The Vitthala Temple

If there is one monument in Hampi that throws up more surprises than you can imagine, it is the Vitthala Temple. The entrance is deceptively simple, with much of the gopuram in ruins. Inside, however, is another matter. The first thing that you notice is the stone chariot, which is the most photographed structure in all of Hampi! The intricate work on the chariot has to be seen to be believed, but more amazing is the fact that the chariot was made to be moved! The wheels worked till recently, when the number of people trying to move it started damaging it further, and the wheels were fixed. Two elephant sculptures have been placed in front, though originally, the chariot was pulled by a pair of horses, and if you look closely, you can see the hind legs of the horses near the broken end. There are also indications that the chariot was once painted, though only traces of colour remain now. Inside the chariot is an idol of Garuda, the vehicle of Lord Vishnu.
As you enter the temple, on a pillar is carved the plan of the entire temple, including the idol of Lord Vishnu inside. The detail is meticulous, on a miniature scale. Every pillar in this entrance hall is a work of art. They are all monolithic―carved out of a single rock. Some, among these, are musical pillars, which, when struck, sound like musical instruments. Atop these pillars are carved musicians playing the particular musical instruments the pillars sound like! This section has now been cordoned off, since people striking the pillars to hear the sounds have damaged them. Even more beautiful are the composite pillars―16 to 25 pillars carved into just one, and that too made of a single rock! All around are many more examples of the skill of the workers who created these masterpieces―exquisitely detailed figures telling stories of Lord Vishnu in his many avatars, small sculptures, which show different figures when seen from different angles, and scenes showing us life as it was then, at the height of Hampi’s prosperity. There is lot more to see in this temple, so if you are visiting, make sure you hire one of the authorised guides here. It is easy to miss the details unless someone points them out to you!