Fit for the King in You!
Continuing with more about Evolve Back Resort in Hampi! Apart from the rooms, there are 2 swimming pools, 2 restaurants, a bar, a spa, a meditation room and a game room.
The infinity pool is an adults only pool and there's a separate family pool as well! There are sunbathing beds beside the infinity pool and you can order something to drink at the restaurant/bar beside as well. The pool is not temparature regulated, but with the dry heat conditions in Hampi, the cool water feels awesome! Check out the boulders beside the family pool - they're actually changing rooms!!!
Candle light dinners can be arranged upon request at your own balcony (or pool in case of Jal Mahal) or beside the common infinity pool! Just beside the Infinity pool is the Tuluva restaurant. The complementary breakfast buffet here is beyond expectation with a range for everyone incl vegan/vegetarian, south & north Indian, cereals & fruits, egg section, freshly baked section, and even a section for weight watchers!!!
For lunch/dinner the local Vijayanagara Cuisine is a must try!!! Enagayi was divine with brinjal stuffed with spices, coconut, tamarind & jaggery. The mix of jaggery, tamarind & spices gave the perfect blend of sweet, tangy & spicy taste! Shenga Obbattu - a sweet pancake in dessert is a must! In the Lunch/Dinner section, the Cottage Cheese Steak, Subz Biriyani (I found this better here than the Bahmani restaurant!), were perfect! Attached to this is the bar!
Yes, there's a range of Mocktails for those non-drinkers as well! There's an in-house flutist who makes the dining experience here impeccably enjoyable! Next to it is the game room which has a billiards side by side with the traditional south Indian board games!!! See the mural behind? The entire hotel is dotted with such murals throughout!
Opposite to the Jal Mahal rooms, is the Lotus Mahal which houses the Bahmani Restaurant, Vaidyasala (spa), Souvenir shop and a Library (reading area)! The library has its own open space that faces the setting sun! The Bahmani restaurant specializes in Mughal cuisine. Kham Khatai & Dastan e Paneer with the 3 yummy pickles & chutneys is the perfect starter to the dinner. Dare not miss the Shahi Tukda on dessert!
The Vaidyasala (spa) is too good and deserves a post on itself. Read more about it here! In the first floor of the main building, just behind the facade's balcony is the meditation room called Deep Mahal which is filled with tea candles late in the evenings which gives a fuzzy, warm feel to the room.
Atleast once wake up early and watch the sunrise from the terrace or the balcony of the main facade, its gorgeous! And then on the way back to your room see how the sunlight forms stunning shadows with this architecture! Also, atleast once be beside the pool and watch the sunset from here, and take a stroll at night and check out the interesting lighting that they've put up! All that said, yes, the cellphone network as well as wifi are a bit patchy here and the landscaping around the hotel is yet to be completed!!!
The architecture astounded me in certain functional areas! Behind the common bathroom in main building and the spa in Lotus Mahal are small waterbodies with lillies, that are open to sky; also the showers, private infinity pools & lounges of Jal Mahal rooms are also open to sky - utmost care has been taken in designing to make sure that none of these are visible from anywhere else even if you're standing on the terrace!!! That's expected when the owners are a bunch of architects!!!
Over to the actual Hampi ruins, which is a UNESCO site (as well as other sites), guided tours are arranged by the hotel. There are standard tours (where all the interested guests are taken together) that happens twice a day and dedicated tours (especially you and your guide) as well. There are 5 in-house guides headed by a historian who are pretty much knowledgeable in the Hampi history, culture and all the locales around as well! These guides are trained & certified by Karnataka Tourism Dept and are given further training by the historian of the hotel! More about it coming up soon in the next few posts! Cycles are also available to hire to explore the nearby sanctuary with a guide to explore the flora and fauna of the region, if that's you interest area!!! Stay tuned to know where I explored in Hampi.
In simple words, stay here for a long weekend and experience how the Vijayanagara or Bahmani royalty would have felt like!!!!! If you know Tamil, this is exactly à®°ாஜ வாà®´்க்கை!
To get there:
P.S: I was invited by Evolve Back (was Orange County), Hampi to stay and experience the hotel for review purpose, however the opinions are my own and this post does not to advertise the product/service.
The resort looks majestic. It's good to know how well the hotel promote Hampi culture by having accredited historian. Knowing that they have good tour guides and historian, travelers can really learn and appreciate Hampi culture very well.
ReplyDeleteI like how it has a separate adult and family pool. We more than often travel as a family but when we do as a couple, it is so nice to have a little bit of calm. I love how the architecture really complements the surroundings.
