Tungabhadra River
Tungabhadra River
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Devendra G
India1,014 contributions
Jan 2023
Tungabhadra river is the lifeline of Hampi. This river finds a mention in Ramayana also. The river is opposite to the Virupaksha temple. I would definitely recommend a coral ride in the river. The ride is easily available on the shores. Must visit.
Written January 6, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Profvns
Bengaluru, India545 contributions
Oct 2014 • Solo
‘Gangamoola’ alias ‘Varaha Parvata’ is a hill in Western Ghats in Chikkamagaluru district of Karnataka state in India. It is the source of three rivers namely Tunga, Bhadra and Netravathi. Manasa Sarovar at Mount Everest is the source for three famous rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Brahmaputra. Thus Varaha Parvata is named as Gangamoola in Karnataka. River Netravathi flows towards west to merge in Arabiansea. Rivers Tunga and Bhadra though flow in two different directions, confluence together to form one river at Koodli whereafter it is called Tungabhadra River.
The famous shrine Sringeri Sharada Peeta established by Adishankaracharya and Manthralaya in border of Andhrapradesh and Karnataka states is popular for Sri Guru Raghavendraswami mutt, are located on the banks of Tunga River.
River Indravathi (Handri) meets Tungabhadra at Kurnool, first capital of Seemandhrapradesh state.
Sangameshwara is at 10kms from Alampur, where Tungabhadra River disappears in Krishna River. It is the spot where seven rivers meet (Saptanadi sangama). Lord Sangameshwara temple that was/is exists here has been submerged in back waters of Srisailam dam. This temple can be seen when water level is reduced. Tungabhadra flows towards east to join Krishna along the border of Seemandhra and Telangana states, from where Krishna continues to empty into Bay of Bengal.
Tunga and Bhadra together form Tungabhadra River, which is a sacred river in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, as it serves as chief tributary of the Krishna River. In the epic Ramayana, Tungabhadra was called as Pampa River.
Hampi, the World Heritage Site is located on the southern bank of Tungabhadra. It takes number of twists and turns forming beautiful curves due to rocky terrain in Hampi area. It gives a pleasant experience by touring on boat on Tungabhadra in Hampi. I enjoyed an excellent round-boat or Theppa or Coracle, many times. Theppa or Coracle is small country boat made of tarred local long grass which is piloted by local oarsman.
There is sentimental belief that River Tunga is a form of Lord Vishnu and Bhadra is that of Lord Siva. Thus Tungabhadra is formed by both Gods to show that there is no distinction or difference between them and they are one God. As a symbol of this theory there are 108 Shivalingas carved on a rock at the banks of Tungabhadra in Hampi, which I have worshipped. Tungabhadra is serving as source of drinking and irrigation to many towns and cities.
An important feature of the river banks is the flood protection walls all along the rivers, constructed by king Krishnadevaraya between 1525 and 1527 AD. These walls can be seen wherever there is a possibility of land erosion due to floods, from Sringeri to Kurnool. They are built of stones and boulders which are intact even today.
There are a wide range of hotels in Hampi as it is a heritage site certified by UNESCO. There are budget hotels offering very good services at minimum rates. South Indian food is available in every hotel in Hampi and Hospet. You may taste spicy Idli, vada and sambar and Dose for breakfast and take Thali for lunch or dinner. There are restaurants on either side of the road leading to Virupaksha temple to take care of you well, at your cost.
There is no airport in Hampi. Bellary is closest airport at 64km. nearest railway station is Hospet at 13km. It is easy to reach Hampi from Hosapete as there are number of buses and private vehicles to take you to Hampi. Hampi has a good road network as it is connected to many cities in Karnataka and other states.
The famous shrine Sringeri Sharada Peeta established by Adishankaracharya and Manthralaya in border of Andhrapradesh and Karnataka states is popular for Sri Guru Raghavendraswami mutt, are located on the banks of Tunga River.
River Indravathi (Handri) meets Tungabhadra at Kurnool, first capital of Seemandhrapradesh state.
Sangameshwara is at 10kms from Alampur, where Tungabhadra River disappears in Krishna River. It is the spot where seven rivers meet (Saptanadi sangama). Lord Sangameshwara temple that was/is exists here has been submerged in back waters of Srisailam dam. This temple can be seen when water level is reduced. Tungabhadra flows towards east to join Krishna along the border of Seemandhra and Telangana states, from where Krishna continues to empty into Bay of Bengal.
