Hampi Temples

Presented the Hampi photos under various categories like festival, Anegundi, Matanga Hill. There are numerous smaller temples/monuments in Hampi so presented in this section. U see Sasivekalu Ganesha ie on the Hemakunta Hill. It is 2.4 mts high and built in 1506.

Board outside temple ie self-explainatory. This Ganesha is amongst the first monument that u see on entering Hampi.

Ganesha is seated in a half lotus posture, bears a tusk, goad, noose and bowl of sweets in four arms. A close up view of Sasivekalu Ganesha.

Board outside Lakshmi Narasimha temple. Along with the Stone Chariot this is the most popular monument of Hampi.

Lakshmi Narasimha is the fourth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, stands at a height of 6.7 metres. Narasimha is seated on the giant coils of Adishesha, the sacred guardian snake of Vishnu, its seven hood acting as a canopy, arched by a Kirtitoran Mukha in front.

The four arms of the statue and the seated figure of his consort Lakshmi are missing. The image was one of the last additions by Krishnadeva Raya to Vijayanagara. The deity was fashioned out a single granite bolder.

Next to the Lakshmi Narasimha is the Badavilinga Temple. U see board outside temple.

The 3 mts high Shivalinga is carved out of one stone remains in a bed of water.

11 Board outside Krishna Temple. Must see. It was made in 1513 to commemorate the victory of Krishnadevaraya over Odisha king.

Another board of the same temple that gives information. One of the pillars in the ardhamandapa has ten avatars of Vishnu including the rare one of Kalki - I missed it.

A close view of the Krishna Temple taken at sun rise time from the Matanga Hill, Hampi''s highest point. Inscription records that an image of Bala-Krishna was brought here by the king from a temple in Udayagiri during his Orissa campaign and enshrined in the mahamandapa.

Entrance to Krishna Temple. The gopuram has a stone base up to about two storeys and then brick work that are badly damaged today. There are 4 ornamental pillars in front supporting the structure a close up of which u shall see later. The rear side of the gopuram ie being restored has fine stucco figures of warriors with shields, spirited horses and elephants.

On either side of the entrance to the temple are these sculptures. Can someone help with proper description.

A close up of the pillar. U see a lady with a bow and slender pillar.

An overview of the temple inside. The temple complex built in Panchayatna style with two enclosures has the main shrine (that u see) with sanctum, vestibule, pillared pavillions and halls.

Entrance to the main temple. Two elephants whose trunks are broken. U can see the pillared pavilion.

A close up of the wall of the temple. The image in the centre is missing. Left and right of pic is kalash.

Every pillar has work of some god or goddess. U see one such pillar. Some of the narrative content borrowed from booklet published by the Archaelogical Survey of India.

A side view of the pillar. Top is Garuda.

Another view of the external pillar. Note on the plinth on right of pic.

A close up view of external pillar.

A view of the south facing gopuram.

Kirti Mukh that wards of evil ie at the top of the gopuram.

U see a 500 metres street bazaar outside Krishna Temple.

Very close to the main bazaar referred to in the earlier picture is the east facing Holy Tank.

On Hemakunta Hill this simple sanctum that houses the Kadlakelu Ganesha. It has a vestibule and open ornated pillared hall in front.

Board outside Kadlakelu Ganesha. U get a great view of Hampi view here.

A side view of the Kadlakelu Ganesha ie 4.5 mts high and carved out of a single bolder. It is dated to the 15th century. The sculpture has four arms and bears in each hand a tusk, goad, noose and a bowl of sweets.

The tall, slender and graceful pillars are of the ornate cubical Vijayanagara type with the early pushpapodigai corbels. The mandapa is classicial in its architectural proportions.

Close up of a image. Can someone help with description of this image.

A front view of the Kadlakelu Ganesha - must see for its sheer size.

Ganagitti Jain Temple or the Oil Woman''s temple is on the road from the main market to newer parts of Hampi. It is dedicated to the 17th Jain Tirthankara and was conscerated in 1386.

It is also known as the Kunjunutha Jain temple. It has a terraced super structure over the sanctum and a porch to the north and the east. On the left of pic u see a lofty manastambha or pillar of honor in front of the portico that contains an inscription stating that Iruga, a minister of Bukka II, built the temple in 1385. Facing north the temple has a garbhagriha, an antarala, a sabhamandapa and a mahamandapa with an attached sub-shrine facing east.

A bit ahead of the Jain temple is the Prasana Virupaksha Shiva temple. The temple is dated to the 14th century.

Being a low lying area the roof the temple is at current ground level hence it called a Underground temple. U see lower areas at end of picture while structure in front is the entrance.

Outside the Badavilinga Temple met this enterprizing young boy. Full of energy, helpful and sweet so decided to share his pic with u.

Close to the Badavilinga Temple was this vendor selling sugar cane juice. I went end January but was still hot. Kept myself going with sugar cane juice and locally produced soda ie mixed with limbo or lemon.

Malyavanta Raghunatha temple ka board is what you see. It is made on a huge bolder in the 16th century.

Here u see how the temple is placed on the top of the bolder.

Gopuram at temple entrance.

Large pillared hall inside the temple.

U see an image of Garuda on one of the pillars.

A close up of the temple plinth.

Saw this image on one of the temple''s walls.

I saw so many bolders in Hampi that are balanced between each other as if in equilibrium. This one is another example.

U see King''s Cross. It is enroute when u walk from the market to Vitthala Temple. It is 5 metre or so tall. Also called as Tula Bhara, the king used to weigh himself in gold, gems, silver, gems and that were then distributed to the priests.

Entrance to the Varaha Temple. U can see entrance tower, however top portion is missing.

Carved on the temple walls is the emblem of the Vijayanagara Kings. The kings had a board (right side of pic) representing the third incarnation of Lord Vishnu as their heraldic crest and used the title ''Virupaksha'' to signifiy that they were deputies of the patron deity Virupaksha.

This is one of the recommended places to see the carving of the Ananta Sayana aspect of Lord Vishnu with great details. That is Vishnu resting on the serpent Ananta. This long image of Vishnu portrayed with four arms is in a reclining posture on the coiled body of the cosmic snake Anantha. The snake with its seven-headed hood forms a canopy over Vishnu’s head. One of Vishnu''s right hand supports his head. The other right hand holds the Chakra (discus weapon). Also one of his left hands hold a conch shell named Panchajanya; the second left hand rests by his side. His two consorts - Lakshmi and Bhudevi Goddess of Earth sit by his de. In facts his feet rests on their laps. Fish symbolises water below. This is opposite the Varaha temple.

Situated on the outskirts of the ancient city of Vijayanagara, Pattabhirama temple is supposed to be built by ruler Achyuta Raya (1529-42). It has a large courtyard (163.7*93m) which is a enclosed by a high (7.6m) prakara. The vimana that u see is built of bricks, is decorated with typical karnakutas, panjaras and salas, a griva and a circular sikhara. It has a large n square mahamandapa that you see on right of picture.

Gopuram on east side of temple. Like other gopurams in Hampi base made in stone and upper part is made of brick.

The mahamandapa has tall and slender pillars of various types that u see.

Shows Lord Vishnu in his incarnation as Shri Ram.

Can someone help with a narration.

Shows Lord Hanuman carrying two mountains. In case of any errors in narrations please write in.

Close to the Royal Citadel guide said this is the place where the soldiers ate. Water flowed in the centre.

A board that gives u the list of places to see. Visit to Hampi is one of the highlights of my life. It gave me a peep into how the Kings and people of those days lived. They attached great importance to culture, music, dance and temples. There is something special about Hampi, I was brimming with energy every day. The day was to leave I sprained my foot only after had finished clicking pics. Through about 300 pictures on the site have tried to document Hampi for the world.