I took a boat across the Tungabhadra River from Hampi town to the Anegundi side.
This is my experience!
So there’s a river that basically runs through Hampi.
And when you’re looking into things to do in Hampi, there’s a good chance that you’ll come across references to the “other side of the river.”
That’s referring to the Tungabhadra River.
Well, when you’re on the Hampi town side (aka the main Hampi tourist side)…
What’s on the other side of the Tungabhadra River?!
I did 2 main things:
- Visit to Anjanadri Hill (for amazing views of Hampi!)
- ATM in Anegundi “town” (yes really. 😉 There’s no ATM in Hampi town, and Anegundi seemed like it would make a better destination than the other place I was told there’s an ATM!)
There are also a few places to stay across the river. This is considered to be the slightly quieter part of Hampi.
So, when you’re on the Hampi town side of the area…
How do you get across the river?!
It’s pretty simple really!
- Walk towards the river from Hampi town
- Head down to the boat launch point (Hampi-Kishkinda ferry on google maps)
- Get on the ferry!
- Enjoy the short ride across the Tungabhadra River
- Arrive on the other side of the river!
- Enjoy Hampi on the other side of the Tungabhadra River!!
Walk towards the river from Hampi town
Head down to the boat launch point
Get on the ferry!
Enjoy the short ride across the Tungabhadra River
Arrive on the other side of the river!
Enjoy Hampi on the other side of the Tungabhadra River!!
What about a coracle boat ride in Hampi?
So another thing to do in Hampi is to take a ride across the river on a “coracle boat.”
When I was in Hampi, there were no coracle boats available for a trip across the river.
There was only one that was visible, and they said that boat was currently in the process of being fixed.
Now…
A few more details about this Hampi ferry!
Walk towards the river from Hampi town
If you’re not set on staying on the “other side” of the river, the main tourist area of Hampi can be a good area to stay too.
So there might be some cows you can follow along for a bit to get to the river.
Or maybe they are going in the opposite direction.
Head down to the boat launch point
On Google Maps, you can look for the “Hampi-Kishkinda ferry” and this can be your reference point.
Once you get near, you’ll see the first set of stairs.
You can take these stairs, down to the river, or you can choose to take the next set of stairs.
Walking further down the street will have you passing by some shops.
When I went, there was also some simple local breakfast food if you’re getting a start in the morning without eating anything!
And then the stairs.
This set of stairs also has a ramp that you can more easily take a bicycle down in case you are renting a bicycle for some cycling in Hampi!
And then once you’ve reach the river, it’ll be relatively simple to figure out how to get on the boat.
If not, you can ask someone.
Get on the ferry!
Enjoy the short ride across the Tungabhadra River
This ride is very short.
Maybe even less than 5 minutes.
Arrive on the other side of the river!
And see the views of the famous Hampi temple from the other side!
Enjoy Hampi on the other side of the river!!
Now…
How much does this boat ride cost?
It costs 20 rupees per person. (Like US$0.30.)
Once you get on the boat, there will be someone who will come around and collect the boat fare.
Can you take bicycles on the boat?
If you have a bicycle, the cost of your fare will be 50 rupees (less than US$1). That includes the price for both you and your bicycle.
What are the ferry timings?
Officially, the first ferry is at 7:30am, and the last ferry is at 5:30pm.
Throughout the day, there really is no set departure timing.
The ferry boat will leave basically when it’s full…
Or “officially” when they have at least 300 rupees worth of customers on board.
This 300 rupees might not have to be on your boat, but if they see a group of people across the river waiting for the boat, then they might depart too.
This can mean that there’s potential for you to be waiting for the ferry for awhile.
On my way back to the Hampi town side, one guy said he had been waiting there for 40 minutes.
I didn’t want to wait any longer, so I said I would pay more so I could leave immediately.
Initially they basically just ignored me and said to wait 5 minutes. But the guy had been waiting for 40 minutes, so I did not believe 5 minutes would make a difference.
Based on the boat I had taken in the morning, which had 150 rupees worth of customers, so that’s what I asked if I could pay to leave immediately.
It took a bit of persistence but they finally said yes.
If you don’t want to pay the extra though, you can just wait for a full boat!
Taking the ferry in the evening
While the last official boat timing is at 5:30pm, I was told told by the boat man that you can still get a ferry across if you arrive later.
It will just cost you a little more. Maybe 150 rupees or so.
I’m not sure just how late the real last boat will go, but this is something you can ask once you’re at the river if you think you’ll be out later than 6pm.
What to do once you’re on the other side of the Tungabhadra river?!
