District: Bellary
Town: Hampi
Temple: Saraswati Temple
Hampi is located in the heart of the ruined city of Vijayanagara, the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire. It is present in North Karnataka. Among the many ruined monuments there, there is a Saraswati Temple.
Saraswati Temple – Overview and Architecture
This Saraswati temple is in almost complete ruins. The Stucco images and the figures on the wall surrounding the temple are all damaged. There is a sanctum, surrounded by a pillared prakaram. There is a pillared open porch in the front. Some of the figures that originally decorated the walls are still discernible. There is still a fairly recognizable figure of a crawling baby Krishna on the wall. Across the temple there is a tiny rock carved figure of Goddess Saraswati in a small shrine. This is the reason people believe this temple is a Saraswati temple. A small winding village path runs around this temple, going towards the canal.
Saraswati Temple – Facts
- Saraswati is the Goddess of Knowledge and the Arts
- She is the consort of Brahma, the Creator and is mostly portrayed with a book in one hand, prayer beads in another hand, and with the other two hands, she plays the Veena
- This temple is located near an octagonal Bath
- The shrine is empty, but this temple has been partially restored
How to Get to the Saraswati Temple in Hampi
To Reach Hampi
Hampi is a world famous site, especially after it was registered as a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO. The nearest railway station, Hospet, is well connected through train routes. From Hospet, Hampi is just 13 km away. You can easily get a bus to Hampi from Hospet. The nearest airport is Hubli.
This temple is located to the left of the path from the Chandrashekara temple to the Octagonal Bath.
Also See:
