Few years ago I set off for Southern India. Back then I knew very little about the country. Bhagavad Gita, the Taj Mahal, Bollywood and street food that sends tourists straight to the bathroom – I’m ashamed to admit those were the only keywords floating in my head. Rock climbing was never on the list.
However, Imagine my surprise when I discovered that in the state of Karnataka there are two towns where rock climbing is actually a major thing. India is vast and diverse but I hadn’t expected this kind of variety! Naturally, I decided I had to see these places for myself.
Before this trip I had never tried sport climbing outdoors, I was strictly a gym climber. Since I was traveling solo I spent time looking for instructors I could climb with. Continuing the theme of surprises – I found several who had been at it for years: running lessons and tours, promoting the sport among locals and even renting out all the necessary gear. It couldn’t have been better as I wanted to pack as light as possible for India.
Rock Climbing in Hampi
Climbers call Hampi the largest open air bouldering playground in the world. The landscape here is uniquely surreal – the entire horizon is strewn with boulders. As for the choice of which boulder to climb… well, you can imagine!
Hampi: How to Get There
The nearest airport to Hampi is Hubballi Airport (or Hubli). From there you can take a 3-4 hours drive to Hampi.
Similarly, you can fly to a bigger city, e.g. Bengaluru and take a sleeper train to Hosapete Junction (Hospet). Hospet town is the closest town to Hampi, only 13 km away. From Hospet you can take a rickshaw or a public bus to Hampi itself. The route there is very scenic!
To learn more how to navigate in India – read the following article: India: Practical Tips That Will Make Your Trip Easier.
Rock Climbing Guides in Hampi
After some digging online I found few climbers – guides in Hampi.
- Thimma: One of the local climbers I found. You can find him on Instagram at thimmaclimb1.
- Vikram: He runs Golden Boulders, a climbing shop. He’s on Instagram a gb.climbing and his website is goldenboulders.com. For those climbing independently, this is the place to rent harnesses, ropes, shoes, or crash pads.
Logistics: Hippie Island vs. Hampi Town
The best bouldering spots are across the river from the Hampi town center on Hippie Island, which is also where Golden Boulders store is located.
Fair warning: There is no bridge directly from the center to Hippie Island – you have to drive a long way around. If you’re there to climb, it’s most convenient to stay on the Hippie Island side and rent a scooter. Alternatively, you can take a ferry across the river, but you’ll need to arrange transport on the other side, as there are no rickshaws (tuk-tuks) waiting there.
How do three people fit on one scooter?
I chose to climb with Vikram. We chatted via WhatsApp a few days before I arrived to settle the details. Since I don’t drive a scooter I stayed in Hampi town for simplicity. It made arriving and leaving easier (though in India “easier” doesn’t necessarily mean it is easy).
Vikram agreed to pick me up from the ferry pier on his motorcycle. As we zoomed through banana plantations toward the shop – I found myself wondering how people manage to sit three or four on a bike in India. I have seen it on multiple occasions. Suddenly we stopped next to a man walking in the opposite direction. It was Vikram’s friend.
The conversation went something like this:
Vikram: “Hey buddy, where are you going?”
Friend: “Home.”
Vikram: [Laughs] “Your home is the other direction!”
Friend: [Silence] “No way…” [Laughs]
Vikram: “How much did you drink last night? Get on, I’ll take you back.”
Before I could even process how this guy was going to fit, he hopped on behind me, and the three of us continued on our way. That is exactly how three people fit on a motorcycle.
The Rock Climbing Experience in Hampi
Climbing with Vikram involved a small group of other travelers. Firstly we all drove to the spot on motorcycles, then hiked a bit to the rocks. Vikram set up a top rope. He gave us some great lessons on slab climbing. Sitting there, watching the others, I realized how much I loved the whole process: the preparation, the rest and the shared conversations.
People asked me if I experienced an enlightenment in India. I did. Ultimately, I realized that from now on, I don’t want to do anything else on my vacations but rick climb!
Rock Climbing in Badami
Badami is another magnet for rock climbers. The town sits next to stunning red sandstone cliffs packed with both traditional and sport climbing routes.
Badami: How to Get There
Closest airport to Badami is also Hubballi Airport (or Hubli), so it’s access is the same as to Hampi, just a bit longer. If you are traveling from Hampi to Badami, there is a direct train line. It takes around 3-4 hours.
To learn more how to navigate in India – read the following article: India: Practical Tips That Will Make Your Trip Easier.
Rock Climbing Guides in Badami
The climbing scene in Badami is driven by Ganesha. He runs a school that introduces local kids to the sport. He also hosts travelers and takes care of absolutely everything – accommodation, food, lessons, photos, and even town tours. For me this all-inclusive care was a godsend. In India everything is a rebus to be solved: where to eat, how do the markets work or even how to cross the street. Ganesha made the logistics disappear.
Instagram – climbingbadami
Webpage – climbingbadami.in
Climbing with Ganesha’s Team
The instructors are a great mix of locals and long-term travelers who stay in Badami for months. With their help I climbed my first lead route and set up top rope for other climbers. I had a fantastic time and learned a lot!
Overall the experience in Badami was something I haven’t yet experienced while traveling. I felt such strong sense of community! Everyone were at easy, there was no rush, we were just climbing and hanging around.
On my last evening in Badami all climbing group gathered together to have a dinner. Everyone cooked something. Even the neighbours joined. I could have easily spend weeks there and that’s I recommend if you decide to visit Ganesha – plan more than couple of days.
Bouldering Gyms in India
When I’m traveling in cities I really miss my hobbies so I try to find rock climbing gyms. While this sport isn’t a massive part of Indian culture yet you can find some great dedicated spaces in the big cities:
- Delhi: Boulder Box
- Mumbai: Boulder21
- Bangalore: Equilibrium Climbing
Some cities have tiny climbing spaces but the routes are interesting and the community is amazing. I have tried rock climbing and calisthenics gym in Chennai called Fit Rock Arena, highly recommended.
And that’s how you rock climb in India! If you ever travel in these locations – don’t miss out on a chance to touch those amazing rocks.
On Life and Mountains
