Maarg Manthan · Topic 1.23

Vijayanagara Period Temples

Art & Culture › Architecture · Topic 1.23

Vijayanagara period temples are the Dravidian temples built between 1336 and 1565 CE by the Sangama, Saluva, Tuluva and Aravidu rulers of the Vijayanagara Empire, with the capital at Hampi in Karnataka. They are marked by tall rayagopuras, a kalyana mandapa, a separate shrine for the goddess, and pillars with rearing yalis. Main examples are the Virupaksha and Vittala temples at Hampi (Karnataka), with its stone chariot, and the Veerabhadra Temple at Lepakshi (Andhra Pradesh). The Group of Monuments at Hampi was inscribed by UNESCO in 1986, and Krishnadevaraya is the best-known patron.

5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Art & Culture · Architecture

At a Glance

Empire Vijayanagara, 1336 to 1565 CE
Capital Hampi, Karnataka (also spelt Vijayanagar)
Best-known patron Krishnadevaraya of the Tuluva dynasty
UNESCO Group of Monuments at Hampi, 1986
Style note Dravidian with Indo-Islamic touches
Exam link UPSC Prelims, Art and Culture: Architecture

Where Does It Fit?

This topic follows the Rashtrakuta temples and moves to the last great Hindu empire of the south. It takes the Dravidian gateway tower and the pillared hall to a larger scale. Previous topic: Rashtrakuta Period Temples. Next topic: Nayaka Temples.

Which Are the Main Vijayanagara Temples?

Temple	Place and state	Builder and key facts
Virupaksha Temple	Hampi, Karnataka	Shiva temple still in worship; the tall east gopuram was rebuilt in Krishnadevaraya’s time, 1510 CE
Vittala Temple	Hampi, Karnataka	Vishnu temple of the 15th and 16th centuries, noted for the stone chariot and the musical pillars in the ranga mandapa
Hazara Rama Temple	Hampi, Karnataka	Royal temple with Ramayana reliefs on its walls, linked to Devaraya II
Achyutaraya Temple	Hampi, Karnataka	Built under Achyuta Deva Raya, with a long bazaar street in front
Veerabhadra Temple	Lepakshi, former Anantapur district, Andhra Pradesh	Built around 1530s by the brothers Virupanna and Viranna; known for a hanging pillar, murals and a large monolithic Nandi
Tiruvannamalai and Kanchipuram additions	Tamil Nadu	Rayagopurams and halls added by Vijayanagara kings

What Are the Features of Vijayanagara Temples?

Rayagopuram: the tall gateway tower, a word for the royal gopura of the empire
Kalyana mandapa: a pillared hall for the ritual marriage of the deity, with carved pillars
Amman shrine: a separate shrine for the goddess within the complex
Yali pillars: pillars carved with rearing horses and a mythical lion-like creature
Hundred-pillared hall: a large hall for assemblies and festivals
Composite pillars: slender shafts grouped round a central column, some giving musical notes when tapped
Indo-Islamic touches: arches and domes in secular buildings, such as the Lotus Mahal and elephant stables
Material: granite, with brick and stucco on gateways

What Else Should You Remember?

Founders: Harihara I and Bukka I of the Sangama dynasty founded the empire in 1336 CE, with the guidance of the sage Vidyaranya
Dynasties: the four dynasties in order are Sangama, Saluva, Tuluva and Aravidu
Krishnadevaraya: ruled 1509 to 1529, wrote the Telugu work Amuktamalyada, and was called Andhra Bhoja
Hampi: also called Vijayanagara, or the city of victory, on the Tungabhadra river in Vijayanagara district
Stone chariot: at Vittala, the stone chariot is a shrine of Garuda in the form of a chariot and appears on the 50 rupee note
Mahanavami Dibba: a raised platform for the Mahanavami festival, with relief panels
Lotus Mahal: a palace in the Zenana Enclosure with arches in the Indo-Islamic manner
Fall: the battle of Talikota in 1565 CE ended the empire’s power, and Hampi was sacked
Foreign visitors: Abdur Razzak, Domingo Paes, Fernao Nuniz and Nicolo Conti left accounts of the city
UNESCO: Hampi was inscribed in 1986 and was placed on the List of World Heritage in Danger from 1999 to 2006 because of a bridge and other pressure
Earlier models: the temples build on forms seen in Rajaraja I and Rajendra I Main feature Tall vimana over the…">Chola Period Temples and Pandya Temples
Later effect: the Madurai and Thanjavur governors continued the style, as in Nayaka Temples
Hoysala comparison: star-shaped plans and soapstone work belong to Hoysala Style
Sources of history: the travellers Abdur Razzak of Persia, Domingo Paes and Fernao Nuniz of Portugal described the splendid city, its markets and the Mahanavami festival, and these accounts are used to date the buildings
Water works: the empire built tanks, canals and aqueducts at Hampi, such as the Pushkarani tanks and the royal enclosure water system, which show engineering skill beside temple building
Hampi Utsav: the Karnataka government holds the Hampi Utsav, a cultural festival at the site, which links heritage to tourism and local arts
Lepakshi murals: the ceiling of the Veerabhadra temple carries large Vijayanagara murals in natural colours, a topic that links to painting
Lepakshi tentative list: the Veerabhadra Temple and Monolithic Bull (Nandi) at Lepakshi was added to India’s UNESCO Tentative List in 2022
Naming: Hampi is derived from Pampa, the old name of the Tungabhadra river and its goddess Pampa Devi

Why Does It Matter for the Exam?

