Visitor Information
- Famous For: Pilgrimage, Sacred Lake, holds place in Hindu mythology, Lotuses,
- Entry Fees: The entry to the lake is completely free. There are no hidden charges as well.
- Visiting Time: You can visit the lake on all weekdays between 6:00am to 7:00pm in the evening.
- Visiting Duration: It may easily take 1 hour to 1.5 hours to wander around. If you wish to stay back and enjoy the calmness of the place, it’s up to you!
Pampa Lake is a sacred lake for the Hindus. According to the Hindu theology, this is the place where Goddess Pampa (Shiva’s consort; Avatar of Goddess Parvati), performed self-punishment to show her dedication to Lord Shiva. Also, the lake is one of the five sacred lakes known as Panch-Sarovar in the Hindu mythology, which are namely: Man Sarovar, Bindu Sarovar, Narayan Sarovar, Pampa Sarovar and lastly, Pushkar Sarovar.
Traveller Tips
- There is a parking space available and the good part is, they don’t charge for it.
- Camera and photography is strictly prohibited.
- Fishing is not allowed.
- Drink lots of water as it is usually dry out here.
- Sip the locally available coconut water to quench your thirst and to keep your body hydrated.
- Mind your steps while you are the lake, it may get slippery at times.
- Hire a Bicycle or a moped as it is an open space and can be easily covered by the two. If you are habitual of walking, you can also walk through the whole place.
- The crowd and the prices are generally lesser during summers and monsoon, as compared to winter season. So, plan your trip smartly with some compromise and precautions of course!
Things to Do
- Visit the lotus covered pond and admire the beauty of Mother Nature.
- Visit other temples located around the lake- shrines of Lord Rama, Shiva, Ganesha, Vijaya Lakshmi, Pampa Devi, Nandi and Shabari’s Cave are some of them.
- Motor-operated musical instrument, which plays drums, bells and plates at the same time, is a must watch and hear as the sound is very soothing to the ears during morning and evening offerings.
- There is a huge mango tree located at the center of the space and a temple kitchen is located right opposite to it.
Availability of Guides
The guides are available on request and you may want to check out the said information at the Aspiration Stores situated at the main road.
Best Time to Visit
You can visit the place during the entire year, but if you talk about the best weather and months to chill out, then November to February is the season for you. This is the winter time and the temperature is usually between 23-27 degrees.
During summers, i.e. March to June, the temperature generally lies between 35-40 degrees. I know, it’s too hot to handle!
From late June to August, the weather brings some rains, which is the monsoon season. The temperature lies typically between 27- 30 degrees. We do not consider this to be a good time to take a trip to Pampa Sarovar as unpredictable rains might ruin your plans.
How to Reach
Bellary is the nearest airport; the closest railway station is Hospet. Bus routes are well connected to Anegundi.
Hopping in a local transport like a bus or an auto is the best way to reach the lake. It is located near Anegundi, which is at 3kms from Hampi. You will not get any local vehicles to reach Anegundi as it is situated on the bank of river Tungabhadra and you have to cross the river for the sake of reaching Anegundi. The best option is to hire a private vehicle.
Interesting Facts and Trivia about the Pampa Sarovar
- This is the place where Shabari, a devotee of Lord Rama waited for the Lord’s arrival and then treated him with the wild berries (Ber), each one of them tasted by Shabari herself to ensure the quality of the berries.
- Shabari’s cave is still open for the visitors.
- Lord Hanuman was born here.
- A very famous chapter of Ramayana- the Kishkindha Kaand was enacted at Pampa Sarovar.
- The Lakshmi temple besides the Shabari’s cave was built in the year 1336! Yes, even I am wondering!
- To add to your excitement, the idol of Goddess Lakshmi is entirely made of pure Gold!
Nearby Attractions
- Vijaya Vittala Temple
- King’s Balance
- Gagan Mahal
- Archaeological Museum
- Anjanadri Betta
- Angegundi Fort
- Chandragiri fort
- Achyutaraya Temple
- Tungabhadra Dam
- Monolith Bull
Nearby Restaurants
- Mango Tree Restaurant
- Golden Paradise
- Shesh Besh Restaurant
- All Tribes Café
- Laughing Buddha
- Gauthami Restaurant
- Tibetan Kitchen
- Funky Monkey
Pampa Lake, Hampi is considered to be one of the most sacred lakes in India. This is one of the best and most historical pilgrimage. Remains form the times of Ramayana can be witnessed here. There are several monuments and temples to visit that make it a perfect place for a sacred trip.
