Today we have a long list of things to see. We will try to cover as much of Hampi as possible in the morning, then head to Daroji Bear Sanctuary in the afternoon and if possible see some more of Hampi in the evening. If you want to read the first leg of our Hampi trip please find it here:
Hampi,beauty admist ruins~Part I
We started early at 6:30 am. The reason is it gets really hot by 11:30 am. As I have said in the first part of this Hampi blog that Hampi is more like an open museum. You will find something or the other interesting. Almost all the temples open at 6:30 am and remains open till 6 pm except for Virupaksha Temple, Vittala Temple and Lotus Mahal. They open at 8:30 sharp. All the places are free for visit except these three and a single ticket is valid for a day which serves as the entry ticket for all the three places.
First we went to Sasivekalu Ganesha Temple. The temple opens at 6:30 am. This is a four armed monolithic Ganesha situated on the south eastern slopes of the Hemakutha hillock. You will find a snake that has wind up Ganesha's tummy. The story is Ganesha caught the snake and wind it across his tummy to prevent his tummy from bursting. Ganesha is known to be very fond of eating sweets (modak).
In the same campus there is a huge map of Hampi installed by the archaeological survey of India. Entry and photography is free of charges.
From Sasivekalu Ganesha Temple we went to Badavaling Temple which is a 3 metre high monolithic Siva Linga carved out of black stone. This is the biggest of all lingas in Hampi and is worshiped till date. The roof of the sanctum has no ceiling.
Just next to Badavaling Temple is the Laxmi Narayan Temple also called the Ugra Narashima Temple. Narashima is the fourth reincarnation of Lord Vishnu where he appreared on earth as half human(torso) and half lion(face and claws) to kill the demon Hiranyakasipu. The huge monolithic statue was earlier called Ugra Narashima or the angry Narashima because since a part of the face and arms were destroyed by Muslim, people were misled into thinking that it was Ugra Narashima. But later closer scrunity revealed that the statue had one of his elbows in a blessings posture. The idol of goddess Laxmi on his lap was also removed by the Muslim invaders. So basically the God is not angry here and since he was with his consort so now the temple is called Laxmi Narayan Temple.
From here we hopped to the next place, the Krishna Temple. Please read the blog in the next part Hampi, beauty admist ruins ~ Part III
Hampi,beauty admist ruins~Part I
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| From in front of Ugra Narsimha Temple, Hampi |
First we went to Sasivekalu Ganesha Temple. The temple opens at 6:30 am. This is a four armed monolithic Ganesha situated on the south eastern slopes of the Hemakutha hillock. You will find a snake that has wind up Ganesha's tummy. The story is Ganesha caught the snake and wind it across his tummy to prevent his tummy from bursting. Ganesha is known to be very fond of eating sweets (modak).
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| Sasivekalu Ganesha |
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| Sasivekalu Ganesha |
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| Sasivekalu Ganesha |
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| Sasivekalu Ganesha |
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| Sasivekalu Ganesha |
In the same campus there is a huge map of Hampi installed by the archaeological survey of India. Entry and photography is free of charges.
From Sasivekalu Ganesha Temple we went to Badavaling Temple which is a 3 metre high monolithic Siva Linga carved out of black stone. This is the biggest of all lingas in Hampi and is worshiped till date. The roof of the sanctum has no ceiling.
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| Badavaling |
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| Badavaling |
Just next to Badavaling Temple is the Laxmi Narayan Temple also called the Ugra Narashima Temple. Narashima is the fourth reincarnation of Lord Vishnu where he appreared on earth as half human(torso) and half lion(face and claws) to kill the demon Hiranyakasipu. The huge monolithic statue was earlier called Ugra Narashima or the angry Narashima because since a part of the face and arms were destroyed by Muslim, people were misled into thinking that it was Ugra Narashima. But later closer scrunity revealed that the statue had one of his elbows in a blessings posture. The idol of goddess Laxmi on his lap was also removed by the Muslim invaders. So basically the God is not angry here and since he was with his consort so now the temple is called Laxmi Narayan Temple.
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| Laxmi Narayan Temple |
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| Laxmi Narayan Temple |
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| Laxmi Narayan Temple |
From here we hopped to the next place, the Krishna Temple. Please read the blog in the next part Hampi, beauty admist ruins ~ Part III
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