Match questions: Vittala with stone chariot, Lepakshi with Virupanna and Viranna
UNESCO: Hampi inscribed in 1986
Ruler questions: Krishnadevaraya of the Tuluva dynasty
Term questions: rayagopuram, kalyana mandapa
Common errors: placing Lepakshi in Karnataka, when it is in Andhra Pradesh

As an analytical point, Hampi is a ruined capital that is also a living temple town, so protection must balance pilgrims, villagers and visitors. Its site management plan is a standard case in heritage debates.

Why Is This Topic Important?

Hampi UNESCO and monuments
Rulers Dynasty order
Terms Gopuram and mandapa

What Came Next?

The next topic covers the Nayaka temples, which inherited and extended the Vijayanagara style. Next topic: Nayaka Temples.

Key People and Terms

Krishnadevaraya Tuluva king, patron
Rayagopuram Royal gateway tower
Kalyana mandapa Marriage hall
Yali Mythical creature on pillars
Talikota 1565 battle
Vidyaranya Sage linked with founding

Study this topic together with these linked topics from other subjects.

Hampi as the Capital – Architecture and Art of the Vijayanagara Empire (Medieval History)

Exam Corner

Points to Remember

Capital: Hampi, UNESCO 1986.
Chariot: Vittala.
Lepakshi: Andhra Pradesh.
Fall: Talikota 1565.
Patron: Krishnadevaraya.

Do Not Confuse With

Vijayanagara and Nayaka Empire builders versus their regional governors
Virupaksha and Vittala Shiva temple in worship versus Vishnu temple, protected as a monument
Hampi and Hampi Bazaar The wider site versus one street

Memory Hook

Hari and Bukka began, Krishna crowned, Talikota fell, Vittala keeps the chariot.

Mains Angle

Questions ask about heritage management and living monuments. These points give a balanced frame.

Management Village, pilgrim and tourist at one site
Revival Local crafts and festivals
Dynasty legacy South Indian cultural unity

A Question You May Face

An original practice question, not a past paper question.

“Examine the contribution of the Vijayanagara empire to Indian temple architecture.”

How to Answer

Intro Empire, dates, Hampi.
Features Rayagopuram, halls, pillars.
Examples Virupaksha, Vittala, Lepakshi.
Heritage UNESCO and management.

GS Relevance

Prelims: Hampi monuments, Vittala stone chariot, Lepakshi, Krishnadevaraya, UNESCO 1986. GS Paper 1: Indian heritage and culture, temple architecture of the Vijayanagara empire.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Vijayanagara style of temple architecture?

It is the late Dravidian style of the Vijayanagara Empire, from 1336 to 1565 CE, with tall rayagopurams, kalyana mandapas, separate goddess shrines and yali pillars. Key sites are Hampi in Karnataka and Lepakshi in Andhra Pradesh, and Krishnadevaraya was its best-known patron.

Where is Hampi located and why is it important?

Hampi is on the Tungabhadra river in Vijayanagara district of Karnataka and was the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire. The Group of Monuments at Hampi was inscribed by UNESCO in 1986. It has the Virupaksha and Vittala temples, the stone chariot, the Lotus Mahal and the Mahanavami Dibba.

Which dynasty built the Vittala Temple stone chariot?

The Vittala Temple at Hampi was built mainly in the 15th and 16th centuries and was extended under Krishnadevaraya of the Tuluva dynasty. Its stone chariot is a Garuda shrine shaped like a chariot with carved wheels, and it is the most famous image of Hampi.

What is special about the Lepakshi temple?

The Veerabhadra Temple at Lepakshi in Andhra Pradesh (former Anantapur district) was built around the 1530s by Virupanna and Viranna during Vijayanagara rule. It is known for its hanging pillar, large monolithic Nandi, ceiling murals and carved pillars, and is a standard Vijayanagara example.

Why is Vijayanagara architecture important for UPSC?

Questions often ask about Hampi, UNESCO 1986, the Vittala stone chariot, Lepakshi and Krishnadevaraya, and about the rise of the rayagopuram. It also links to the Vijayanagara history syllabus, and it is a case study in managing a living heritage site.

PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis

1 Hampi was inscribed as a UNESCO site in 1986.

True

It is called Group of Monuments at Hampi.

2 The Lepakshi temple is in Karnataka.

False

It is in Andhra Pradesh.

3 The stone chariot is at the Vittala Temple.