Famous Temples in India

Architecture

Temple was built many meters below the ground level Hence, it is famous as Underground Shiva Temple. It is not just an underground temple but it lies under water, the inner portions of the shrine is always filled with water. According to one theory, it is the water of Tungabhadra river that flows inside through a canal. sanctum of the temple remains submerged in water throughout the year and one has to walk almost 20 meters through 2 feet water to reach the room with Lord Shiva statue. The Prasanna Virupaksha temple has been constructed following the Vijayanagara style of architecture. The temple is a simple and beautiful structure that is located inside a large courtyard surrounded by an enclosure wall. There is a water canal in the courtyard of the temple. This Underground Shiva temple has a flat roofed main tower. There are steps leading from the main tower to the main pillared hall of the temple. The temple has a garbhagriha along with an antarala. The temple also has an aradha mantapa and a maha mantapa. The maha mantapa has pillared corridors that combine with the pillared mukha mantapa. This makes for a huge pillared frontal mantapa. The frontal mantapa also has a dhwaja stambha that protrudes through the rooftop. The pillars of the temple are simple and austere in appearance, unlike the carved and engraved pillars found in most temples of Hampi. An inscription on a slab in a mantap records of grant to temple by Sri Krishnadevaraya in 1513 on the occasion of his coronation.