Giant Ganeshas

Kadalaikallu ganesha

Enroute from Virupaksha to the Vitthala temple are two large Ganesha statues -- Sasivekallu (mustard seed) ganesha and Kadalaikallu (bengal gram) ganesha. The Kadalaikallu idol is so named because its belly resembles a bengal gram. Unfortunately this magnificient idol was broken after the invasion. The Sasivekallu idol is intact but nothing about it conjures up images of mustard seeds (come on Ganesha pot belly and all bearing resemblance to a mustard seed?). The mandapam that encloses Kadalaikallu has interesting images carved on its pillars.

Kadalaikallu mandapam carvings

Dancer on temple doorway

Very close to the Sasivekallu enclosure is a Krishna temple. This temple was built by Krishna Deva Raya. Longhurst describes this temple in this fashion

The sculpture within the temple is not remarkable and calls for no remarks.
The gopuram and doorway of this temple belie any such claims. Only here it struck me that the gopuram of all temples at Hampi were made of brick and stucco. This construction is unlike other temples in S. India, such as the Meenakshi temple at Madurai, where the gopuram is also stone. The inside of this gopuram depicts some kind of war scene. I thought the soldiers in this scene looked pretty funny (see "heads" photo right). This temple has an elaborately designed doorway. The dancers in particular are very beautiful.

War scene "heads"

Vitthala

Vitthala Chariot

Krishna Deva Raya started building the Vitthala temple. Several additions were made by successive kings. However, the temple was not finished or consecrated. In front of the temple is a beautiful stone chariot. The main mandapam has some interesting pillars. The local "guide" at the site mentioned that these were musical pillars.

Vitthala musical columns

Apparently it is possible to play musical notes by tapping the thin columns of this mandapam. There was some kind of structure (stone cavity?), now destroyed, in the center of the building that amplified the sound. So this place was used as an amphitheater in days of yore (or so the guide would have us believe).

Hazara Rama

Rama bending the Shivadhanush

The Hazara Rama temple is the most beautiful structure at Hampi. This temple also was started by Krishna Deva Raya and was dedicated to Rama. The walls of the temple are covered with images depicting the Ramayana. There are also images of Krishna on the pillars and the back wall.

Hazara Rama

Conclusion

After spending two days traipsing around some of the best temple architecture in India we took the Hampi Express back to Bangalore on the night of August 27th. The weather was almost perfect on both days -- cool mornings but really hot afternoons. Late August seems to be the best time to visit Hampi. It did not rain and there werent too many tourists around. On the whole this was a good trip. I am already looking forward to visiting Madurai later this year.