Hampi ruins, Karnataka..
Peranandham Ramaraj
The fascinating ancient ruins of Hampi are one of the top 5 travel destinations in Karnataka, and also one of India's top historical destinations. Soon, you'll be able to explore the Hampi ruins by night.
The Department of Tourism and Hampi World Heritage Area Management Authority plan to start running guided night tours of Hampi, hopefully by the time the tourist season gets underway in a couple of months.
It's a great idea, because Hampi often gets very hot during the daytime, and there are limited activities there at night for tourists.
The tour, which will mix both walking and buggy rides, will run from 5.30 p.m. until 11.00 p.m. and include a delicious dinner and performances by local folk artists at Gejjala Mandap. The four kilometer route starts off at the imposing monolith idol of Lord Ganesh, at the southern entry to Hemakuta Hill. It finishes at the illuminated Vijaya Vitala temple, which houses the renowned stone chariot and musical pillars.