Hi, I've never been to India before and am off to Goa for 3 weeks. I've been advised that I must go to Hampi. Does anyone have any advice on how I would get there and back. It is about 200 miles each way. I would stay a couple of nights and get a guided tour.
Posted by
7667 posts
We visited Goa and three other SW Indian ports on a cruise in 2015. We took some tours where our minibus fought the traffic on the highways outside of the ports.
I don't know where Hampi is located, but I don't recommend taking the highway, unless you have no other choice. The highways are overcrowded and include slow moving motorcycles and scooters. The highways have two lanes but passing the slow traffic seems to result in a near head on collision every minute. I have been to many countries and would not want to drive in India or for that matter travel between cities on their highways.
Posted by
the Netherlands
2487 posts
This might get you on the right track: http://hampi.in/goa-to-hampi
Get yourself a guide book for visiting Hampi instead of a tour.
Posted by
OP
UK
32 posts
Hi, thanks to both of you for the advice, so a train seems like the safest as far as collisions on the roads go. I'm not crazy about the early start but I would like to get there and back again and over day will hopefully be scenic. There is one tour company with super reviews on Tripadvisor, Explore Hampi which I hope will accept a single traveler. Guide books are great but I prefer stories from locals.
Posted by
Denver, CO, USA
1556 posts
I did this just about a year ago - took the overnight buses (sleeper) in name from Panjim to Hampi. This was a big mistake - buses are uncomfortable and the sleepers are shared so rather awkward. After the outbound, I just arranged for a car and driver for the drive back to Goa.
I would definitely avoid the bus. Arrange for a car service if you can bear the cost. If not, look to the train.
Posted by
OP
UK
32 posts
Hi again. Thanks to everyone above who gave me advice. It was too expensive to rent a private driver so In opted for the train. It was very difficult buying a train ticket. I believe it is possible to do online before you travel and that seems to be the easiest way. If you leave it to the last minute it becomes very difficult to do. The sleeper train itself was super though. The journey up was in the day time so nice scenery from the window. The way back was at night and the train was easy to sleep on.
Hampi was amazing and really worth doing with a private guide. I hired the company that is top on Tripadvisor, Explore Hampi, it's called, and I really enjoyed the tour. It cost about 3 x more than what a guide through the hotel in Hampi would have cost but it is still affordabe in Western terms. The guide really knew his stuff and had good suggestions.