Try here http://www.dharssi.org.uk/travel/india/hampi.html one word of warning it will be blistering hot so take plenty of sun block and water

Spent all lunch looking into it. Found the hotel i'm going to stay at (if I can get in) and the train times. Think i'll organise the rest when i'm there.

Got the SP50 ready for my nose, kneck and shoulders
The more I read and see the more I want to go!!

Mardon you will love Hampi it's just so different to Goa and the sites are out of this world!! You can hire guides from hotels, they also hang out around the sites of Hampi waiting for those tourists not already on "package tours" in the hope that you will require their services.....having a guide is a good idea otherwise you will miss out on a lot of relevant info.
Enjoy, GFF xxx

Mardon which hotel are you going to stay in. Most hotels will recommend a guide, cant remember what our guide was called but he really knew his stuff and made it very interesting. Its a massive site and gets very hot as its inland and you dont get any breeze at all. We loved it when we went with Daytripper but would have liked to stay longer so its better to do it yourself, I know you will have a wonderful time and cant wait to hear all about it when you get back

Mardon - Hampi is fantastic - you'll love it.

One or two bits of advice - it's hot!! Very hot! Mosquitoes love it there - take plenty of mossie cream and put it on before dusk.

Some of the hotels are dire. I had my worst ever night anywhere in a hotel in Hospet - me, the wife and an army of cockroaches. The best hotel is the Malighi. http://www.malligihotels.com/ . I can't overstate how grim some of the other hotels are!

The Malighi has suites that cost about £25 per night about 5 years ago. I know that's expensive but I would recommend trying to get one. They're excellent - dining room, 2 TVs, lounge, bathroom (with a bath!). The restaurant is good there too. They also have more basic rooms.

I'd ask in the hotel about guides. You'll get one in Hampi but they can be overbearing and do what they want, rather than what you want to see.

Have a great trip!

I agree completely with what Roma says. Dont use the basic rooms at Malligi as they are not nice at all and are in the original hotel. The new hotel is gorgeous and the restaurants are very good and a lot cheaper than Goa. They will organise a guide and driver for you if you wish, they cant do enough for you

Taking note's on this thread we will be going to Hampi DIY when we go to Goa in march ....colleen

Were going to try and get into Hampi's Bolders. Its expensive but looks amazing. Will ring as soon as I get to Goa to try and get a room. If not Hospet is the next bet. Were there for 3 nights so should be able to see a fair bit. Did loads of reading up on Hampi on Friday. I'm so excited now!

Mardon hubby and I will be watching your every move so you will have to tell us all about it when you come back

I've added the two mentioned to the India hotel reviews. Any more that can be reviewed please let me know. I have a feeling that Hampi hotel reviews will be very worthwhile.

The guest houses in Hampi bazaar are really up to scratch these days, and at 500/800rps for a double room per night with shower and western toilet, bit overpriced for the region, are still good value, (long gone are the days of 60rps per night). Plus you are right in the heart of things but you do have to "put up" with veggie and no alcohol, tho' if you pine for a beer and meat you can always jump in a taxi to the Malligri in Hospet for the evening.
Can't see how the Boulders can justify the 6000rps per night, the pics are really "glossed" over and the rooms, ok you do get A/C, but are no smarter than some of the guesthouses.
A must is, a good guide book, a good guide and hire tuk tuk for the day. Without these you won't get to see half as much, it's a big area with a lot of hidden pearls.
Sort the price out with the guide first, rule of thumb is 100rps per hour, tuk tuk about 800rps for the day.
Take half a day out of your itinery to see the Monkey Temple, the views are amazing and although it's stepped, the climb can still be a little strenuous and if you do it late afternoon the sunsets can be spectacular, but remember a torch for the descent.
Have fun, it's a great experience.
Eddie

I've been wanting to go to Hampi for years but somehow never got round to it! I'm thinking of going next time but not sure if it will be too hot at the end of March? I will be going DIY too.

High 30's + towards the end of Mar/April, bit hotter than you find in Goa, but no cooling sea breeze, so a hat and drink plenty
Tip:- Take photographs early morning and late afternoon, the harsh light can play havoc with your pics or use filters on your lens.
Eddie