WelcomHeritage Shivavilas Palace, Hampi

Our recent stay at the WelcomHeritage Shivavilas Palace was nothing short of magical, offering a truly immersive experience in royal heritage and luxurious comfort. From the moment we stepped onto the grand premises, we were transported to a bygone era, greeted with warmth and genuine hospitality.

It is a fascinating and very comfortable experience to stay at this heritage hotel. We were on a fairly long road trip around South India, and wishing to visit Bellary Fort and Hampi, so the Shivavilas seemed to be the natural choice, well positioned within reach of both locations. It’s hard to know what to expect when booking a hotel online, photos can be deceptive, but this hotel did not disappoint and we were particularly pleased with our choice. The building was constructed by the local princely family around 1940, and transformed into a hotel more recently. There is a very charming, historic atmosphere, with many interesting pictures, books and artefacts in the capacious reception rooms. The inner courtyard, where meals can be taken, is cool and extremely attractive. They probably are mosquitoes, but the hotel is very successful at keeping them at bay. We had a very large, high ceilinged, well appointed bedroom, with a large terrace. The furnishings in the bedroom were original 1940s, very high-quality, including two beautiful old planter chairs. Don’t expect modern fittings - come here if you appreciate good, old furnishings. An outstanding aspect of the hotel is the excellent, very thoughtful manager and his lovely staff. Nothing was too much trouble, and they were all really kind. There is a large swimming pool, with particularly comfortable loungers, and high-quality umbrellas. The pool changing rooms are slightly dated but absolutely fine. I have an allergy to dairy, and as I had notified the hotel previously, they kindly purchased in some soya milk. The food was generally good, and there was a large choice. The kitchen prepared good picnics for us on the days we were going out early to Ballari and Hampi. It was slightly disappointing that the spa was not open, but in fact we really enjoyed reading and relaxing on our balcony and by the pool. Also, the manager kindly showed us the collection of immaculate vintage cars, well worth a look. We would definitely recommend this hotel, there is no other upscale hotel in the Sandur hills at all, and we had a unique, great experience here.

We as a family decided to be at Hampi for an impromptu visit to Hanuman ji temple and we couldnt find any decent property in Hampi and thats when we found this property via Google.Sameer was prompt in reverting all the queries, gave us decent discount and also made sure that the service stays impeccable while we were there at the resort. Food was decent, the resort is neat and clean, we stayed in Maharja suite, there were some logistics concern on spa and in room phone, but we were pretty content with our stay. We have to travel for an hour to be at Hampi but we were ok with that.The staff was courteous and prompt.Anyone visiting Hampi will be mostly out exploring the rich culture hence this property doesnt disappoint you at all.

Quiet, beautiful, serene, historic, lovely. We stayed here for three nights and enjoyed the entire experience. Rooms are spacious, service was fantastic, food was great. It felt like stepping back in time. Really enjoyed our time here. The only thing to note is this is a solid hour away from Hampi and the historic sites. We didn’t mind and there was plenty of time in the day to enjoy.

Shivavilas palace is simply awesome. It gives you royal hospitality, great facilities, and dining experience. We stayed here on our anniversary. They also provide tour to royal museum, vintage cars collection and sports facilities.

We stayed at the palace for a night during our recent family trip to Hampi. The palace is situated around a 75mins. drive from Hampi (towards Bangalore on a scenic detour) in a valley surrounded by hills and a striking red soil from the mining activity in the vicinity. Right from the entry gate, as one drives to the palace foyer passing the magnificent gardens, one is set for a royal treat. The architecture of the building, decorated with numerous artifacts of the royal family (including vintage cars, royal throne, weaponry etc.) was worth the tour. Our large rooms on the ground floor were very comfortable. Special thanks to the property manager, Sameer who ensured a smooth booking (and attractive tarriff) and fabulous hosting during our stay. Special mention for the memorable meals we were served! Overall, if you prefer to add a touch of old-world luxury to your Hampi trip, I recommend staying at Shivavilas Palace, Sandur on any side of your drive from/to Bangalore.