Evolve Back Kamalapura Palace is a 5-star luxury heritage resort near the Hampi ruins, with private-pool villas, a Vaidyashala spa and all-inclusive dining.
Pick which sources FlightGPT queries. Toggle a source off to skip it during search.
Fares and prices quoted in this guide are indicative estimates only — illustrative, not live quotes, and may be out of date. Search FlightGPT for current fares before booking.
Evolve Back Kamalapura Palace is a 5-star luxury heritage resort at Kamalapura beside the Hampi ruins, opened in 2016, with palace rooms and private-pool villas, two pools, a Vaidyashala Ayurvedic spa and all-inclusive dining, about 27 km from Vidyanagar airport.
Live rates and availability confirmed at booking. All prices indicative — updated June 2026.
Evolve Back Kamalapura Palace is a luxury heritage resort at Kamalapura, on the edge of the UNESCO-listed ruins of Hampi in Karnataka. Opened in 2016 by the Evolve Back group (formerly Orange County), the resort recreates the architecture of the 14th-century Vijayanagara empire with stone-paved boulevards, arched hallways and palatial chambers. It is an ultra-premium property where rates are typically all-inclusive, covering meals and several experiences, which places it in a different tier from a conventional city five-star.
The design and scale make the resort a destination in itself, while its position a few kilometres from the main monument zone makes it a comfortable base for exploring one of India's most remarkable archaeological sites. The architecture is not a token gesture — the resort is built in the idiom of a Vijayanagara palace, with detailing in stone and timber that echoes the temples and royal enclosures a short distance away, so the stay forms part of the heritage experience rather than sitting apart from it.
The resort is at Kamalapura, about 4 km from the core Hampi ruins. The nearest airport is Vidyanagar (Jindal) Airport at Toranagallu, roughly 27 km away, about a 45-minute drive, with limited scheduled flights; some services connect Hampi directly with Bengaluru and Hyderabad. Many guests instead fly to Hubballi or Bengaluru and drive, or arrive by train to Hospet (Hosapete) Railway Station, around 13 km from the resort, which has good overnight connections from Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Goa. The resort can arrange transfers for any of these arrival routes, which is worth setting up in advance given the limited public transport in the area.
Accommodation is themed on the chambers of a Vijayanagara palace. Nivasa rooms open onto a private balcony with a shallow water-jet feature; Nilaya adds a private terrace and more space; and the villa categories — the Zenana and the larger Jal Mahal — come with private pools, with the Jal Mahal also offering a private deck and a mantapa pavilion overlooking the water. All accommodation carries the resort's heavy stone-and-timber detailing, with high ceilings, carved columns and a deliberately regal feel. Even the entry categories are generously sized, and the layout across courtyards and boulevards means the rooms feel private despite the palace setting.
Dining is a central part of the experience and is included in most rate plans. Tuluva handles all-day multi-cuisine meals, while Bahmani specialises in Nawabi and royal cuisine drawn from the courtly traditions of the Deccan. Beyond the restaurants, the resort stages experiential meals: Pushkarni offers terrace dining among the boulders, By the Boulders is a wilderness dining setting, and Aanandha is a private poolside five-course meal arranged for couples. The variety of settings means guests can eat somewhere different each evening without leaving the property.
The resort has two swimming pools and the Vaidyashala spa, which focuses on traditional Ayurvedic therapies and massages delivered by trained therapists. There is a fitness centre, a library and lounge, and quiet courtyards throughout the property where guests can escape the heat of the day. Free Wi-Fi and on-site parking are provided, and the all-inclusive plan reduces the need to think about per-item charges during a stay, which suits the slow, unhurried pace the resort encourages.
The headline experience is Hampi itself. The Virupaksha Temple, the iconic stone chariot at the Vittala Temple, the Queen's Bath, the Lotus Mahal and the Elephant Stables are all within a few kilometres, and the Royal Enclosure is closest of all at around 2 km. The resort runs guided heritage excursions to interpret the ruins, which adds context that is easy to miss on a self-guided visit, alongside coracle rides on the Tungabhadra river and sunset viewpoints over the boulder-strewn landscape. It is best to plan early-morning or late-afternoon sightseeing to avoid the fierce midday heat, and the resort's guides can structure a two- or three-day itinerary that covers the major clusters of monuments without rushing.
Evolve Back Kamalapura Palace suits travellers wanting a high-end, immersive heritage stay, honeymooners and couples, and anyone exploring Hampi who would rather return to a genuine luxury resort than a basic guesthouse — of which Hampi has many, but few at this standard. The all-inclusive, experience-led model and remote location mean it rewards guests who settle in for two or more nights rather than a quick overnight, and the price tier places it firmly at the top of the market.
| Room | What you get |
|---|---|
| Nivasa | Palace room with a private balcony and a shallow water-jet plunge feature, the entry category. |
| Nilaya | Larger accommodation adding a private terrace and more living space. |
| Zenana Private Pool Villa | Villa with a private pool, drawing on the women's-quarters theme of Vijayanagara palaces. |
| Jal Mahal Private Pool Villa | The roomiest category, with a private deck, a mantapa pavilion and a personal pool. |
| Outlet | Cuisine / type |
|---|---|
| Tuluva | Multi-cuisine all-day dining |
| Bahmani | Nawabi and royal cuisine |
| Pushkarni | Terrace dining among the boulders |
| By the Boulders | Wilderness private dining |
| Aanandha | Private poolside five-course dining |
| Landmark | Distance | Approx. on foot |
|---|---|---|
| Hampi UNESCO World Heritage ruins | 4 km | short taxi/auto |
| Virupaksha Temple | 6 km | short taxi/auto |
| Vittala Temple (Stone Chariot) | 8 km | short taxi/auto |
| Queen's Bath & Royal Enclosure | 2 km | ~24 min walk |
| Lotus Mahal & Elephant Stables | 3 km | short taxi/auto |
| Hospet (Hosapete) Railway Station | 13 km | short taxi/auto |
Distances are straight-line estimates; walking times assume roughly 12 minutes per km. Confirm routes locally.
The resort is at Kamalapura, about 4 km from the core Hampi monument zone, with several major sites within a few kilometres.
Vidyanagar (Jindal) Airport at Toranagallu is about 27 km away, while Hospet (Hosapete) Railway Station, around 13 km away, has good overnight train links from Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Goa.
Rates are typically all-inclusive, covering meals at the restaurants and several experiences, which places the resort in an ultra-premium tier.
Yes. The Zenana and Jal Mahal villa categories come with private pools; the Jal Mahal also has a private deck and a mantapa pavilion.
Evolve Back Kamalapura Palace opened in 2016 under the Evolve Back brand, formerly known as Orange County.
The Vaidyashala spa offers traditional Ayurvedic therapies and massages, alongside two swimming pools and a fitness centre.