Summary
Dave and I love to rock climb. For a couple of years in our life, we climbed regularly all around the Toronto area. We were regulars at Joe Rockhead’s climbing gym in the city and we hung out with our climbing friends to tackle the local crag on the weekends.
That is why when we heard that there was bouldering in Hampi, India, we just had to check it out for ourselves.
Bouldering in Hampi
I can understand why there is so much climbing here. Giant boulders dot the landscape, making for perfect bouldering conditions. Moreover, there are a few bolted routes for sport climbing here, but what people truly seek in Hampi is the bouldering experience.
People come here to climb atop big rocks, and climb they do.
All of the bouldering happens across the river from the Hampi Bazaar, and the main bouldering hangout is at Goan Corner.
How to get to Hampi bouldering: Walk straight once you have gotten off the boat crossing the river. Go up the steps and follow the path as it veers to the right.
If you stay at Goan Corner, you will receive free crash mats, shoes, and chalk for the duration of your stay. However, most people bring their own gear as it is a destination renowned for serious bouldering.
What is Bouldering?
Bouldering is similar to rock climbing, but you do it without a rope. Consequently, while you don’t climb as high, it can be just as challenging—if not more so—than climbing an easy top rope route.
Climbers search for routes and problems, tackling them just as they would a climbing route. You either aim to reach the top of the rock or traverse across it.
We had bouldered a few times at the Niagara Glen near Niagara Falls in Canada, which offers some great bouldering opportunities.
While Joe Rockheads in Toronto has bouldering problems in the gym, we typically preferred traditional climbing. We left the bouldering to the younger, fitter climbers who can pump themselves up to hold on with just two fingers during dynamic moves.
Despite our past experiences, we were still inexperienced at bouldering, and Hampi proved to be no different.
In Hampi, we rented our shoes, mat, and chalk, setting out along the trail in search of some easy problems. Right away, we found a solid set of boulders and proceeded to tackle them. They’re easy to spot; just look for chalk marks on the rocks.
We set up our mats and spotted each other as we followed the chalk marks from other climbers. We did alright, although my biggest challenge was figuring out how to descend once I reached the top of the rock. It didn’t seem that high from the ground, but once up there, it certainly felt different.
Dave, of course, had no fear.
We thought we were so cool.
Dave and I always encourage each other, regardless of whether we deserve it or not. We continually tell each other, “that was awesome, or great move.” However, when we later review our attempts on video, we often get frustrated, saying, “why did you tell me that looked good? It looked like crap!
This habit has persisted for 20 years. However, we genuinely believed we were performing well on the boulders, despite appearing far from impressive. Luckily, nobody was around to witness our antics!
Boulder for as long as you like
We enjoyed a fun day regardless. We spent several hours under the blazing sun during the hottest part of the day, finishing just as the experienced climbers arrived. To our dismay, they made it look effortless as they scrambled up the massive boulders, gracefully navigating their way back down.
The real climbers and boulderers in Hampi are truly impressive! Bouldering requires significant strength, skill, and finesse. Over the years, it has gained immense popularity, complete with competitions and gyms filled with enthusiastic boulderers attracting crowds.
While we may not excel at bouldering, we can now take pride in our bouldering experience in India.
Bouldering in Hampi Tips
- Bouldering happens across the river from Hampi Town
- Crossing by boat costs 15 rupees
- If staying across the river, it’s an additional 5 rupees for luggage
- Goan Corner offers free gear to patrons
- You can rent from Charmella if you don’t stay there for 70 rupees per day (includes shoes and mat)—however, gear may not always be available, and the staff sometimes may not inform you about rentals if you aren’t staying at their facility.
- Shiva Guest House also rents gear at 100 rupees for mat, chalk, and shoes
- Rollo Guest House also offers gear rentals.
