Revealing the art and architecture of Vijayanagara Empire, Vittala Temple Complex is one of the major tourist attractions in Hampi. The complex and its structures embody the pinnacle of Dravidian temple architectural style. The name of the temple ‘Vittala’ itself defines the history behind; Vittala, a form of Lord Vishnu who was worshipped as a prime deity by the local herdsmen of the empire. Vijay Vittala or simply Vittala Temple is the most famous and popular tourist attraction in Hampi. It was build around 15th Century AD and was expanded several times by succeeding kings of the empire. The temple is constructed in the form of a large complex with compound walls and gateway towers. The entire complex houses several temples, enclosures, pavilions and halls. The iconic Stone Chariot, after which the award winning luxury train Golden Chariot is named and which is also used as the symbol of Karnataka Tourism, lies within the vicinity of Vittala temple complex. The stone chariot (or Ratha temple) which has rather now become a place of worship. In past times this chariot was known to be as a ‘Garuda’ (lord of eagles- the vehicle of Lord Vishnu) but now this chariot is empty. On the either side of Garuda, there are big Mandapas, with pillars on all sides. The inside halls and temples of campus are carved with a huge collection of intricate sculptures on huge granite pillars. Yet another outstanding feature of the Vijaya Vittala Temple is the Ranga Mantapa with its 56 musical pillars and 4 open halls. The ornate monolithic pillars inside the maha mantapas (the great halls) with exquisite carvings and sculptures leave the visitors awestruck. One of the mysteries which is yet resolved and which makes these musical pillars, one of the prime places of tourist interest is that they produce music upon tapping. However unmindful tapings by curious and overzealous visitors have damaged several of these pillars and hence the tapping is now banned. The eastern hall with its pillars sculpted with figures of musician, dancers and drummers is also called musicians hall. The southern hall of Vittala Temple Complex is dominated by sculptures of Yalis, a mythical creature whereas the series of pillars in Northern hall depict Narsimha, the man-lion incarnation of lord Vishnu slaying Hiranyakashyap. Visitors could also notice sculpture of Prahalada sitting at the base of the pillars in praying stance. Further inside the temple is the inner sanctum. Interestingly, it does not house any idol. A narrow passageway surrounds the sanctum. On the outer wall of the sanctum is richly decorated the motifs of lotus flower known as kumbha pankajas (lotus flower flows out of a pot). The other points of tourist interests inside Vittala Temple Complex include the Goddess’s shrine, the Kalayana Mantapa or the ceremonial marriage hall and the 100-pillared hall. The Vittala temple also includes the remains of a town called Vittalapura which was near to this temple complex. The road leading up to the temple complex used to be the market for horse trading ruins of which could still be seen by observant eyes. There aretwo ways to reach this prime attraction in Hampi. Visitors could reach the complex by road and. The auto rickshaw from Hampi bus stand cost around INR 40 and they drop visitors directly to the Vittala temple. Visitors could also catch a local bus first from Hampi bus stand to Kamapapura and then from Kamaplapura to Vittala temple. The second way to reach this temple complex is the second is by a walk along the riverbank from Hampi Bazaar. Indian nationals are charged INR 10 as admission fee wheras the foreign visitors are charged US $5 or equivalent in Indian National Rupee. It is always wise to hold on to your ticket as it is used to enter Zenana Enclosure (Queen’s Bath) in the Royal Centre if you want to do it on same day. The children under fifteen years of age are admitted free of cost. Pay at the ticket counter Rs25 for use of video camera. Visitors can use still camera free of cost. However, keep in mind that tripods are not permitted to be used inside the temple complex. The monument opens from 8.30 in the morning to 5.30 in the evening The best photo ops are to be found in the early morning as the temple complex is opened up for visitors. It is also the time when there is less crowd and sightseeing and photography could be done in peace and without much obstructions and cacophony of local tourists that builds up as the day progresses.Attractions inside Vittala Temple Complex
How to Reach Vittala Temple Complex
Entrance Fee for Visiting Vittala Temple Complex
Video Camera Fee
Still Camera Fee
Opening Hours of Vittala Temple Complex
Best Time to Visit Vittala Temple Complex
Hampi Tour Packages
Things To Do in Hampi
- Hampi Tourism
- Best Time to Visit Hampi
- How to Reach Hampi
- Coracle Crossings Hampi
- Historical Places in Hampi
- Achyutaraya Temple Hampi
- Balakrishna Temple Hampi
- Elephant Stables, Hampi
- Hazara Rama Temple, Hampi
- Kadalekalu Ganesha Temple Hampi
- Lakshmi Narasimha Temple Hampi
