.

I only go if I'm desperate, but they empty them and hose them down at Hubli (make sure you're not anywhere near on the platform while they're doing that :yikes) but it's a good idea to go just after then.

Haddojetty
not stayed at Hampi itself.
Are there any hotels there?

Polly

I satyed in Hampi itself when I went there in 1999. We had a basic room for hardly any money, right near the big white temple. I wanty to stay in Hampi again when we go in Feb as I think being in Hospet you are out of the action. Last time we did little walks around Hampi, crashed at the room for a bit, then explored a bit more, it was all there. If we have to stay in Hospet, I feel the days may be a bit long for my lad.

Haddojetty
this link brings up a few hotels in Hampi (as well as some of the well-known ones in Hospet):

http://www.hotelskarnataka.com/hotels/hampihotels.htm

Do you plan to do this tour on your own, then, rather as an organised one?
What will you do about a guide?

I must admit that we have said that we'd like to spend a bit more time at Hampi to see a bit more of the site.

Polly

Well yes, as we have been there before I'd rather do it under my own steam. As I said before it was lovely to do a bit of looking around, come back to the room, have a snack/chill/sleep/shower etc, rather than have to be 'homeless' until going back to Hospet. I will check out the link you posted, Thanks!

If you stay in Hospet there is a large cinema behind the Malligi Hotel. We went there after our evening meal and had a great time. I looks very scruffy from the outside but was quite plush inside. The film was in Kannada and not Hindi but was a real classic Bollywood type affair. When the singing started people were dancing in the isles and cheered the hero and booed the villan.
The Malligi was quite q smart hotel but my wife was unwell after our last meal there which did not make for a very comfortable train journey back to Goa.
If you are travelling indepedantly the arrival at Hospet station and the resulting invasion of the rickshaw drivers onto the platform looking for customers is something of an experience. It makes dealing with the baggage handlers at the airport seem like childs play.

Hi All,

Going to Goa on my own next month, first time I've ever been to India. Before I start - big thanks to everyone on this forum, it has been immensely helpful.

I'm very keen to go to Hampi on an organized tour (as done by daytrippergoa.com) but just noticed on the daytrippergoa site that their trip runs Wednesday to Friday. This is rather awkward for me to say the least as my trip involves flying out the night of Thursday 7th and leaving lunchtime on Friday 15th. Arrgghh!!!

Is it possible to book a trip through someone else on a different set of days (i.e. early or mid week) or are daytrippergoa the "only outfit in town" so to speak? I am desperately keen to go on a train ride when I am there and this Hampi trip seemed ideal until I spotted the dates!

Cheers,
Coop

Daytripper are not the only travelagents, but all must use the same days , due to the Train timetables,these are the only days possible. You could go in a private taxi or bus but you would miss out on the great Indian train experience.We did it two years ago and it was the best trip we have done from Goa.

Thanks Lassigirl,

Ah, that's a shame as I so wanted to do that trip. Maybe next time...

I definately want to do some form of train trip though (a lifelong ambition) so perhaps I should try and get that sorted when I get there.

Cheers,

Coop

edit
I changed your thread title as you may get suggestions for other train trips
Fiona ht mod

Hi Lassigirl

Daytripper are not the only travelagents

This is true, but I think you'll find that regardless of which agent you book the Hampi tour through, you'll go with Melo Tours.

We've been to Hampi 3 times and although we've booked with different companies (Jewel in the Crown, Cosmos and John's Boat Tours) the tour has always been handled by Melo Tours.

Everyone joins up at Margao Station, after being collected from your various hotels.
The rep from Melo Tours is waiting at Margao and stays with you for the duration of the tour.

I've checked the Melo tours website and the Hampi trip is Wed to Fri.

regards
Polly

Try a trip up to Mumbai on the konkani express, I`m sure someone could give you some details on here as I have never done it, I did Mumbai to Delhi and it took 22 1/2 hours but was a most memorable experience plus you get to see so much and meet so many people.

Hi again!
Both Daytripper and Melo Tours do the trip to Bombay!They can also be booked through the holiday reps but should be cheaper direct.Next time i am in Goa i am going to try the trip by train to Gokana in Karnataka, as its only a two hour journey hope to make it a day trip. But it could be worth an overnight as Gokana sounds very interesting in the guide books. As anyone got more information or made the trip
Thanks