ASI removes additional walls inside Hampi’s Virupaksha Temple gopuram

New Delhi ( Vivek Ojha ) : The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on Tuesday (June 2) removed the walls built inside the main gopuram of Virupaksha Temple, where a mantapa was converted into an office.

The operation was carried out under the guidance of ASI superintendent K Ramakrishna Reddy. Public and tourist guides welcomed the move.

According to Virupakshi V Hampi, general secretary of the State Tourist Guides Association, the mantapa inside the gopuram was originally intended as a resting place for devotees visiting the temple. A Shiva idol is located beside it, but regular abhisheka was not performed there.

With the removal of the walls built in addition to the original structure, the mantapa is now visible, and devotees can have darshan of the Shiva idol, said Amaradeep PS, who is interested in monument photography. He thanked the ASI superintendent for addressing a long-pending demand of devotees and tourists.

In another development, the premises of the Kari Thiruvengalanatha Temple near the Second Penugonda Gate on the road to Sitarama Tanda were cleaned after the issue was brought to the notice of Shejeshwar, deputy director of the state department of archaeology, museums and heritage.

About Virupaksha Temple :

Virupaksha Temple is the 7th century Shiva temple in Hampi, Central Karnataka. Hampi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Lord Virupaksha, also referred to as Pampapathi is the main deity in Virupaksha Temple. Virupaksha Temple complex also houses shrines of Bhuvaneshwari and Vidyaranya.

Virupaksha Temple complex is surrounded by three gopuras (towers). The main tower, on the east is an imposing structure, 9 stories, 50 meters tall, built in the fifteenth century. Eastern tower forms the main entrance to Virupaksha Temple. Eastern tower has extensive craftsmanship on each of its floors featuring hundreds of Hindu gods and goddesses. The inverted shadow of the main tower falls on a wall inside the temple. Your tour guide will help you see this spot.