Page 539 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - India

HA MPI  537

VISITORS’ CHECKLIST
Practical Information
E of the Sacred Centre.
Open daily. & free on Fri.

Vitthala Temple
This striking temple with its elaborate
mandapas (columned halls) is dedicated to Musical Columns
Vitthala, an incarnation of Vishnu the Preserver, Small hollow columns
the second god in the Hindu Trinity. emit different tones
when lightly tapped.

Chariot
. Chariot
This shrine in front
of the temple is
dedicated to
Garuda and is
Frieze Detail fashioned as a
This panel depicts a trio of celestial stone chariot.
nymphs riding on parrots.

marks the top of the ridge. Environs
Further south is the Krishna The historic village of Anegondi
Temple, erected in the early lies on the opposite bank of the
16th century during the reign Tungabhadra river. Until a bridge
of Krishnadeva Raya. It is entered under construction becomes
through a massive, though partly oper ational, it can be reached
ruined gopura. The colonnaded only on the coracles that have
street to the east now runs plied the river for centuries.
through fields of sugarcane, An important settlement
while the square tank nearby before the establishment of
still stores water. As it continues Vijayanagar, Anegondi’s-now
south, the road travels past the dilapidated palaces, temples
tremendous Narasimha Stone A coracle ferrying people across the and bathing ghats still preserve
Monolith, a representation of Tungabhadra river vestiges of their former glory.
Vishnu’s man-lion incarnation The Kalyan Mahal, a palace-like
(see p683). Around the temple are building remi niscent of Hampi’s
Fortified walls enclose the excavated remains of palaces, Lotus Mahal (see p535), stands
Royal Centre. At the latter’s baths and a hundred-columned in the central square. Nearby
core is the superb Hazara Rama audience hall, while to its north are a temple and a 14th-
Temple, built by Deva Raya I, are the Elephant Stables and century gateway. The massive
a Vijayanagar king of the 15th the Lotus Mahal. walls and rounded bastions of
century. Its outer walls are Anegondi’s citadel enclose the
covered with friezes that depict E Archaeological Museum rocky hills lying west of the
ceremonies of the Mahanavami Kamalapuram. Tel (08394) 241 561. main town. Anegondi is also
festival. Reliefs of episodes from Open 8am–5pm Sat–Thu. & ^ of interest for its traditional
the Ramayana can be seen here. ∑ asi.nic.in mud-clad houses.

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