Vijaya Vittala Temple at Hampi in Belleri district, Karnataka

Among Hampi's attractions, the Vittala Temple takes the prime place. The temple, built during the reign of King Devaraya II, has spectacular architecture, with its sprawling compound, boundary walls, gateway towers, halls and pavilions. There are many temples within the complex. The deity, Vittala, is a form of Lord Vishnu. The pavilions here stand as a testimony to the commingling of various cultures that passed through the area.

The impressive halls of the temple have slender pillars, when touched produce musical tones and so are called Sapta swara pillars. It is said that a player would play on these pillars to make a musical atmosphere to sync with the dancer's rhythms. One can also found two-dimensional and three-dimensional sculptures and murals using natural pigments and dyes.

Hampi was once the seat of the powerful Vijayanagara Kingdom and is one of the most magnificent historical sites in India. It is situated on the southern banks of Tungabhadra River at Hospet village in Belleri district, Karnataka state.