Tunga and Bhadra together form Tungabhadra River, which is a sacred river in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, as it serves as chief tributary of the Krishna River. In the epic Ramayana, Tungabhadra was called as Pampa River.
Hampi, the World Heritage Site is located on the southern bank of Tungabhadra. It takes number of twists and turns forming beautiful curves due to rocky terrain in Hampi area. It gives a pleasant experience by touring on boat on Tungabhadra in Hampi. I enjoyed an excellent round-boat or Theppa or Coracle, many times. Theppa or Coracle is small country boat made of tarred local long grass which is piloted by local oarsman.
There is sentimental belief that River Tunga is a form of Lord Vishnu and Bhadra is that of Lord Siva. Thus Tungabhadra is formed by both Gods to show that there is no distinction or difference between them and they are one God. As a symbol of this theory there are 108 Shivalingas carved on a rock at the banks of Tungabhadra in Hampi, which I have worshipped. Tungabhadra is serving as source of drinking and irrigation to many towns and cities.
An important feature of the river banks is the flood protection walls all along the rivers, constructed by king Krishnadevaraya between 1525 and 1527 AD. These walls can be seen wherever there is a possibility of land erosion due to floods, from Sringeri to Kurnool. They are built of stones and boulders which are intact even today.
There are a wide range of hotels in Hampi as it is a heritage site certified by UNESCO. There are budget hotels offering very good services at minimum rates. South Indian food is available in every hotel in Hampi and Hospet. You may taste spicy Idli, vada and sambar and Dose for breakfast and take Thali for lunch or dinner. There are restaurants on either side of the road leading to Virupaksha temple to take care of you well, at your cost.
There is no airport in Hampi. Bellary is closest airport at 64km. nearest railway station is Hospet at 13km. It is easy to reach Hampi from Hosapete as there are number of buses and private vehicles to take you to Hampi. Hampi has a good road network as it is connected to many cities in Karnataka and other states.
Written May 17, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
anish2212
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India14 contributions
Jan 2015 • Friends
We were a group of four friends visiting Hampi for 3 days. We stayed on the other side of the river ("Hippie Island"). As the name suggests, this island is flocked by hippies (mostly foreigners) who stay for months at a time! Main part of the island has this long road - one side of which has all the guest houses and the other side has scenic rice fields. We stayed in Gopi guest house, which was pretty decent to stay but probably had the best cafe in the area. (we heard Shanthi & Mowgli are the 2 better of the guest houses).
Hippies on these island just stay in the cafes for most of their stay - mostly smoking "stuff" and are quite friendly. The tourist rent two-wheelers and explore the rest of the island - mainly a lake and some temples. Lake-side has beautiful sunrise & sunset views and though swimming is prohibited, it is too good to be missed :) There is a place on one side of the lake where people jump from at least 20 ft high boulders! We spent 2 of the 3 days just roaming around in this area around the lake and enjoy the views while lying on boulders.
On one of the days we went to the main side of Hampi to explore the ruins. We rented an auto-rickshaw for INR 1000 for the full day. Driver took us to all the important must view places. I would highly recommend getting a guide as otherwise you wont be able to appreciate the true mystery of this place.
Crossing the river to get to hippie island is another trek in itself. you can either take the motorboat (INR 10/person), which runs for limited time (9/10 am till 5:30pm). Beyond these times, you have to take coracle boat (INR 50+/person, surge pricing!), which are all leaky and you must surely will get wet. you can't swim your way through, so there are only these two options. you can hire auto from the hospet/hampi bus stand to get to the river.
Hippies on these island just stay in the cafes for most of their stay - mostly smoking "stuff" and are quite friendly. The tourist rent two-wheelers and explore the rest of the island - mainly a lake and some temples. Lake-side has beautiful sunrise & sunset views and though swimming is prohibited, it is too good to be missed :) There is a place on one side of the lake where people jump from at least 20 ft high boulders! We spent 2 of the 3 days just roaming around in this area around the lake and enjoy the views while lying on boulders.
On one of the days we went to the main side of Hampi to explore the ruins. We rented an auto-rickshaw for INR 1000 for the full day. Driver took us to all the important must view places. I would highly recommend getting a guide as otherwise you wont be able to appreciate the true mystery of this place.
Crossing the river to get to hippie island is another trek in itself. you can either take the motorboat (INR 10/person), which runs for limited time (9/10 am till 5:30pm). Beyond these times, you have to take coracle boat (INR 50+/person, surge pricing!), which are all leaky and you must surely will get wet. you can't swim your way through, so there are only these two options. you can hire auto from the hospet/hampi bus stand to get to the river.
