Region

Northern Karnataka

Base yourself in Hampi (Hospet) for 2–3 nights; add Bidar or Badami as separate day-trips or an overnight. The region is spread out — driving between sites takes 2–4 hours.

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Key facts · India

Best months: Oct–Nov
Visa: Depends on your passport
Currency: Indian rupee (INR, ₹)
Language: Hindi and English at national level
Plugs: C · D · M · 230 V
Time zone: UTC+5:30 all year

Month by month hereIn detail ↓

Rules in force · 6

South Asia ↗Trekking regions, border districts and several Indian states need separate permits on top of the visa; check the permit before you book transport into them.
South Asia ↗Remove shoes (and in many Jain and Hindu temples, leather) before entering; cover shoulders and legs; ask before photographing people or rituals.
India ↗Apply for the e-visa only on the official government portal (indianvisaonline.gov.in); lookalike sites charge extra. Check the current rules, fees and how far ahead to apply.
India ↗Do not follow anyone who says your hotel is closed, the station ticket office is closed or a road is shut; use the prepaid taxi counter, the metro or an app car.
India ↗Carry Indian rupees in small notes (10, 20, 50, 100); change for 500 is often refused.
India ↗Parts of the Northeast, Sikkim, Ladakh, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and all border belts need a Protected or Restricted Area Permit or an Inner Line Permit for foreigners; check before you book the route.

Northern Karnataka (also called Kalyana Karnataka) holds the ruined Vijayanagara capital of Hampi, the rock-cut temples of Badami, Aihole and Pattadakal, and the Bahmani-era monuments of Bidar and Kalaburagi. The distances are large — Hampi to Bidar is 5 hours by road — so pick one base and do the rest as day-trips or overnight stops. Hospet is the practical gateway to Hampi; Badami works for the Chalukya circuit.

Where to sleep

4 places in this region

Sleep base

HampiCity guide
The main draw; 2 nights minimum. Hospet (10 km (6.2 mi) away) has more hotels.The main draw; 2 nights minimum. Hospet (6.2 mi (10 km) away) has more hotels.
Best Nov–Feb
JFMAMJJASOND
Open Hampi →
BadamiCity guide
Base for Aihole and Pattadakal; 1–2 nights.
Best Oct–Feb
JFMAMJJASOND
Open Badami →

Day trip

BidarCity guide
Bahmani architecture; 1 night if you want to explore slowly.
Best Oct–Feb
JFMAMJJASOND
Open Bidar →
KalaburagiCity guide
Bahmani tombs and fort; half-day.
Best Oct–Mar
JFMAMJJASOND
Open Kalaburagi →

Plan the nights

How to split the nights, day-trips and what to do with your bags

Open Plan the nightsClose Plan the nights3 partsNights · Day-trips · Bags

Night sequences

4 nights: Hampi 3 + Badami 1 (drive via Aihole and Pattadakal)
6 nights: Hampi 3 + Badami 2 + Bidar 1

Summer (Apr–Jun) is extremely hot — 40 °C (104 °F)+; plan sightseeing for early morning and late afternoon.Summer (Apr–Jun) is extremely hot — 104 °F (40 °C)+; plan sightseeing for early morning and late afternoon.
Roads between towns vary; a hired car with driver is strongly recommended over self-driving for non-locals.

Day-trips door to door

To	From	Door-to-door p50	Last return	Note
Aihole	Badami	60 min	unknown	Drive ~35 km (22 mi); temples spread along the river.Drive ~22 mi (35 km); temples spread along the river.
Pattadakal	Badami	40 min	unknown	UNESCO site; 22 km (14 mi).UNESCO site; 14 mi (22 km).
Bidar	Hospet	300 min	unknown	5-hour drive; better as an overnight.
Kalaburagi	Hospet	240 min	unknown	4-hour drive; combine with Bidar.

Bags between cities

check

When to go

Months and weather

Open When to goClose When to go2 partsSeasons · Climate

Seasons at a glance

From each city's month table

Pick a month to see where to go.

