Kadalekalu Ganesha Temple

Getting there

• By air

  Jindal Vijaynagar Airport, about 40 km from Hampi, is the nearest airport.

• By train

  Hosapete Junction, about 13 km from Hampi, is the nearest railway station.

• By road

  From Bengaluru, Hampi is about 340 km, around 6 to 7 hours by car or bus.

Rules to know

• Remove your footwear before you enter the temple platform.

Why devotees come here

Kadalekalu Ganesha Temple stands on the slopes of Hemapana Hill, near the entrance to Hampi Bazaar, in Ballari district, Karnataka. Its seated Ganesha is carved from a single granite boulder. The name means Bengal gram, after the statue's rounded belly.

Kadalekalu Ganesha Temple is one of Hampi's most iconic monolithic wonders. Kadalekalu means Bengal gram in Kannada, and the name comes from the shape of Ganesha's rounded belly, which looks like the legume. Visitors come for the temple's spiritual ambiance and its simple architecture.

The seated statue is about 4.5 metres tall and sits in the relaxed Lalitasana pose. It is carved entirely from one granite boulder. The sanctum sits inside a pillared hall, and many of its slender stone columns are carved with floral and mythical motifs. Visitors often begin their Hampi exploration here, offering quiet prayers before continuing toward the more crowded monuments.

The temple is built in simple Vijayanagara architecture. It stands on the slopes of Hemapana Hill, near the entrance to Hampi Bazaar. Hampi was chosen as the capital because of its natural defenses. Hampi's monuments were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986. The Vijayanagara Empire, whose capital was Hampi, was founded in 1336 by Harihara I and Bukka Raya I.

Tips for your visit

• Early morning or late afternoon gives soft light and fewer crowds.
• Pair this visit with Sasivekalu Ganesha, a statue about 2.4 metres tall on the slopes of Hemakuta Hill.

Questions people ask