Written February 1, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lingers1
London, UK91 contributions
Mar 2019 • Couples
This is a review about the crossing method of the river to hampi island. It appears the boat is one of the only options but this is a very unsatisfactory service.
First the boat to hampi island is advertised 20r no luggage and 40r with luggage. That's fine. Everyone gets in the same boat and boat crosses. Bit dodgy when the guy stops the boat in the middle of the river to hold you hostage until everyone has paid. Maybe give out tickets before getting onto the boat to avoid this ...
Secondly the boat doesn't have specified times back even though it is supposed to run every 15 mins. We showed up at high heat around 2pm. No shelter around the boat area. Place is empty of tourists. The guy running the boat says we have to wait for 15 people to show up before the boat can go. Clearly didn't look like anyone else was showing for ages. So he says 15 mins.
In the meantime plenty of local people come and hop on the boat and are quickly ferried across but they refuse us to get on that boat. Even though that is the boat we got to go to hampi island in the first place.
Finally after 45 mins of waiting the boat decides it is going to go. Get to the middle of the river and now the price is 50r per person. Despite it being 20 earlier. Guy lies and says it is always 50r. Of course he stops the boat and will not go further unless you cough up more money.
Overall, how can this service be allowed to run as one of the only services to hampi island ? They are blatantly cheating people. But worse still making you wait and segregating who can go on which boat
First the boat to hampi island is advertised 20r no luggage and 40r with luggage. That's fine. Everyone gets in the same boat and boat crosses. Bit dodgy when the guy stops the boat in the middle of the river to hold you hostage until everyone has paid. Maybe give out tickets before getting onto the boat to avoid this ...
Secondly the boat doesn't have specified times back even though it is supposed to run every 15 mins. We showed up at high heat around 2pm. No shelter around the boat area. Place is empty of tourists. The guy running the boat says we have to wait for 15 people to show up before the boat can go. Clearly didn't look like anyone else was showing for ages. So he says 15 mins.
In the meantime plenty of local people come and hop on the boat and are quickly ferried across but they refuse us to get on that boat. Even though that is the boat we got to go to hampi island in the first place.
Finally after 45 mins of waiting the boat decides it is going to go. Get to the middle of the river and now the price is 50r per person. Despite it being 20 earlier. Guy lies and says it is always 50r. Of course he stops the boat and will not go further unless you cough up more money.
Overall, how can this service be allowed to run as one of the only services to hampi island ? They are blatantly cheating people. But worse still making you wait and segregating who can go on which boat
Written March 15, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
charudattaathale
mumbai542 contributions
May 2019 • Friends
all the ruins are on the bank of this river. the water level was very down due to summer. but river banks are good but risky.
Written June 23, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sinjana .
Bengaluru, India99 contributions
Sep 2018 • Couples
The coracle ride is one of the least advertised, yet most amazing attractions in Hampi. We parked for free near the Virupaksha temple and walked towards the Tungabhadra river like we did the previous day. There were no signboards so we had to keep asking locals for guidance. We walked into a cave that descended into the Tungabhadra basin. This is where the round-shaped boats were waiting to take us on a memorable tour.
Written June 3, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sxgupta
New Delhi, India39 contributions
Jun 2018 • Family
Terrific view of the mountains and the river. The motor bosts were not plying - don't know why. The coracle boatmen quoted 650/-for one person for an hour and 350/-per head for 30 minutes. Very steep and unreasonable for a family to pay! He refused to reduce it and was happy to sit idle without work since it was anyway an off season. Their attitude was very surprising. No ticket, no board and they kept quoting govt license and hence these are the rates. The rates need to be fixed by the govt rather than leave it at their free will to fleece tourists.
Written June 13, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tdjmorecroft
London, UK29 contributions
Nov 2016 • Couples
Our Hampi highlight for sure was the walk to the waterfall and swimming. The edition of Lonely planet we had had a small and short section saying there is a waterfall 2km east of the river crossing (Hampi bazaar side) through a banana grove. I am doubtful anyone can find it unaided though! We were pretty determined but after getting lost in the banana fields accepted the help of a local for 50rupees pp. a good job too as we would have never got there! The guide takes you to a couple of nice waterfalls, scrambling over boulders and then further on to a calm pool for swimming.
