Ranga Temple / Madhava Temple, Hampi - Timings, History, Architecture, Best Time to Visit

At a distance of 3 Km from Hampi Bus Stand and 2 Km from Kamalapur Bus Stand, the Ranga Temple is an ancient Hindu temple located close to the Royal Center at Hampi. It is one of the top places to visit in Hampi.

Also referred to as Madhava Temple, the Ranga Temple is dedicated to Lord Vishnu and his consort Lakshmi. Constructed in an east-west orientation, this temple complex is a small yet elegant shrine dating back to the nearly 15th century AD. The complex comprises two shrines and two mantapas. The entrance to the temple is large, featuring idols of Vishnu intricately carved upon it. This temple is located right next to the Zenana enclosure.

The Madhava Temple, which is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, includes a garbhagriha with a rectangular pedestal, an Ardhamantapa, and a spacious Mukhamantapa supported by 18 pillars. The superstructure of the sanctum exemplifies the typical dwitala Dravida vimana style. The Devi shrine is constructed on a raised platform that stands 2.5 meters high. The romantic encounters of Lord Krishna are depicted in the carvings of the main hall situated in front of this shrine.

A major highlight of this temple is the enormous slab featuring a 3-meter high image of Hanuman carved into it, which is positioned in the Mukhamantapa. In this slab, Hanuman is depicted in a classic pose, with his right hand raised above his head, his left fist resting on his thigh, and his tail forming an arch above him. The dagger attached to his ornate waist ornament is particularly striking. This slab is the largest found among the ruins of Hampi.

An inscription from the era of Sadasivaraya, dated 1545 AD, documents the construction of a Rangamantapa for the deity Madhava by Timmaraju, son of Vallabharaju, specifically for hosting dance, vocal, and instrumental music performances within the temple. The pillars of this Rangamantapa are adorned with sculptural representations of Garuda, Vittala, Surya, Balakrishna, Hanuman, and Alwar. The sculptures depicting Krishna Leela, Vittala, Srinivasa, and episodes from the incarnations of Vishnu, including Prahlada, Matsya, Varaha, and Narasimha, are particularly noteworthy.

At present, this temple is in a state of ruin, and excavations are ongoing to uncover further details about it. Aside from the main shrine and the damaged Devi shrine, the remainder of the temple has been destroyed. Currently, the Rangamantapa has only a few standing pillars.

One can reach this temple by taking the axial path in front of the Hazara Rama Temple that goes towards the Yellamma Temple or the path that traces the southern wall of the Zenena Enclosure.

Timing: 6 AM - 6 PM

Entry: Free