Credit: Kunal Gaikwad
About Pattabhirama Temple
Nestled 1.2 km from Kamalapura Bus Stand, near the ASI museum in Kamalapura, the Pattabhirama Temple stands as a silent witness to the architectural prowess of the Vijayanagara rulers. Alongside iconic temples like Virupaksha and Vittala, this temple is a testament to the creative endeavors of the Vijayanagara Empire in temple construction.
Standing alongside iconic temples like Virupaksha and Vittala,Pattabhirama Temple is a beautiful temple located near the ASI museum in Kamalapura.
Dedication to Lord Rama
Serving as a revered destination for devotees, the temple is dedicated to Lord Rama. Though two inscriptions of King Achyuta Raya are present, we get to know that the temple’s construction predates his regime.
Architecture
Featuring a three-tire vimana, antarala, maha-mandapa, and ardha-mandapa, the temple is situated in a vast rectangular enclosure. A covered Pradakshinapatha encloses the garbha-griha and the Antarala. The temple grounds, once paved with granite slabs, reflect the grandeur of its heyday.
Currently, the main temple lacks the idol, but there is a shrine dedicated to the goddess within the temple compound.
Maha mandapa are designed in a large and square shape with a finely crafted structure with tall, slender composite pillars. In the east of the temple, there is an Amman shrine that features a two-tier Vimana.
In the southeast of the temple, the marriage hall is boasted with pillars that are adorned with Yali images.
The marriage hall, located southeast of the compound, boasts pillars adorned with Yali images. While the main temple currently lacks an idol, a shrine dedicated to the goddess is within the temple compound. The temple grounds, once paved with granite slabs, reflect the grandeur of its heyday.
Fortified Beauty
Surrounded by four towers in each direction (east, west , north, and south), the temple’s architecture extends beyond the main shrine. The tower in the east direction is made of a brick superstructure and a lower portion of granite. The lower portion features terracotta images and the crescent boar-dragger emblem of the Vijaynagara kings. There was an east gopura in the east, but it’s now in a ruined state.
The Pattabhirama Temple, with its rich history and architectural grandeur, invites visitors to step into the bygone era of the Vijayanagara Empire. As the sun illuminates its intricate pillars and silent courtyards, the temple continues to echo the stories of devotion and craftsmanship from centuries past.
Timings: 6 a.m.–6 p.m.