Badavilinga Temple

Getting there

• By air

  Jindal Vijaynagar Airport at Toranagallu is about 32 km away and is the closest airport listed.

• By train

  Hospet Junction (HPT), in the city of Hosapete, is the closest railway station, about 13 km away.

Why devotees come here

Badavilinga Temple in Hampi, Karnataka, is a Shiva temple with a granite lingam about 3 metres tall, said to be the largest in Hampi. The lingam is carved from a single block of granite and sits in a small chamber without a ceiling.

Badavilinga is a Shiva lingam carved from a single block of granite. It stands about 3 metres tall and is said to be the largest lingam in Hampi. Three distinct eyes are engraved on its surface, a carving said to represent the all-seeing wisdom of Shiva. The lingam sits in a small stone chamber near the Lakshmi Narasimha statue.

Legend says a poor peasant woman who lived near the Virupaksha Temple commissioned the lingam. Its base is believed to be submerged in water. This is said to symbolise the arrival of the Ganga on earth, and its flow, which Shiva controls.

The temple is believed to have existed since the era of the Vijayanagara Empire. The chamber has no ceiling. A single opening lets natural light reveal the lingam in a luminous glow throughout the day.

Tips for your visit

• Look for the three distinct eyes engraved on the lingam's surface.
• The lingam stands near the Lakshmi Narasimha statue, so you can find the two together in Hampi.
• Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru is also listed among the nearest airports.

Questions people ask