Hospet, with the ancient ruins and magnificent structures strewn about its landscape, brings back to life the historic era of mighty Vijayanagar Empire that once flourished here. Moving along its dusty paths, passing through its quiet old neighborhoods and the buzzing local markets, the city enchants you with the nostalgic charm that engulfs it. The emperor Krishna Dev Raya established the city in the 16th century in the memory of his mother, naming it Nagalapura. The name Hospet, however, was derived from the local term for the city ‘Hosa Pete’ meaning ‘the new city’.
Situated on the banks of the river Tungabhadra, it is endowed with a rich store of natural resources, making it a major mining hub in Karnataka. Hospet with its many attractions lures travelers into a historical world.
The ancient Vijayanagar Empire, which once ruled Hospet has endowed the city with marvelous reminders of its glory and splendor. One of the major attractions is the Queen’s Bath, known for its creative and appealing architectural design. It is popularly known as the ‘stepped bath’ due to the beautiful arrangement of steps leading into the bath. Another important monument is the Lotus Mahal, which was used as the pleasure palace of the royal family women, known for the intricate lotus bud carvings on its domes
Harihara is a site of religious importance located near the river Tungabhadra, housing some exquisite temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The Hazara Rama Temple is renowned for its artistic structure adorned with sculptures depicting mythological scenes.
The local markets are a treasure trove of folk arts and handicrafts, such as beads, pendants, caskets and perfumed wood crafts made from sandalwood. You can also shop for the Lambani jewelry and fine handloom fabrics from Bijapur and Guledgudda.
The best way of traveling in Hospet is by hiring a private taxi or renting a car. There are a number of car rentals in the city that provide services at reasonable fares. If you wish to experience the local lifestyle, you can travel by the city buses that ply on major routes within the city. Auto-rickshaws are also available on the streets and are a convenient way of getting around the city.
On a daily basis there are approximately 16 flights that operate at Hubli Airport.SpiceJet is the popular airline brand that fly frequently to this airport.
Besides flying you can also reach Hospet through train.Hospet Jnis one of the most popular train stations in Hospet.On an average about 26 trains pass through Hospet on a daily basis.Gadag-Betigeri to Hospet, Guntakal to Hospet, Bellary to Hospetare some of the most popular routes to Hospet with 50, 50, 50 trains weekly respectively.
By road Hospet is surrounded by Gangawati, Kampli, Koppal which are 12.96 km, 15.15 km, 16.77 km away respectively. These places are ideal spots for people to plan their short weekend break.
Hospet has a total of 12 hotels.There are 12 hotels in Hospet with the popular ones being Hotel Malligi, Royal Orchid Central Kireeti, Hyatt Place Hampi, Krishna Palace, Hotel Priyadarshini, Hotel Hampi International etc.