Hazara Rama Temple

The Hazara Rama temple is believed to have been built by King Deva Raya I (reign 1406-1422). The earliest inscription in the temple mentions “Deva Raya”. Another inscription mentions donation by Queen Annaladevi in 1416. Both carvings could also be references to Deva Raya II (reign 1422-46) and his queen Honnaladevi. The temple was later expanded and new parts were added in the 16th century.

This is the only temple in the capital with its external walls decorated with bas-reliefs mentioned above. And the temple got its name Hazara Rama (a thousand Rama) Temple owing to the multitude of these Ramayana panels on its walls.

Best Time To Visit: November – February

Timing: 06:00Am To 06:00 Pm

Entrance Fee: Not Entry Fee

Photography: Allowed

• There are a lot of monkeys in and around the premises, so one needs to take care of their belongings.
• There are shops around the temple that sell cucumbers, biscuits, and mangoes. 
• The time required to cover is about 1 hour.

The temple is a shrine of Hampi that has dazzling frescos and engraved carvings. And that makes the temple one of architectural heritages of India.

Hazara Rama Temple is the only temple in Hampi which has a sculptured compound wall. The entire temple complex is enclosed by the high compound walls and has a grand entrance at east. It has a tall structure overlooked with the lawn that gives the magnificent presence of splendid architecture, which has a traditional touch of the Vijayanagara Dynasty. The temple has an east-facing entrance, and a lush green lawn surrounds it. Also, the entire temple has a flat-roof. The structure is made up of granite, and it has integrated carvings on each part of the temple. These carvings portray exciting events from Ramayana.

Glorious Interior- After entering the temple, you can visit the entertainment hall, which is known as Rangamandapa. Inner walls of the temple are sculptured with historical events in the Hindu epic Ramayana. Also, four tall granite pillars in the hall are made up of Hoysala style. These pillars are engraved with numerous idols of Gods and Goddesses. The ceiling of this hall is designed with the purpose of ventilation. The roof ventilates fumes and smoke and makes the atmosphere fresh. The entertainment hall has three different entrances at the west, north and south that open up three sides of the complex.

Wonderful Exterior- Along with the splendid interior, the temple has a stunning exterior too. External walls of the temple are embellished with horizontal panels and sculptured with horses, elephants, cultural events like Dasara, famous stories in Ramayana, etc. In the northern part of the inner sanctum, there is another small temple dedicated to the goddess Sita.  Also, the temple has one more miniature shrine that depicts Vishnu avatars, i.e. incarnation of Lord Vishnu with friezes.

Hazara Rama Temple is located in the Royal Enclosure of Hampi. It is a place that no visitor generally misses on their Hampi trail.

By Air- The easiest way to reach Hampi by air is to take a flight to the nearest airport at Bellary, situated at a distance of about 974 km. The airports at Belgaum (190 km) and Bangalore (353 km) are other options to reach Hampi by air. There are other modes of transport to reach Hampi from these places.

By Rail- To reach Hampi by rail the nearest station is located at Hospet. Hampi can be easily reached from Hospet frequent buses that ply between the two towns. There are other local means of transport to reach Hampi from Hospet.

By Road- Hampi is connected to several towns and cities by the road network. There are several buses that connect Hampi to the nearby places. Private cars and vehicles can be hired from Bangalore or Mysore to reach Hampi.