![]() Virupaksha Temple Virupaksha Temple at the western end is an earliest structure in the city of temples- Hampi. Virupaksha is the presiding deity of this temple. He is revered as one of the incarnation of Lord Vishnu. Hemakuta Hill ![]() Ugra Narasimha The monolith structure of Ugra Narasimha is located near the Hemakuta Hills. It is a 6.7m tall monolith statue. The gigantic image is situated in the south of the Hemkuta group of temples that includes the Virupaksha Temple. Here the Narasimha is a seated as four-armed figure under a canopy of a seven-hooded snake. Vitthala Temple There is another temple of Hampi called Vitthala Temple. It is located to the east of Hampi Bazaar. The ruins of the temple are a World Heritage monument. It is in a relatively good state of preservation. The fantastic sculptural works of the temple attracts the tourists most. It is a finest example of the Vijayanagara art and architecture. Hazara Rama Temple ![]() Shivalinga in Hampi Another remarkable structure is Shivalinga. This gigantic Shivalinga is located very next to the Narasimha figure. It is 3 metres high and stands permanently in water that comes through a channel. Lotus Mahal Lotus Mahal is located in the ‘zenana’ enclosure. It shows an example of Hindu-Islamic art. Queen’s Bath Queen’s Bath is situated in the citadel area, south of the Hazaara Rama Temple. It is a large square structure. It is remarkable for the contrast of the exterior and interior walls. Singaradu Hebbagilu Singaradu Hebbagilu is located behind the elephant stables. It is a massive gateway to enter in Hampi. The gate according to an inscription was erected during the later phase of Vijaynagara rule. Maha Navami Dibba Maha Navami Dibba is believed as a ruined temple along with a platform. It is 80 square feet in area and 22 feet in height. It is believed that Krishnadeva Raya erected it in memory of his conquest of Odisha. Monolithic Sculptures in Hampi ![]() King’s Balance There is a structure called the ‘King’s Balance’ is one more attractive point of Hampi. This structure has two tall pillars of fifteen feet high with a stone beam on top with three stone rings underneath from which the balances or scales are hung. It is said that during the ‘Tulabhara ceremony’, the kings used to evaluate themselves against an equal amount of gold or precious stones and distributed them later. Water Tanks of Hampi The water tanks of various sizes are one of the interesting features of the Hampi. Several canals were also constructed in the city to bring water from the Tungabhadra River following, which is flowing adjacent to the city. The Archaeological Survey of India has recently discovered a step-well. This octagonal tank was used for the royal bath. |