Only good-now countries

Show all 12 months, country by countryHide the 12-month table

Country	JJan	FFeb	MMar	AApr	MMay	JJun	JJul	AAug	SSep	OOct	NNov	DDec
Hampi	go	go	ok	×	×	×	×	×	×	ok	go	go
Badami	go	go	ok	×	×	ok	ok	ok	ok	go	go	go
Bidar	go	go	×	×	×	×	ok	ok	ok	go	go	go
Kalaburagi	go	go	go	×	×	×	ok	ok	ok	go	go	go
India (country-wide)	go	go	go	ok	×	ok	ok	ok	ok	go	ok	go

Go: the good monthsFair: workable, mixedPoor: heat, rain or hazeAvoid: storms, floods, closuresno data yet

Computed from each country’s own data; hover a country name for the source. Advisory countries are left out.

Climate strip

Month by month

Zone	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Northern KarnatakaDeccan plateau	cool	cool	hot	hot	hot	wet	wet	wet	wet	best	best	cool

best: dry, mildcool: jacket, greyhot: short walking windowswet: daily rain

Northern Karnataka: Best months: Oct–Feb. Monsoon (Jun–Sep) brings rain but also green landscapes; summer (Mar–May) is scorching.

The best time is November to February, when daytime temperatures stay below 32 °C (90 °F). March to May exceeds 40 °C (104 °F).The best time is November to February, when daytime temperatures stay below 90 °F (32 °C). March to May exceeds 104 °F (40 °C).

Getting in and passes

Arrival times and regional passes

Open Getting in and passesClose Getting in and passes2 partsGet in · Passes

Get in

Door-to-door p50, 2026 estimate

From	To	How	p50	Note
Hubballi Airport (HBX)	Hospet / Hampi	Taxi or bus	~3 h to Hospet	Hubballi has direct flights from Bengaluru, Mumbai and Chennai.
Belgaum Airport (IXG)	Badami	Taxi	~2 h 30	Flights from Bengaluru and Mumbai.
Bengaluru	Hospet	Train (Hampi Express) or overnight bus	~7 h (train), ~9 h (bus)	Book train tickets well in advance on IRCTC.
Hyderabad	Bidar	Bus or taxi	~3 h 30	Bidar is closer to Hyderabad than to Bengaluru.

Regional passes

Verdict first

ASI Monument Pass

buy

₹1,000 (2026 estimate) covers entry to Hampi, Badami, Aihole, Pattadakal and other ASI sites across India for 1 year; buy online or at any ASI ticket counter.

Eat and move on

Regional food and where to go next

Open Eat and move onClose Eat and move on2 partsFood · Go next

Regional food

Where and when it works

Dish	Where	Timing / trap
Jolada rotti (sorghum flatbread) with ennegai (stuffed brinjal)	Hospet and village dhabas	The staple of North Karnataka; look for lunch thalis.
Bisi bele bath	Local restaurants	Spicy lentil-rice dish; available everywhere.
Kadubu (steamed rice dumplings)	Bidar	A local specialty; often served with coconut chutney.
Badami's temple prasadam	Badami town	Simple meals near the temples; check hygiene.

Go next

Karavali (coastal Karnataka)

Bus or train from Hubballi to Mangaluru, ~6 h

Beaches and temples; a different landscape.

Cauvery Basin (southern Karnataka)

planned

Train from Hospet to Mysuru via Bengaluru, ~10 h

Mysore Palace, Coorg, and the coffee belt.

Hyderabad

Train or bus from Bidar, ~3 h 30

Biryani, Charminar and the Golconda Fort.

Planning aids

Built from this guide's own data

Open Planning aidsClose Planning aids2 partsIn numbers · Going in…

Region in numbers

Where to sleep: 2 bases
Day trips: 4, 40 min to 5 h
Nights suggested: 4–6 nights
Ways in: 4 listed
Best months: Oct, Nov

Going in…

Pick a month for the weather in each zone of the region, plus the country-wide rating and holidays.

Pick a month.

Visit Karnataka Up to India

Deep dive

Photos, reading and every source

Open Deep diveClose Deep dive1 partSources

Sources

officialKarnataka Tourism
officialArchaeological Survey of India — Hampi
officialIRCTC — train booking
secondaryWikivoyage: Northern Karnataka, revision 5255525 (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Ask about Northern Karnataka

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