Popular Temple
Virupaksha Temple, Hampi
Hampi, Vijayanagara district, Karnataka
The one temple at Hampi that never stopped being worshipped
At a glance
- Location
- Hampi, Vijayanagara district, Karnataka
- Presiding deity
- Lord Shiva (as Virupaksha)
- Temple type
- Popular Temple
- Tradition
- Shaiva
- Nearest railway station
- Hosapete (Hospet) Junction (~13 km)
- Nearest airport
- Jindal Vijaynagar Airport, Toranagallu (~40 km); Hubballi (~160 km)
- Best time to visit
- October to February. Hampi gets extremely hot in summer and the open ruins are hard going then.
History
The core of the Virupaksha temple is generally dated to the 7th century. It was greatly expanded during the Vijayanagara empire by Lakkana Dandesha, a chieftain under Deva Raya II. The Group of Monuments at Hampi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and unlike most of the ruins around it, worship at this temple continued without a break after Vijayanagara fell in 1565.
Spiritual significance
It stands on the bank of the Tungabhadra and is the main centre of pilgrimage at Hampi. One well-known feature is that an inverted shadow of the main gopuram falls inside a small chamber, in the manner of a pinhole image. Virupaksha is traditionally regarded as the consort of the goddess Pampa, and their annual marriage festival is celebrated here.
Plan your visit
Darshan timings
The temple is open from morning until night, with the sanctum closed for a few hours in the afternoon. Check locally for the exact schedule.
Timings change on festivals and special occasions. Confirm with the temple's official source before you travel.
Buses and autos run regularly from Hosapete to Hampi. Within Hampi most monuments are seen on foot or by bicycle; the ruins are widely spread, so allow at least a full day.
Continue your Shiva bhakti
Devotional texts for this deity, already on the site.