- Monolithic Bull Hampi
- Queen’s Bath Hampi
- Stone Doors Hampi
- Sule Bazaar Hampi
- Ugra Narasimha Statue Hampi
- Virupaksha Temple Hampi
- Museums in Hampi
- Archaeological Museum Hampi
- Rock Climbing in Hampi
- Famous Cities in Karnataka
- Climate in Karnataka
- Culture in Karnataka
- History of Karnataka
- Shopping in Karnataka
- Fairs and Festivals
- Fairs and Festivals in Karnataka
- Hampi Festival Karnataka
- Kambala Festival in Karnataka
- Mysore Dasara, Karnataka
- Pattadakkal Dance Festival
- Pongal Festival Karnataka
- Badami Tourism
- Agastya Lake Badami
- Aihole in Karnataka
- Badami Fort Badami
- Bhutanatha Group of Temples
- Cave Temples in Badami
- Bengaluru Tourism
- Temples in Bangalore
- Art of Living International Center
- Attara Kacheri in Bangalore
- Bangalore Fort
- Bangalore Palace
- Bannerghatta National Park
- Bull Temple in Bangalore
- Cubbon Park in Bangalore
- Gardens in Bangalore
- Gavi Gangadeshwara Temple in Bangalore
- Government Museum in Bangalore
- HAL Aerospace Museum in Bangalore
- Innovative Film City in Bangalore
- ISKCON in Bangalore
- Lal Bagh Botanical Garden in Bangalore
- National Gallery of Modern Art
- Suryanarayana Temple in Bangalore
- Tipu Sultan’s Palace in Bangalore
- Visvesvaraya Industrial & Technological Museum
- Wonderla Amusement Park in Bangalore
- Tumkur Tourism
- Udupi Tourism
- Bellary Tourism
- Bidar Tourism
- Bijapur Tourism
- Chikmagalur Tourism
- Chitiradurga Tourism
- Coorg Tourism
- Tribal Life And Culture In Coorg
- Abbey Falls in Coorg
- Brahmagiri Hill in Coorg
- Bylakuppe in Coorg, Karnataka
- Chelavara Falls in Coorg
- Dubare Elephant Camp in Coorg
- Igguthappa Temple in Coorg
- Iruppu Falls Coorg
- Madikeri Fort in Coorg, Karnataka
- Mandalpatti View Point in Coorg
- Omkareshwara Temple
- Raja’s Seat in Coorg
- Sai Sanctuary in Coorg
- Tadiandamol Peak in Coorg
- Tala kaveri in Coorg
- Tibetan Monasteryin Coorg
- Unchalli Falls in Coorg
- Davangere Tourism
- Gokarna Tourism
- Gulbarga Tourism
- Halebid Tourism
- Hassan Tourism
- Hospet Tourism
- Hubli Tourism
- Karwar Tourism
- Madikeri Tourism
- Mangalore Tourism
- Kadri Manjunath Temple Mangalore
- Kudroli Gokarnath Temple Mangalore
- Moodabidri Jain Temple Mangalore
- Someshwar Beach Mangalore
- St. Aloysius Chapel Mangalore
- Sultan Battery Mangalore
- Tannirbhavi Beach Mangalore
- Ullal Beach Mangalore, Karnataka
- Manipal Tourism
- Mysore Tourism
- Bandipur National Park
- Brindavan Gardens in Mysore
- Chamundi Hills in Mysore
- Jaganmohan Palace in Mysore
- Karanji Lake in Mysore
- Keshava Temple in Bangalore
- Melukote in Mysore
- Mysore Dasara
- Mysore Palace
- Mysore Zoo
- Nagarhole National Park
- Rail Museum in Mysore
- Ranganathittu Bird Sanctuary
- Sri Ranganathaswamy Temple
- St. Philomena Church in Mysore
- Pattadakal Tourism
- Raichur Tourism
- Sakleshpur Tourism
- Shimoga Tourism
- Shravanabelagola Tourism
- Sringeri Tourism
- Srirangapatna Tourism
- Tourist Attractions in Karnataka
- Beaches in Karnataka
- Devbagh Beach Karwar, Karnataka
- Gokarna Beach
- Karwar Beach Karnataka
- Kapu Beach Karnataka
- Malpe Beach Udupi, Karnataka
- Mangalore Beach
- Marawanthe Beach Udupi, Karnataka
- Murudeshwar Beach Karnataka
- Netrani Island Beach Karnataka
- St. Mary Island Beach Karnataka
- Suratkal Beach Karnataka
- Ullal Beach Mangalore, Karnataka
- Hill Stations in Karnataka
- Agumbe Hill Station Karnataka
- Kemmangundi Hill Station Karnataka
- Kodachadri Hill Station Karnataka
- Kudremukh Hill Station
- Kundadri Hill Station Karnataka
- Nandi Hills Karnataka
- Yana Hill Station Karnataka
- Monuments in Karnataka
- Bidar Fort Bidar, Karnataka
- Vidhan Soudha Bangalore
- Citadel Bijapur
- Daria Daulat Bagh Mysore
- Gol Gumbaz Bijapur
- Gulbarga Fort Karnataka
- Historical Monuments in Karnataka
- Ibrahim Rouza Bijapur
- Jaganmohan Palace And Art Gallery
- Kittur Chennamma Fort Kittur, Karnataka
- Srirangapatna Fort
- Statue of Gomateshwara Sravanbelgola Karnataka
- Group of Monuments at Pattadakal
- Museums in Karnataka
- Archaeological Museum Hampi
- Folklore Museum in Mysore
- Indira Gandhi Manav Sangrahalaya Mysore
- Temples in Karnataka
- Sri Biligiri Ranganatha Swamy Temple
- Cave Four of Cave Temples Badami
- Cave One of Cave Temples Badami
- Cave three Of Cave Temples Badami
- Cave two Of Cave Temples Badami
- Chennakeshava Temple Belur
- Devi Mookambika Temple Mangalore
- Gavi Gangadeshwara Temple in Bangalore
- Hidimbeshwar Temple
- Hoysaleshwar Temple Halebid
- Keshava Temple in Bangalore
- Mahakuta Temple Badami
- Mallikarjuna Temple in Bangalore
- Omkareshwara Temple
- Sri Durga Temple Aihole
- Temples in Badami
- Temples in Hampi
- Virupaksha Temple Pattadakal(Pampapathi temple Hampi)
- Waterfalls in Karnataka
- Abbey Falls in Coorg
- Hebbe Falls Chikamagalur, Karnataka
- Honnemaradu in Karnataka
- Iruppu Falls Coorg
- Jog Falls in Karnataka
- Kalhatti Falls Chikmagalur
- Lalguli Falls Gokarna, Karnataka
- Magod Falls Dandeli, Karnataka
- Nisargadhama Falls Coorg
- Sathodi Falls Dandeli, Karnataka
- Shivasamudram Falls Karnataka
- Unchali Falls Karnataka