Virupaksha Temple

Virupaksha Temple is the oldest and most sacred temple in Hampi, dedicated to Lord Virupaksha (a form of Shiva), and is the only temple in the Hampi complex that has been in continuous worship since the 7th century CE through the present day. The temple complex, expanded significantly during the Vijayanagara Empire, features a towering 50-metre gopuram, a large pillared hall, and a sacred tank. The presiding deity is Pampapathi (Virupaksha) and his consort Pampa (Bhuvaneshwari). The temple was the coronation site of Vijayanagara kings and remains an active pilgrimage site. Hampi's other monuments, though in ruins, surround this living temple on all sides.