ReplyDeleteThe Orange County Resort Hampi looks ideal. The sunset looked better than the sunrise but I'd still get up early for the sunrise too, it must be so fresh and quiet. The cuisine looks delicious here too, fit for the King in me!
ReplyDeleteWhat an absolute beautiful location. The architecture is amazing, and that food left me hungry. Thanks for sharing this incredible visit.
ReplyDeleteThis looks wonderful! The picture of the pool with the boulders/changing rooms remind me so much of something from The Flintstones! The breakfast buffet sounds absolutely fantastic. I'm veg and have stayed at quite a few hotels and resorts throughout India, and the breakfast has always been kind of disappointing to me, so the variety here sounds great.
ReplyDeleteGreat info - the architecture of the buildings as well as the photos of the food look so amazing. I'm sure you had a great time! Amazing place!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like the perfect place for a staycation! The pool looks amazing and the changing rooms are so creative. The food is probably the highlight - the dishes all looked amazing!
ReplyDeleteI like the place at night. It looks so romantic especially for candle light dinner.
ReplyDeleteThis resorts looks really nice! Will definitely keep this in mind when I'm traveling to the area. :)
ReplyDeleteThe Orange County Resort Hampi looks ideal. The sunset looked better than the sunrise.
ReplyDeleteVery picturesque exteriors in this resort! The food for lunch you are describing also sound very tempting to taste.
ReplyDeleteThis is not normally the sort of thing I do, but you certainly convinced me that it should be! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteOrange County is a sure thing when I visit Hampi next. The trip to the ruins and forts is incomplete if you do not experience a stay in such an environment. Lovely photographs. Thanks for the detailed description of the resort.
ReplyDeleteThey seem to have modeled around the Vijayanagar architecture. I love that whole Jal Mahal building, gives you a feeling of staying in the palace. The interiors are quite earthy. I am not sure I would even get out to do the tour around Hampi :P. Well reviewed.
ReplyDeleteOh good, finally Part II! This hotel looks amazing especially the delicious food! I would like to try that biriyani. And I like that the hotel provides guided tours as well. They take care of everything.
ReplyDeleteThe food looks delicious and the architecture interesting. I'll have to research Hampi culture as it's the first time I've come across it. Watching the sunrise from the balcony in those surroundings would have been pretty amazing!
ReplyDeleteThe resort looks nice. That candle lit dinner was so romantic. And the food looks exquisitely delicious. I'm sure everyone will have a lovely time staying in that resort. ;-D
ReplyDeleteYou had me sold at - Adults Only Pool! Oh that's my dream. I don't like kids much and parents on holidays seem to think that parenting duties are also on holidays. What I really love is your photos of the buildings. The architecture looks amazing. With some good food thrown in I can't see how anyone wouldn't love it here.
ReplyDeleteWow, it looks like you indeed had the "Raja ubachaaram" there
ReplyDeleteThe Orange County Resort Hampi looks absolutely incredible! It sounds just the perfect place to spend a romantic weekend!
ReplyDeleteOMG the food looks delicious! I'll def try to make a stop here when I am in the region :)
ReplyDeleteà®°ாணி வாà®´்க்கை for queens !
ReplyDeleteThat candlelight dinner is so enticing. That is a fantastic experience that we'd love to have in Hampi. And the food looks divine as well. Thanks for introducing this gem.
ReplyDeleteRoyalty at its best. Loved the ambiance of the place.
ReplyDeleteThose pools look amazing but the cherry on top is the library/reading area facing the sunset! That sounds like a perfect way to unwind at the end of the day!
ReplyDeleteEvery detail of this resort is luring. Hampi is a paradise for nature and history lovers. Orange county resort adds on the excitement of visiting Hampi and its endearing ruins.
ReplyDeleteI love Hampi and this sounds like a dream place to stay. I love the extra touches, the boulders for changing rooms which really in keeps with the theme of Hampi. Also the murals on the walls. I love art like this.
ReplyDeleteI remember the sun rises and sets there. They were amazing. Lovely that you can watch the sunset from here
Orange County Resorts is one of my favourite properties. I really love the ambience of the pace. Did you get to see the temples of Hampi? Their other resort near the national park is so beautiful :). You should try it out too.
ReplyDeleteWow! This place looks stunning. What an amazing trip you must have had! And that, food. Oh. My. Goodness
ReplyDeleteThis place looks beautiful. I always love to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, so I'm sure I would love this place too. Food also looks delicious. Mmm.. getting hungry now.
ReplyDeleteWe knew of a few other five star hotels in the area, but not Orange County, before I read your post. Will be sure to research this one more when we go to Hampi. The resort and the food certainly look tempting.
ReplyDeleteGreat place! I love it. I wish I could go there and experience traveling. The view and environment are so much awesome!
ReplyDelete