Virupaksha Temple - Hampi

Virupaksha Temple - Hampi

At Hampi, on the banks of the Tungabhadra River, stands the Virupaksha Temple. The magnificent architecture and rich history of this 7th century temple, which is devoted to Lord Shiva, also known as Lord Virupaksha, have earned it UNESCO World Heritage status. The virupaksha temple was built with lakkana dandesha’s assistance who was a commander under King Deva Raya II.Virupaksha temple, Hampi in the Vijayanagara district of Karnataka is evidence of Hampi’ s ancient and architectonic honour.


If you’re planning a trip to Karnataka then definitely visit one of the best temples in Hampi i.e. the virupaksha temple, where you can explore the unique architecture and creative decoration with ornate stone work you will definitely be mesmerized by the sculptures that outline the mythological stories of numerous gods and goddesses. Most of the south Indian temple structures contain lofty towers called gopurams that provide entranceways to the inner sanctums. One of the amazing facts in the virupaksha temple, Hampi is the use of mathematical concepts in its construction, and the repeated patterns in the construction outline the complex geometrical shape and the triangular shape of the temple. The oldest temple in Hampi the virupaksha temple, is crowded with pilgrims and visitors.

Darshan time:

The temple is open every day from 09:00 AM to 01:00 PM - 05:00 PM to 09:00 PM

Specialty of the temple:

One of the main attractions in the hampi temple trail is the virupaksha temple because it’s the oldest temple in India and you can reach the temple in two ways through the beautiful and colourful Hampi bazaar and through the Hemakuta hill. The main tourist attraction is the three headed statue of lord Shiva’s sacred mount and the Nandi bull. Every December, thousands of devotees flocked to the temple to celebrate the marriage of its presiding god to his wife, the goddess Pampa. You must visit the temple during the months of March or April because a chariot festival will be held at that time.

Best time to visit the temple:

The best time to visit the virupaksha temple in Hampi is during the winter season, which lasts from September to February.

Dress code of the temple:

The preferred dress code for men is Shirt- Pants, Dhoti-Shirt and for the women it is a saree or half saree or chudidhar.

Festival of the temple:

At the virupaksha temple there is a festival called the chariot festival which is held during the months of March or April the wooden chariot was beautifully decorated with flowers and lamps, and the lord virupaksha was placed inside the wooden chariot. The idol was carried out through the street of Hampi. Also, in the month of December there is a festival called the phalapuja festival, which is all about celebrating the marriage of virupaksha and pampa in a colourful way, which attracts a large number of devotees. In the month of February or March, there is an annual celebration to praise the Lord Shiva, called Shivaratri, where huge crowds of devotees gather and pray the whole night to praise the Lord Shiva. One of the best tourist places for all those who need to take a break from their daily hustle and need some peace in their life.

How to reach the temple?

By Air : The closest airport to the virupaksha temple is at Bellary and the closest international airport is at Bangalore.

By Train :The nearest railway station to hampi is a Hospet one can hire cab to reach the virupaksha temple.

By Road :To reach the Virupaksha temple, you can take buses from the major cities like Bangalore and Bellary. From Bangalore to Hampi it will take around 7 hours to reach the temple.

FAQ

1.What is the best time to visit virupaksha temple?

The best time to visit the virupaksha temple is in the months of February or March or April or December because in those months some of the important festivals will be held and as a tourist you are definitely going to enjoy them.

2.What is the best time to visit the temple?

The best time to visit the temple is early in the morning or later in the evening.

3.What are some popular nearby places to visit?

Popular attractions near virupaksha temple are the group of monuments, Hampi Bazaar Street, Hampi archaeological ruins and so on.

4.Can I take photos inside the temple?

Rules and regulations may vary according to their norms so kindly ask for permission from the concerned authority for photography.