Hazara Ramachandra Temple, Hampi, Near Hospete, Karnataka, India Editorial Photo

This temple located in the core of the Royal Centre is known for its wall friezes depicting the great epic Ramayana and a few episodes of Bhagavata. It is dated to about 14th-15th century CE and dedicated to Vishnu in the form of Rama. The earliest reference to this temple dates back to an inscription dated to 1416 CE referring to a grant by Queen Annaladevi. The temple faces east and has on plan a garbhagriha (sanctum), antarala (antechamber), rangamandapa (pillared hall) with three entrances and a spacious pillared porch. The pillars of the rangamandapa made of polished schist stone are decorated with twelve sculpted panels depicting Vishnu's avatar. A separate shrine for Devi is located at the northwest. It is more ornate and has two garbhagrihas on the west and north, antarala and a mandapa entered from the east. Typical Dravidian shikharas (superstructure)adorn the main temple as well as the Devi shrine. On the west and southeast are pillared cloisters. All these are enclosed in a prakara (enclosure) wall and has gateway at the east and north and a passage entrance at the south. The exterior walls of the prakara have depictions of horses, elephants, camels, dancing girls, stick dances, musicians etc.