Virupaksha Temple

Overview of Virupaksha Temple

The Virupaksha Temple is another excellent result of the Vijayanagar Era in Hampi. The Temple is alternatively called Prasanna Virupaksha Temple is situated on the banks of the mighty Tungabhadra River. The ancient shrine was raised during the 7th Century AD. The Temple is solely dedicated to the Lord Virupaksha which is one of the incarnations of Lord Shiva. The Temple is also under the resort of UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its magnificent architecture and rich cultural history attached to it. The Temple is one of the exhilarating places to visit in Hampi for both history and architecture lovers. 

History of Virupaksha Temple

It’s believed by the historians, Temple came into existence before the Vijayanagar Kingdom. During the 9th Century of Hoysala and Chalukyan periods, a simple foundation was laid by Queen Lokamahadevi. She inaugurated the temple to celebrate King Vikramaditya II’s win over the Pallavas of Kanchi. Later, during the reign of King Deva Raya II expanded the temple complex. He added more articulate inscriptions, carved sculptures, fitted multiple pillared halls, and other grandeur makeovers to the Virupaksha Temple. The different inscriptions of Queen Lokamahadevi and King Deva Raya II are intriguing enough to include the temple within your Hampi tour package. 
   
The style of architecture of Virupaksha temple

The significant contribution to the ornate of the Temple was done by King Deva Raya II. Therefore, the Temple is constructed following the South Indian Architecture designs. There are three gopurams that are alluringly carved with Hindu Gods. There are the presence of other shrines like Nava Grahas, Bhuvaneshwari, Goddess Pampa, and Pataleshwara in different sanctums of halls. There are stories written within the walls of the Virupaksha Temple which recites the contribution of King Deva Raya II. The temple luckily survived the downfall of the Kingdom; therefore this place remains one of the most attractive spots in Hampi tourism.

Virupaksha Temple Sculptures

The Virupaksha Temple has their walls of the outer court carved with erotic sculptures. There are varieties of sculptures depicting sexual acts outside the shrines. The inner walls of the shrines are carved with stories of Ramayana and Mahabharata. There is no definite inscription within the temples, why such erotic structures were constructed.

Virupaksha Temple Timings

The doors of the temple remain open every day. In the morning, it opens from 09:00 AM till 01:00 PM. In the evening, it opens again from 05:00 PM to 09:00 PM