Pattabhirama Temple

Pattabhirama Temple a bit off from the main tourist trail is notable for its size and completeness. Though not as much ornate, the Pattabhirama Temple is as large as the more popular Vittala Temple.

Apart from the principle shrine located at the center of the campus, a shrine dedicated to the goddess is located within the temple compound.

The hall in front of the main sanctum is a superb example of the Vijayanagara style composite pillar architecture. The inner ones are relatively simpler whereas the ones facing the courtyard are elaborate. The divine marriage hall is at the southeast of the compound. Here to the pillars are carved with some fantastic Yali images.

The whole temple campus was once paved with granite slabs, you can still spot the traces of it especially at the northeastern portion of the campus..

A tall tower at the east end of the compound wall opens to a wide chariot street. Further east of by the street is an elaborate temple tank. The street area is not much accessible and is now used by the local farmers. To see the pond you need to go a bit eastward by the main road.

The main tower mentioned above is mentioned is built with brick superstructure and granite lower portions. The terracotta images typically part of such towers is non-existent. However the details on the lower granite portion are intact. You can even spot the Crescent -Boar-Dragger emblem of the Vijayanagara kings near the archway of the tower.

Getting There

Pattabhirama Temple is located at Kamalapur at a distance of 6 km from the main heritage site of Hampi. Hampi is located around 52 km from Bellary and the transportation between these two cities can be available easily.

Bellary is well connected by road to different parts of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Goa. There are inter-city bus connection between major cities of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Goa. The intra-city transport network is serviced by Bhuvana Vijaya Nagara Sarige a division of NEKRTC (North East Karnataka Road Transport Corporation) city buses connecting important points in the city.

There are two railway stations serving Bellary, both built during British rule. The city station (Bellary Junction) and the Cantonment station (Cantonment). The city is served by the Hubli - Guntakal line and the extended Bellary–Rayadurgam - Chitradurga line and falls under the jurisdiction of South Western Railway.

Bellary Airport and Vidyanagar Airport are the nearest airports to Bellary, both has had no scheduled services operating. The nearest international airport is Kempegowda International Airport, located at Bangalore, 286 km away from Bellary.

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