Hazara Rama Temple

Getting there

• By air

  Bengaluru Airport is the closest airport, 353 km away.

• By train

  Hospet is the nearest railway station, 13 km away.

• By road

  You can drive from Bengaluru, about 340 km away, to the temple in the royal area of Hampi.

Rules to know

• Photography is allowed at the temple.

Why devotees come here

Hazara Rama Temple stands at the centre of the royal area of Hampi in Karnataka. It was the private temple of the Vijayanagara kings, and it is known for its carved panels of the Ramayana.

Hazara Rama Temple is dedicated to Rama and stands at the centre of the royal area of Hampi. It was once the private sanctuary of the Vijayanagara kings. It is a small but beautiful place of worship. Its walls and panels tell the story of the Ramayana, from the Putrakameshti Yagna to the battle between Rama and Ravana.

King Devaraya II of Vijayanagara built the temple in the early 15th century as a simple structure. It first had only a sanctum, a pillared hall and an ardha mandapa. Later it was revamped with an open porch and beautiful pillars. The shrine houses a central shrine and smaller shrines for various deities.

Ramayana scenes are carved in stone on the outer walls. Reliefs also show processions of horses, elephants, soldiers and dancing women from the Dasara festival rally. Four carved columns stand inside the entrance, with carvings of Vishnu avatars.

Tips for your visit

• Monkeys live in and around the premises, so take care of your belongings.
• Virupaksha Temple and Vitthala Temple, also in Hampi, are worth visiting on the same trip.

Questions people ask