Written November 15, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
shruja
Melbourne, Australia462 contributions
Mar 2016 • Friends
The Tungabhadra river flows through the year and with huge boulders on either sides makes a pleasant sight. There are also a number of small temples along the bank.
We crossed the Tungabhadra river twice - once by motor boat to get to Anegundi on the other side. This is the easiest and cheapest way to cross the river. The other time we chose to hire a coracle boat (teppa as we call it in Kannada). This is more fun and cost depends on the distance that you would like to go. For a short distance we were charged ₹150 per person and for a longer ride it was ₹300 per person.
Do try a coracle ride during sunset. It's very calm and peaceful and you can totally enjoy your 'me-time'.
We crossed the Tungabhadra river twice - once by motor boat to get to Anegundi on the other side. This is the easiest and cheapest way to cross the river. The other time we chose to hire a coracle boat (teppa as we call it in Kannada). This is more fun and cost depends on the distance that you would like to go. For a short distance we were charged ₹150 per person and for a longer ride it was ₹300 per person.
Do try a coracle ride during sunset. It's very calm and peaceful and you can totally enjoy your 'me-time'.
Written May 11, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
t1nkud
London, UK3,437 contributions
Aug 2014 • Family
This is just a review of the Tungabhadra river near the ghats behind the Virupaksha temple. This stretch was a favourite place of mine during my six days stay at Hampi village. I still miss those mornings. My guesthouse was located very close to these ghats - about 150 meters away or a munute or two walk's away.
I was an early riser in Hampi because Hampi is so beautiful in the mornings. Waking up about 4.30am in the morning - I would wait for a particular sound; clang-clang-clang-clang - sound of Raj and his mother making their way to the ghats; sound is as Raj pushes his four-wheeled van along the lane next to my guesthouse. They were walking towards the ghats to set up their shop in a corner to sell tea, coffee, and only two other items - puri and alu sabji with a white chutney and idlis and the same white chutney. It would take them an hour or so to set up this shop readying the idli and puri dough, the potatoes and the chutney also being prepared. Business (selling) would start by quarter past six in the morning, getting brisker by the hour until about ten to half past ten ten in the morning when they would fold up for the day.
Upon hearing the clang-clang-clang of Raj's van, I would freshen up and make my way to the ghats within the next half an hour. Enroute, while passing Raj's van, I would ask Raj to serve me some sugar-free coffee at the ghats - I would indicate which ghat I would be in - you have a choice of three ghats. Within 10 minutes, Raj would bring this over as he wasn't busy serving other customers at this hour. Delightful milky, sugarless coffee (probably, Rupees 10 a glass) at the ghats - Tungabhadra was full and had a lot of current those days - river and opposite bank looked clean and beautiful. You just sit at the ghats and watch all the bathers and pilgrims starting their morning at the ghats, usually with a holy dip and some prayers. Because of the current in the river, police women would keep a constant vigil and would warn these bathers not to go to the lower stairs of the ghats. Raj's younger brother manned another small van selling curious assortment of tootbrush, toothpaste, biscuits, matchbox, and other condiments useful either for a bath or pujas.
Just fun watching the daybreak from here and the intensity of the pilgrims. The macaques would come some day; on other days it would be the langurs - never both together - I wonder if the two species ever fight. Around quarter past six, I would get up and walk back to return
Raj's coffee glass. I would now be his typical first customer of the day for puris or idlis (sometimes a plate of each) - delightfully served with the alu sabji/chutney, and this time a cup a sugarless tea. We would strike a conversation on myriad topics as I was served/ate. I never paid more than forty rupees for this quite simple, healthy and tasty breakfasts.
Then I would go back to my guesthouse, sometimes carrying a parcel of Idlis or puris for my wife or son.
Whenever I had time around noon time, I would revisit these ghats and walk along enjoying the vista and help myself with some fresh green coconut water, or some spiced and sliced guavas, or a roasted corn on the cob or some Indian jujubes from different vendors. There was more religious activity around these hours but it is still beautiful.
On an early evening walk along the same stretch, this time with family, a `now' hilarious but `then' somewhat scary incident happened. There was nobody apart from us on this stretch at this hour. Suddenly a cow come trotting up from the opposite direction. Twenty meters or behind was a testosterone filled bull on the chase. Somebody's voice shouted at people to take care. And then there were three other bulls on the same chase. We really had to dive away from the line of action and then had a hearty laugh. Felt like we were in Spain.
Fantastic place, these river ghats.
