Hampi, a UNESCO world heritage site, is known for its magnificent temples and one such fine specimen is Sasivekalu Ganesha temple. Sasivekalu Ganesha Temple is a huge statue of Lord Ganesha, carved out of a single block of rock. It is one of the major landmarks in Hampi. Sasivekalu Ganesha is about 8 feet (2.5 metres) tall.
Sasivekalu Ganesha Temple, Hampi. Photographer Arun
History of Sasivekalu Ganesha Temple
According to the Hindu mythology, Lord Ganesha is known for his love for food. Once Ganesha consumed a lot of food, due to which his stomach was on the verge of bursting. Finding no other option to stop his stomach from exploding, Ganesha caught hold of a snake and tied it around his stomach in order to prevent it from bursting open. This is the mythological incidence behind the existence of the snake tied around the Ganesha’s stomach, which is visible on the statue.
The inscription on the statue is as old as 1500 AD and says that this statue was erected in memory of the king Narasimha II, of the Vijayanagar Empire. This temple and the statue is indeed one of the finest specimens of Indian sculptures.
Sasivekalu Ganesha, Hampi. Image courtesy Tania Dey
Architecture of Sasivekalu Ganesha Temple
The Ganesha is seen in a half-lotus position with four arms. The right and left hand at the upper side holds a goad and a broken tusk. The top right hand of the statue holds a sweet (modak) the left hand is portrayed with a noose. A large mandapa is covering the statue at the top with a rough wall covering pillars around it. The archaeology department has installed a huge sitemap consisting of whereabouts of the place and history of the statue.
How to Reach Sasivekalu Ganesha Temple
Sasivekalu Ganesha Temple is situated in the town of Hampi. Any local transport in the city can be used to reach the temple. You can reach Hampi by any of the following conveyance.
By Air
Hampi does not have an airport but can be reached through the nearby airports. Bellary is the nearest airport, about 615 kms from Hampi. There are a number of buses and taxis available from Bellary to Hampi. Apart from Bellary, Bangalore airport can also be accessed to reach Hampi; it is 353km from Hampi. One can hire a cab or taxi from the airport to reach the beautiful Hampi village.
By Rail
The nearest railway station is located at Hospet which is about 13km from Hampi. Hampi does not have a railway station but can be reached via Hospet rail route. There are many buses and taxis which connect Hampi and Hospet, either of the ways can be opted to reach Hampi.
By Road
Hampi is well connected with major cities and towns of Karnataka by bus service. A number of private and tourist buses run regularly from neighbouring cities to Hampi. Road route is the best one. A direct drive to Hampi through NH 13 route from Bangalore (345 km) and Hubli (165 km) is the other option out of the lot.
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