The most splendid of temples at Vijayanagar is the Vitthala temple, near the Tungabhadra river. It is considered to be the most ornate of the Vijayanagar temples.

Deity in Vitthala Temple , Hampi
Vitthala - Vishnu is enshrined in this temple. The mahamandapam of this temple, in front of the sanctum - enclosed in the inner courtyard is of great beauty. Its base is chiselled with friezes of the swan, the horse and the warrior. At intervals, there are projections with bas reliefs portraying the deification of the ten avataras of Vishnu.

Architecture of Vitthala Temple , Hampi
An elephant balustrade flanks the steps on the east of the mahamandapam. The facades are lined with forty pillars, each over 10 feet in height. Each group of pillars has a central pillar with slender shafts around. The center of the Mahamandapam has sixteen pillars decorated with Narasimha and Yali, forming a rectangular court. The ceiling of the Mahamandapam is also covered with sculptural work.

The stone chariot in this temple is of great fame. Its stone wheels, each shaped in the form of a lotus, are capable of revolving. It represents the sparkling creativity of the artistes of the fifteenth century. Temple chariots are often mobile reproductions of a temple. The stone chariot here is in turn a static version of the mobile temple chariot. World Heritage Monument. 56 ornate monolithic pillars, dubbed the Musical Pillars, dominate the temple. The pillars are superbly carved and when tapped, the sound reverberates emitting different musical notes. The eastern section of the complex holds the famous Stone Chariot. The sculpture, carved out of stone, depicts an elephant pulling a chariot so perfectly proportioned and carved with such superior engineering technology that the wheels actually rotate.

One of the more unusual structures is the so-called King`s Balance. Legend has it that the wealthy kings would be weighed on a giant scale against grain or gold, which was later distributed to the poor.