Virupaksha Temple

Address: Hemakuta Hill, City: Hampi, State: Karnataka, Location: South India

Year of Construction: 12th Century

Constructed By: Vijayanagar Empire

Type of Construction: Medieval

Type of Building:

Temple Dedicated To: Lord Shiva

Famous For: It has a 160 foot high gopuram from the 16th century

Festival: The chariot festival in the month of February is the chief annual festival celebrated here.

About Virupaksha Temple in Hampi Karnataka : The Virupaksha temple dominates the Hampi skyline (such as it is) it is one of the first things you spot as you cross the small Ganesha temples and turn the corner down into the steep path that leads to Hampi bazaar at a distance.

Walk away from it towards Matanga hill, turn from anywhere on the road, or from the steps that lead towards Achutaraya temple on the other side, and you see the tower on the other end of the road, tall and proud or peeking out from somewhere between pillars.

Ditto when you visit the small Ganesha temples. Or when you climb up Hemakuta hill, dotted with fifty odd small temples, the perfect place to spend a peaceful evening. Alternatively, stay in any of the small guest houses in the bazaar area and find yourself staring at the gopura during breakfast from the mandatory roof-top restaurant of the place, or stare at the glorious silhouette of the temple tower in the evening as the sky turns colors before the sun finally sets for the day.