A nice half day trip can be a visit to the Anjanadri Hill!
You can go by bicycle…
And you can also go by scooter.
For the bicycle, it will be better to rent it in Hampi town, and there are many places to rent bicycles.
I paid 100 rupees (US$1.50) for the day.
You can rent scooters on either side of the river. But if you want to take the boat across the river, you’ll find scooter rentals on the other side of the river too. I was walking with a bicycle and I was still getting offers for a scooter rental.
I think I was told 100 rupees for the day for that as well.
I was in Hampi in the off-season (June), so you might pay a bit more during season.
If you are into rock climbing, Hampi is known as a rock climbing destination, too!
HAPPY HAMPI FERRY RIDE ACROSS THE TUNGABHADRA RIVER!
The need-to-know India travel tips!
If it's your first trip to India, be sure to see these tips for getting around India on a budget, and more! You might wait until India to buy this mosquito repellent that works for many foreigners! Also be sure to see how to spend one month in South India and 2 weeks in North India, as well as tips for the Golden Triangle. And, overnight sleeper bus travel isn't so bad, and neither is traveling in general class on the train! Also see the easy way to get an e-visa. And this is the easy way to book train tickets online as a foreigner. I've used it, and it's simple! You can just show the e-ticket on your phone.There are affiliate links on this page that lead to partner websites.
Hostels in Kerala
For a hostel with international standards in Kerala, try Zostel! Both of these hostels in Alleppey and Varkala offer ocean views from the outdoor common area! There are shared dorms and private rooms available.More Zostels in Kerala:
- Zostel Kochi
- Zostel Wayanad (hills)
- Zostel Vagamon (hills)
Zostel is a top backpacker chain across India, and I've stayed at many Zostels in India! And outside of Kerala, if you'll be passing through Gokarna as you go from Goa to Kerala (here are options of how to get from Goa to Kerala!), then Zostel Gokarna is in an amazing location too! Here are pictures from the on-site cafe that overlooks the ocean.
And then...
Where to stay on the tourist trail in Kerala
These places basically go down the coast from north to south!- Cochin: Try a homestay in the cute heritage area of Fort Kochi.
- Marari Beach: This is an "off-beat" location as Marari is mostly unknown to backpackers, but it can be a convenient stop to make between Cochin and Alleppey with chill laid back vibes. For an idea of what type of beach can be nearby, see my beach walk from Alleppey to Marari.
- Marari Nest Beach Homestay
- Homestay Marari John's Beach
- Raju Villa for solo travelers for the budget single room
- Alleppey Beach:
- Funky Art Beach House again for chill vibes with a location among locals in a residential neighborhood
- And there's Zostel Alleppey too for another beach location to stay several days
- OR if Alleppey is a quick visit, try Dream Nest to be closer to town
- And see how to spend one day in Alleppey (short version: go for the backwaters village canoe tour instead of a houseboat!)
- Alleppey backwaters:
- Try a cottage right on the backwaters
- Or a beautiful homestay practically on the backwaters, like this one or like this one
- Munroe Island: This is another generally kind of more off-beat location, and you can see a different part of the Kerala backwaters on a quiet island
- Try a cottage backwaters homestay right on the waters (and see why you should consider munroe island! short version: food, sunrise canoe tour, quiet cycling around the island)
- Varkala cliff:
- Seawin OR Prashanthi for ocean views
Retreats in Kerala
For relaxation and rejuvenation for health and wellness, also see:- Yoga retreats in Kerala
- Ayurveda retreats in Kerala - ayurveda is basically healthy living through natural herbs and remedies, and Kerala is the birthplace of ayurveda!
How to book India train tickets online as a foreigner
If you don't want to go through the complicated process of setting up an IRCTC Indian railways account as a foreigner...Then the most convenient way to buy train tickets online is through this booking website. I've used it, and it's super simple! You buy the ticket, and then show the electronic version on your phone once you're on the train. Compared to buying directly through an Indian ticket booking website (IRCTC account required) or directly at the train station in India, there is a small convenience fee, as well as a less flexible cancellation policy, though!
India tourist visa tip!
Access to India as a foreigner seems to be getting friendlier! There's an e-visa now and this visa fee is far less than it was before. See the current cost of an e-visa by selecting your country. That's a partner website to make the evisa application process less stressful - it's possible to apply on your own too. See about your options on how to get an e-visa for India.Travel insurance for India - just in case!
You get travel insurance hoping that you'll never have to use it. But if you do end up needing to use it, chances are that you will be VERY happy that you did get it! See how to figure out the cost of travel insurance for India.
