Virupaksha temple at Hampi in Bellary district

Virupaksha temple is a huge temple complex, on the banks of the Tungabhadra, was the heart of Vijayanagara dynasty. A small arm of the river passes through the complex. Tungabhadra is called locally Pampanadi. The chief deities here are Shiva and Parvati. Shiva is called locally Pampapati because Parvati is Pampa herself. The idol of Bhubanesvari too is there.This temple, one of the oldest active temples in India, was built in the 7th century, and renovated during 15 and 16th centuries.

The temple has sections as antarala, ardhamandapa and rangamandapa. In the east, the temple tower stands at a height of 52 meter and 9 stories. The greatest festival of the temple is the rathayatra or Car Festival, where the chariout is paraded in procession and it is during the months of March – April.

Hampi was once the seat of the Vijayanagara Kingdom. It is situated on the southern banks of Tungabhadra River at Hospet village in Belleri district, Karnataka state, India.