Tuesday 7 August 2018

Virupaksha- The Living Temple in Hampi

Hampi is a saga in stone. Hampi is history coming alive. Hampi is ruins with a charm.
The only 'living' structure in Hampi- meaning where puja (worship) is performed everyday- is the Virupaksha TempleThe temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, known in Hampi as Virupaksha, as the consort of the local goddess Pampadevi who is associated with the Tungabhadra River. The temple is also called Pampapathi temple and dates back to 7th Century AD. 
Rising high up in the sky, it can be seen from adjoining hills.

A guide sketch below shows the location of main monuments/sites for tourists.

Ghumakkad had shared a set of ten stories on Hampi, a UNESCO World Heritage SiteYou may browse it by clicking the following links:
Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary

One of the most striking features of Virupaksha temple is the usage of mathematical concepts to build and decorate it. The temple has repeated patterns that demonstrate the concept of Fractals. The main shape of the temple is triangular. As you look up the temple top, the patterns divide and repeat themselves, just like you would see in a snowflake or some other natural wonders. See the picture below.

This story takes you around Virupaksha Temple. Photography is not allowed in the sanctum sanctorum. But you can see the remaining pictures and get a feel of life inside the temple including Lakshmi- the temple elephant ! Let the pictures speak.


Gopuram or gopura (Sanskrit: गोपुरम्, gopuram) is a monumental gatehouse tower, usually ornate, at the entrance of a Hindu temple, in southern states of India.
Lakshmi- the temple elephant who resides inside the temple.



Inside the sanctum sanctorum- no photography please!
The Vijayanagara Dynasty- as painted on one of the temple walls.














Please pardon the typo! Shoes to be removed before entering the temple.





This story concludes Ghumakkad's set of ten stories on our visit to Hampi, a World Heritage Site in Karnataka India. It is indeed a saga in stone.

Hope you enjoyed browsing through. Your feedback or experience of earlier visits is always welcome.

     -   Harsh-the-Ghumakkad/ 7th Aug 2018 <hbindia@gmail.com>
#hampi #worldheritagesite #virupakshatemple #7thcentury #pampapathitemple #fractals #gopuram #natgeo #lonelyplanet #ghumakkadharsh #ghumakkadHB #indiatourism #karnatakatourism

1 comment:

  1. Thanks a lot for sharing this amazing knowledge with us. This site is fantastic. I always find great knowledge from it. Virupaksha Temple

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