I was an early riser in Hampi because Hampi is so beautiful in the mornings. Waking up about 4.30am in the morning - I would wait for a particular sound; clang-clang-clang-clang - sound of Raj and his mother making their way to the ghats; sound is as Raj pushes his four-wheeled van along the lane next to my guesthouse. They were walking towards the ghats to set up their shop in a corner to sell tea, coffee, and only two other items - puri and alu sabji with a white chutney and idlis and the same white chutney. It would take them an hour or so to set up this shop readying the idli and puri dough, the potatoes and the chutney also being prepared. Business (selling) would start by quarter past six in the morning, getting brisker by the hour until about ten to half past ten ten in the morning when they would fold up for the day.
Upon hearing the clang-clang-clang of Raj's van, I would freshen up and make my way to the ghats within the next half an hour. Enroute, while passing Raj's van, I would ask Raj to serve me some sugar-free coffee at the ghats - I would indicate which ghat I would be in - you have a choice of three ghats. Within 10 minutes, Raj would bring this over as he wasn't busy serving other customers at this hour. Delightful milky, sugarless coffee (probably, Rupees 10 a glass) at the ghats - Tungabhadra was full and had a lot of current those days - river and opposite bank looked clean and beautiful. You just sit at the ghats and watch all the bathers and pilgrims starting their morning at the ghats, usually with a holy dip and some prayers. Because of the current in the river, police women would keep a constant vigil and would warn these bathers not to go to the lower stairs of the ghats. Raj's younger brother manned another small van selling curious assortment of tootbrush, toothpaste, biscuits, matchbox, and other condiments useful either for a bath or pujas.
Just fun watching the daybreak from here and the intensity of the pilgrims. The macaques would come some day; on other days it would be the langurs - never both together - I wonder if the two species ever fight. Around quarter past six, I would get up and walk back to return
Raj's coffee glass. I would now be his typical first customer of the day for puris or idlis (sometimes a plate of each) - delightfully served with the alu sabji/chutney, and this time a cup a sugarless tea. We would strike a conversation on myriad topics as I was served/ate. I never paid more than forty rupees for this quite simple, healthy and tasty breakfasts.
Then I would go back to my guesthouse, sometimes carrying a parcel of Idlis or puris for my wife or son.
Whenever I had time around noon time, I would revisit these ghats and walk along enjoying the vista and help myself with some fresh green coconut water, or some spiced and sliced guavas, or a roasted corn on the cob or some Indian jujubes from different vendors. There was more religious activity around these hours but it is still beautiful.
On an early evening walk along the same stretch, this time with family, a `now' hilarious but `then' somewhat scary incident happened. There was nobody apart from us on this stretch at this hour. Suddenly a cow come trotting up from the opposite direction. Twenty meters or behind was a testosterone filled bull on the chase. Somebody's voice shouted at people to take care. And then there were three other bulls on the same chase. We really had to dive away from the line of action and then had a hearty laugh. Felt like we were in Spain.
Fantastic place, these river ghats.
Written January 30, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
How far is it from Virupaksha Temple? And by what time the coracle rides start?
I was planning to go early in the morning. So will the coracle rides be availabe in the morning?
Written November 1, 2019
It's walkable distance. But not aware of rides as visited in may
Written November 1, 2019
Other than the motor-boat or coracle, is it possible to cross the river by bike/scooty to reach Hippie island in Hampi?
Written February 12, 2019
You can go by road but the ferry boat is by far the fastest and most entertaining.
Written February 15, 2019
Can someone tell me what is the timing for boating or coracle ride.. Start n end time for availability
Written January 10, 2019
ferry between Hampi and "Hippy Island" is from 8.00 until 17.30 (from Hampi)/18.00(from Hippy Island). Cost is 20rs per person plus 20rs if you have luggage. The service is run by an unpleasant little man with a big ego. Watch what happens to the tickets, after you the crossing the boatman throws them in the river. Such disrespect for nature!
Written January 29, 2019
How long will take to cover this river.
Written January 10, 2019
It is walkable from city bus stand
Written January 11, 2019
The above post is talking about pleasure rides. Do you mean the ferry boat to cross the river near Virupaksha temple.? Those ferries seem to run when they have enough people. On average though it looked like about every 20 -30 minutes. Faster if their are a lot of people waiting.
Also you can hire a private coracle for a river tour. I think the best place to get one is on the river bank, just before the Sree Kodandarama temple. Take the trail from the main bazaar rd before the Archeological museum and go about 500 m. You can look in this area on the google map and it is marked as CORACLE RIDE.
Written August 22, 2017
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