Famous temples · Karnataka

Vittala Temple Hampi

The stone chariot and musical stone beams of Hampi's Vittala temple complex

Checked 21 Oct 2026 with 4 sources3 min read

Directions Share

Getting there

By air
The nearest airport is Jindal Vijaynagar Airport.
By train
Hosapete Junction lies on the Hubballi to Guntakal railway line and is the nearest station to Hampi.
By road
Bengaluru is about 340 km away, roughly 6 to 7 hours by car or bus.

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Rules to know

Photographs are allowed at protected monuments, but camera stands and extra lights are not allowed.
Visitors above fifteen years need to pay an entrance fee at protected monuments.

Why devotees come here

The Vittala temple stands in Hampi, Vijayanagara district, Karnataka, near the Tungabhadra River. Karnataka Tourism says it is dedicated to Vittala, a form of Vishnu. It is known for its stone chariot and for carved stone beams that make musical sounds.

Hampi was the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire from 1336 to 1565, when the city was abandoned. The Vittala temple is part of the sacred centre of Vijayanagara. Hampi predates the empire, and it is mentioned in the Ramayana and the Puranas as Pampa Devi Tirtha Kshetra.

Most scholars date the temple's construction to the early-to-mid 16th century, and the exact builders are unclear. Some books say work began under Devaraya II and continued under later rulers, and stopped when the city was destroyed in 1565. The temple opens east and has a square plan, with an entrance gopuram flanked by two side gopurams. It sits in a courtyard measuring 500 by 300 feet, ringed by a triple row of pillars.

The front mandapa has 56 carved stone beams of different shapes and sizes. When struck, they produce musical sounds. Around the central hall are a wedding hall, a 100-columned mandapa, an Amman shrine and a festival hall. Karnataka Tourism calls the temple one of the finest examples of temple architecture in India.

Festivals

Usually between November and JanuaryHampi Utsav
The most famous festival in Hampi.

Tips for your visit

The King's Balance, a gateway and monument, stands near the Vittala temple complex.
Around the central mandapa, look for a wedding hall, a 100-columned mandapa, an Amman shrine and a festival hall.

Darshan at home

Not in the app yet

Vittala Temple Hampi is not in the Divya Darshan 360 app yet. These Famous temples temples are, with darshan videos you can watch at home:

In the appChamundeshwari Temple, MysuruChamundi Hill, Mysuru, Karnataka

In the appDakshineswar Kali Temple, KolkataDakshineswar, North 24 Parganas, near Kolkata, West Bengal

In the appShirdi Sai Baba Temple, MaharashtraShirdi, Rahata taluka, Ahilyanagar district, Maharashtra

Get the appAndroid

The app is free, Android only. For darshan as if you are standing there, see the VR box (₹899, or ₹949 cash on delivery).

Questions people ask

Who built the Vittala temple?

The exact builders are unclear. Most scholars date its construction to the early-to-mid 16th century, and some books say work began under Devaraya II.

What is the stone chariot at Vittala temple?

It is a Garuda shrine in the courtyard, carved in the form of a stone chariot. It is one of the most often pictured symbols of Hampi.

How far is the Vittala temple from the Virupaksha temple?

The complex is over 3 km north-east of the Virupaksha temple, near the banks of the Tungabhadra River.