Vittala Temple, Hospet

India is a land of marvelous building and stunning architecture – each with its history and cultural significance. Many of these landmarks have been listed under the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and the Hospet and Hampi ruin is one of them. Built during the Vijayanagara Empire, the magnificent ruins are standing tall on the undulating terrains with elements of green thrown here and there. Among the most stunning landmarks of the city, the Vittala Temple in Hospet is probably the grandest structure of them all. Historians believe that the temple was built during the Krishnadevaraya reign. Interestingly, the temple - although incomplete – is the prime example architecture of the Vijayanagara Empire.

Let’s uncover decipher the stunning building and pinpoint some of its interesting features.

Keynote on Vittala Temple, Hospet

Address: Hampi, Karnataka 583239

Type of monument: Temple

Primary Deity: Vishnu

Architectural style: Indo-Islamic architecture

Opening time: 8:30 am – 5:30 pm

Entry Fee: INR 500

Visit Duration: One hour

Best time to visit: November and February is suitable for the trip

How to Reach: Public and private transport available

Vittala Temple

Overview of the Vittala Temple

The Hospet Vittala Temple, an ancient monument – possibly 16th century built, is the prime example of Indian architecture and unmatched craftsmanship. Being one of the largest structures of Hampi, the monument attracts a huge crowd of tourists from different parts of the world. Built on the banks of the Tungabhadra River, the temple is constructed on the north-eastern section of Hampi. The temple is a major feat of engineering and has remarkable stone structures.

The Vittala Temple, Hospet has a stone chariot, with ornate decorations and detailing, is considered as the prime showpiece of the complex.

History of Vittala Temple, Hospet

Dating back to the 15th century, the Vittala Temple was constructed during the supremacy of Emperor Krishnadevaraya. In the subsequent years, the temple was expanded and renovated, taking it to its present glory. Also referred to as the Shri Vijaya Vitthala Temple, the shrine was dedicated to Vishnu (an important deity in the Hindu Pantheon) – prayed in his Vitthala avatar.

According to local legends, the emperor built the temple as an abode of Vitthala-Vishnu. However, the lord found the temple to be too grand for his preference and returned to his abode.

The Architecture of Vittala Temple

Vittala Temple, considered as the most stunning temples and monuments in the region, showcases the extraordinary craftsmanship of the engineers and the architects of those times. The creativity and architectural excellence of the Vijayanagar artists and sculptors could be seen in its full glory within the temple premises.

Built-in the Dravidian style of architecture, this shrine has several features that are quintessentially found in the architecture of the region. According to historians, the temple had a hall attached to the main shrine. The current open hall or mandapa was a later addition – probably introduced during the later expansions.

The temple complex was enclosed by three towering gateways and soaring compound walls. Inside the compound, several halls and smaller shrines are housing several gods and goddesses of Hinduism. Even these smaller structures have beautifully carved and have ornate detailing done all over them.

Some of the stunning attractions of the temple

1. Maha Mantapa

The Maha Mantapa or main hall of the Temple is housed inside the inner courtyard. A beautiful structure, it has a well-defined ornate base with carvings of horses, swans, warriors and several other traditional ornamental motifs. The columnar structure has four smaller halls and has beautiful inscriptions done all over them.

2. Stone Chariot

The temple complex has the grand stone chariot, which is possibly the most striking fixture of the entire compound. The Ratha or Stone Chariot has a carved Garuda figure, the half-human – half eagle vahana or carrier of Vishnu. There are only two other stone chariots found in India – Konark, and Mahabalipuram.

3. The Musical Pillars of the Ranga Mantapa

One of the star attractions of the Vittala Temple in Hospet is the glorious Ranga Mantapa. The large hall has more than fifty musical pillars, which produces musical notes when tapped gently. Primary pillars are surrounded by seven 7 minor pillars, which emit musical notes similar to different Indian musical instruments.

Some Interesting Facts about Vittala Temple, Hospet

1. The musical pillars of the Vittala Temple were carved out of single pieces of stone which could be tuned to produce sounds, especially musical notes.

2. The British colonizers were also fascinated by this mysterious pillar. To unravel its mysteries and to check what was inside these pillars, it was ordered to cut one of them into half. Ironically, they did not find anything.

3. Stone chariot of the Vittala temple was is another magnificent structure located outside the main compound. The chariot was carved out of the single stone slab and has a figurine representative of Garuda, the Vahana of Vishnu.

Present Condition of Vittala Temple

The temple has suffered the brunt of time, war and foreign invasion. During the 16th century, the Mughal invasion of the western hall of the temple was destroyed. Although the temple is currently devoid of an idol, there once resided an idol of Vishnu in the Vittala form.

The stone chariot of the wheels of the Vittala Temple, Hospet was once functional. But, recently the wheels have been cemented to avoid wear and tear of the wheels. Also, the government has banned tapping the musical pillars, as unceasing tapping has triggered damage to the musical pillars.

The Vittala Temple, Hospet is an architectural marvel and showcases the beauty of the heights of India’s scientific advancements. Exploring this place is a must during your Indian sojourn.