Vijayanagara architecture

File:View of the Virupaksha temple gopura from Hemakuta hill 2.JPG

The Vijayanagara architecture Empire built all of their buildings, monuments, shrines and statues out of stone which were very intricately and elaborately carved with designs of gods and stories of famous heroes. All these were built in Dravidian style which was a common style of building then.

There are over 1,600 surviving monuments in the capital city Vijayanagara, covering 4,187.24 hectares (16 square miles) divided into three general zones:

1. a fortified urban core, which included a royal center,
2. a sacred center consisting of temples and shrines, and
3. the suburban settlements.

Vijayanagara Architecture Media

• Superstructures over shrines at Raghunatha temple in Hampi.JPG

  Typical dravidian style Shikhara (superstructure) over shrines at the Raghunatha temple in Hampi

• Frontal view of the Krishna temple in Hampi.JPG

  Typical dravidian shrine and mantapa of the Vijayanagara period at Balakrishna temple in Hampi

• Two Shiva temples on Hemakuta hill at Hampi.JPG

  Early 14th century Shiva temples on Hemakuta hill built during the rule of Harihara Raya I incorporates the stepped Kadamba style nagara shikhara (superstructure)

• Vidyashankara Temple at Shringeri.jpg

  The mid-14th century Vidyashankara temple at Sringeri, one of the earliest temples built by the kings of the empire

• Profile of shrine at Hazara Rama temple in Hampi.JPG

  Typical shrine at Hazare Rama temple in Hampi

• Entrance to mantapa (hall) in Someshvara Temple at Kolar.JPG

  A typical Vijayanagara style pillared maha mantapa (main hall) at Someshvara temple at Kolar

• Profile of main mantapa in the Vitthala temple complex in Hampi.JPG

  Pillared open mantapa incorporating Hoysala style "staggered square" layout at Vittala temple in Hampi

• Pillared large mantapa of Ananthasayana temple in Ananthasayanagudi.JPG

  Typical large open pillared hall at Ananthasayana temple in Ananthasayanagudi, Bellary district, Karnataka

• Horse pillars at entrance to water tank in Hampi.JPG

  Kudure gombe (horse doll) pillars in a mantapa at Hampi