Virupaksha Temple

Virupaksha Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva located in the Hampi ruins of Karnataka, India; parts of the site date back to at least the 7th century. It is a focal monument within the Hampi UNESCO World Heritage area and remains in continuous religious use.

The complex contains pillared halls, subsidiary shrines, and a multi-tiered gopuram marking the main entrance; the temple precinct opens onto the long bazaar street that led to the city. The sanctum contains an active lingam and the site is used for daily worship and regular festivals, including an annual chariot procession.

The temple originated in the early medieval period and was extensively expanded and remodelled during the Vijayanagara Empire from the 14th century onwards, becoming the focal temple of the city of Vijayanagara. Over time the complex accumulated additional halls, gateways, and decorative sculpture associated with royal patronage.

The temple stands on the southern bank of the Tungabhadra River within the Hampi archaeological zone in Karnataka, near the village cluster of Hampi and the modern town of Hospet (Hosapete). The surrounding landscape is a dry, rocky plain scattered with boulder-strewn hills and ruins.

• Active worship: The temple is an active place of worship and holds annual festivals including a chariot festival that draws large local crowds.

What to See #

• Main Sanctum: The temple's main sanctum houses the active Shiva linga that remains an object of daily worship and pilgrimage.
• Eastern Gopuram: The principal eastern gopuram marks the temple's main entrance and frames long processional axes toward the sanctum and the adjacent bazaar street.
• Temple Street and Hampi Bazaar: The long temple street historically functioned as a bazaar and ceremonial approach, lined with pillared halls and smaller shrines that serve both pilgrims and visitors.