Kamalapura in Hampi

Archaeological Museum: En route to the Pattabhirama Temple is the museum holding loose artifacts collected from the excavated site. Also on display is the model of the Hampi ruins which helps give a fair perspective of the city layout. Sculptures, idols, artifacts of the Veerabhadra and Shiva worshippers are on display. Besides, images of Shiva in the form of Bhairava and Bhikshatana-murthi, and of Shakti, Mahishasuramardhini, Vinayak and Kartik are also on view.

Ganigatti Temple: Literally meaning the “the oil women’s temple”, it has a prominent lone standing pillar or “sthamb’ by the side of the main shrine. While there is no deity placed within the temple chambers, the carvings of Jain saints indicates that it was a Jain shrine. The temple was built in 1386 AD and inaugurated by Irugua, the commander-in-chief of Harihara II.

Bhima Gate: This is one of the largest gateways to Hampi, standing behind the Ganigatti temple. The arched gateway draws inspiration from Bhima of the Pandava brothers and has carvings of Draupadi and Bhima on its walls.

The gate has been designed to confuse the enemy who dared to attack the city with blind walls that force you to turn either left or right to enter.

The Domed Gateway: Though there is no apparent monument to which it presently poses as a gateway, the structure is an interesting sculptured doorway characterized by arches and domes influenced by Islamic architecture. The adjoining guard’s room has an image of Hanuman engraved on it.