Evolve Back Kamalapura Palace Lets You Live The Royal Life In Hampi

As your car pulls up to the entrance, you’re welcomed by a floral shower, a sign that your weekend getaway at the grand Evolve Back, Hampi is going to be nothing short of luxurious. After all, you are in the land that was once the capital of the mighty Vijayanagar Empire. 

Evolve Back, Hampi, or Evolve Back Kamalapura Palace is built in the true style of a Hampi palace, to such an extent that you might wonder if it was once a palace that has now been converted into a resort. We are told it’s not. But honestly, the garden boulevard, the massive facade of the palace that you can see as far as the eye can see, the open courtyard, the arched hallways, and rooms inspired by the royal chambers of the past, will make you think otherwise. Walking in our pajamas through the hallways felt wrong — we somehow wanted to be in a royal attire.

The main building, which houses the palace suites, is where the all-day dining restaurant and the infinity pool are located. The suites are designed to reflect Hampi’s architecture, and there are three kinds of rooms to pick from. We checked into Nilaya, a terrace suite that features an in-room shallow water-jet pool. The room has been kitted out with period-style furnishings — think canopied beds, artworks, and carved wooden. There’s a private terrace from where you can see the Jal Mahal villas, the garden boulevard, and the verdant backdrop.

The two nights we stayed here were relaxed, slow, and definitely luxurious. Sans for meals, an ayurvedic spa treatment, and the Hampi trail, we were pretty much just hibernating in the many corners of our suite.

The Jal Mahal villas are the ultimate expression of luxurious stay and ideal for families and couples who don’t mind indulging truly. We are talking about everything from a private pool with a private deck to a separate living room and bedroom.

Tuluva, the all-day dining restaurant that overlooks the infinity pool, is where you head for your breakfast and a global menu. But you are in Hampi, and we recommend skipping the global and trying the local fare. Executive Chef Sumangalam, who hosted us for all our meals, really fed us royally. On our first night, dinner was at Katha, a terrace dining experience where the food is served under the Hampi skies. That particular night, there was a cool breeze as we relished dishes such as Tali Hui Machli, Mutton Ghee Roast, Dalcha Gosht, and Kachi Gosht Ki Biryani. The terrace overlooks the silhouetted Hampi landscape, and it makes for a great candle-lit dinner spot if you are looking at celebrating milestones or just want to have a cosy, outdoor dining situation.

On our second night, the experiential dining was taken a notch further with the Pushkarni dining experience, where our table was located inside the mantapa that overlooks the infinity pool. It’s designed to reflect the settings of the Raya, the royal family of Vijayanagar. If Katha was cosy and intimate, this is a step further with a butler, wine service, and a curated five-course meal that includes dishes such as Koli Chutad, Railway Mutton Curry, and Panchratan Pulao. 

Apart from Tuluva, there’s Bahmani, a Nawabi speciality restaurant, and Anandha, another experiential dining that you can choose. 

If you are planning to explore a bit, start with the nature and bird walk that Evolve Back Kamalapura Palace organises every evening with the in-house naturalist. You can walk around the property and try spotting one of the over 200 species of birds that frequent the property. Come evenings, there’s a storytelling session at the Deep Mahal, where the in-house historian tells stories about Hampi.

The resort offers multiple Hampi trails that cover all parts of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. We did the Tungabhadra Trek, Virupaksha Trail, and the Vittalapura Walk; all of them were guided.

Obviously, we didn’t want to leave as our two-night, three-day stay came to an end, but we know the next time we want to visit Hampi, just live the royal life, it’s Evolve Back Kamalapura Palace that we are checking into. We are told that they also do Hampi By Sky, a hot air balloon experience, with the current schedule slated to be from Saturday, 1 November 2025 to Saturday, 28 February 2026.

Room Tariff Per Night: INR 33,000 upwards, inclusive of breakfast and dinner

Check In: 1 PM

Check Out: 11 AM

Google Rating: 4.6/5