This giant statue of Ganesha was carved out of a huge boulder at the northeastern slope of the Hemakuta hill. The belly of this statue resembles a Bengal gram (Kadalekalu, in local language) and hence the name.
A sanctum is built around the statue. The pillared hall in front of this sanctum is as charming as this giant statue itself. The open hall is constructed by unusually slender and tall pillars. Each of them is highly ornate with mythical themes.
This 4.5 meters (15 feet) tall statue is one among the largest sculptures in Hampi. The pillared hall is a vantage point to survey the environs, especially the Hampi Bazaar and the foothills of Matanga Hill. No admission fee is required. Photography permitted free.
Pushkaranis are sacred tanks attached to temples. Most of the large temples in Hampi have a tank attached to it. The tanks cater to the ritual and functional aspects of the temple and life surrounding it. Symbolically too these tanks are significant and treated with great respect. In many cases the sacred tanks were the venue for the annual boat festival, where the images of the god and goddess are taken on a coracle.
In Hampi barring a few, many of the tanks are in a ruined state. However they are great architectural attractions in their own rights. Though it was hopelessly destroyed (or never got completed ), the Pushkarani at the end of Courtesans' Street is worth visiting. Look for this on your right as you enter the Courtesans' Street from the riverside. The archeology department has restored this ruined pond to some extent. You can see the remains of the colonnade once stood around the massive rectangular tank. So are the remains of the pavilion at the center of the tank. There is no water in the tank, so you can even see the details of the base and the gallery like steps around the tank.
A better preserved specimen of the sacred tank is located near the Vittala Temple. This is located a little east of the temple complex. From Vittala temple walk along the car street (Vittala Bazaar), you will find the tank just opposite to a ruined temple marked as Kuduregombe Mantapa.
A Few Prominent Pushkaranis of Hampi are The Pushkarani near the Achyuta Raya’s Temple, The Pushkarani within the Royal Enclosure,The Pushkarani near the Virupaksha Temple, The Pushkarani near the Vittala Temple, The Pushkarani near the Krishna Bazaar, The Pushkarani near the Pattabhirama Temple, etc.
Kadalekalu Ganesha is one of the largest statues of Lord Ganesha that exists in the southern part of India. The shrine housing the statue of Kadalekalu Ganesha is situated on the slope of the Hemakuta Hill in Hampi. It is a remarkable monolithic statue and one of the most popular tourist sites in Hampi.
Being situated on the slope of the Hemakuta Hill, the temple presents a mesmerizing view of the surroundings. Visitors can enjoy picturesque views of the Hampi Bazaar and the Matanga Hill while standing in the hall of the Kadalekalu Ganesha temple.
The calm ambiance of the temple makes it a wonderful place to spend some peaceful moments admiring the beauty of the temple in particular and the surroundings in general.
The towering statue of Kadalekalu Ganesha has a height of 4.6 metres (15 feet). The giant statue was carved out of a single huge boulder. The belly of Ganesha has been chiselled in such a manner that it resembles a Bengal gram (known as Kadalekalu in the local language). Hence, the statue has been given the name of Kadalekalu Ganesha. It is one of the largest statues that exist in Hampi.
The pushkaranis in Hampi are a part of the ancient town’s planning and architecture. Many of the pushkaranis were built during the time of the Vijayanagara Empire. The water tanks related to the temples were used to serve the ritualistic purposes of those temples.
There are some water tanks that are not related to the temples. Some of the water tanks are situated within the Royal Enclosure and they were built for the use of the members of the royal family of Vijayanagara. There were a few large public water tanks as well that were for use by the general people.
Kadalekalu Ganesha Temple is one of the most visited destinations in Hampi. The location of the temple can be easily accessed by visitors from all parts of the ruined town.
By Air- Hampi has no airport of its own. Visitors can reach Hampi by air by taking a flight to the nearest airport situated at Bellary. The Bellary airport stands at a distance of about 64 km from Hampi. The airports at Belgaum (190 km) and Bangalore (353 km) are other options for you to reach Hampi by air. There are other means of transport to reach Hampi from the airports.
By Rail- There is no railway station in Hampi. The nearest railway station is located at the town of Hospet. Hampi can be easily reached from Hospet as there are frequent buses that ply between the two towns. There are also other local means of transport that connect Hospet to Hampi.
By Road- Hampi is well connected by the road network and can be accessed from several towns and cities by road. There are a number of buses that connect Hampi to the nearby places. Private cars and vehicles can also be hired from Bangalore or Mysore to reach Hampi.
