Hampi Heritage Weekend

• Overnight travel
• Sunset
• Heritage walk

Wake up among the boulders after the overnight drive. The day stays on the quieter north bank of the river, from the fort town of Anegundi to a sunset over Sanapur lake.

1. 21:30Board the Tempo Traveller (Friday night). First pickup at RMZ Ecospace, Bellandur, then Yeshwanthpur Metro, Goraguntepalya and the Nelamangala toll on Tumkur Road. Pack a cap and sunscreen; Hampi's rocks hold the heat all day.

2. 05:45Arrive near Hampi, check in and rest. We reach the guesthouse on the Anegundi side of the Tungabhadra around dawn. Dorms are shared and split by gender; take a shower and a short nap.

3. 08:30Breakfast at the stay. A simple breakfast, usually poha, idli or eggs with chai, served in the courtyard.

4. 10:00Anegundi fort and village. Walk the old gateways and fort walls of the town that predates the Vijayanagara capital, then the lanes of whitewashed houses where women weave banana-fibre crafts.

5. 12:30Lunch near Anegundi. Pay-as-you-go at one of the relaxed cafes on the north bank; thali, wood-fired pizza and fresh lime soda are all easy to find.On your own

6. 13:30Rest through the afternoon heat. Hampi afternoons are fierce for most of the year. Back to the stay for a siesta or a book in a hammock.

7. 16:00Sanapur lake. A reservoir ringed by giant boulders and paddy fields. Round coracle rides are optional and paid locally; do not swim, as the water is deep and crocodiles are reported.

8. 17:45Sunset from the boulders. A short scramble up the rocks for the sun going down over the lake and the ruined hills. Wear shoes with grip and carry a torch for the walk back.

9. 19:30Dinner on the north bank. Pay-as-you-go. Most cafes here have floor seating and a slow, easy pace; order early as kitchens close by around 22:00.On your own

10. 21:30Overnight at the guesthouse. Early night; breakfast is at 06:45 so we can be at Vittala when the gates open.

• Temple visit

An early start for Vittala at opening, then the living temple of Virupaksha, the Lotus Mahal and the museum. We leave in the late afternoon for the drive home.

1. 06:45Breakfast and check-out. Eat, pack and load bags into the Tempo Traveller. Carry water, a hat and a small towel for the day.

2. 07:30Drive round to the Hampi side. We cross the Tungabhadra by road via Kampli and Kamalapur, about an hour through sugarcane and banana country.

3. 08:30Vijaya Vittala Temple. Gates open at 08:30. See the stone chariot, the slender musical pillars of the main hall and the carved horses and dancers. The last stretch is by battery buggy or a short walk.

4. 10:30Virupaksha Temple and Hampi Bazaar. A working temple whose tall gopuram overlooks the old bazaar street. Leave footwear outside, dress modestly and look for the pinhole image of the tower inside.

5. 12:30Lunch near Hampi. Pay-as-you-go. A North Karnataka meal with jolada rotti and ennegai is worth trying.On your own

6. 13:30Lotus Mahal and the Elephant Stables. Inside the royal women's enclosure, the Lotus Mahal blends Indian and Islamic arches; next door, a long row of domed stables once housed the royal elephants.

7. 15:00Archaeological Museum, Kamalapur. Sculptures, weapons, coins and a large floor model of the whole site help the day's ruins fall into place. Open 10:00 to 17:00, closed Fridays.

8. 16:00Depart for Bengaluru. We join NH48 near Hosapete and head south, stopping for a pay-as-you-go dinner on the highway.

9. 23:30Arrive Bengaluru, trip ends. Drop-offs at Nelamangala, Goraguntepalya, Yeshwanthpur and RMZ Ecospace, roughly 23:30 to 00:30 depending on traffic.