Hazara Rama Temple, Hampi

The Hazara Rama Temple was the private temple of Hampi's kings and carries some of the city's best narrative carving. Entry is listed as free.

The Hazara Rama (Hazararama or Hazara Ramachandra) Temple stands at the centre of Hampi's royal area. Karnataka Tourism calls it a small but beautiful place of worship dedicated to Rama, built in the early 15th century by Devaraya II and used as the private temple of the Vijayanagara rulers. It originally had a sanctum, a pillared hall and an ardha mandapa, with an open porch added later.

Its main draw is the stone carving: the Ramayana is narrated in bands of relief, and the outer walls carry bas-reliefs of Rama and Krishna and processions from the Dasara festival, with elephants, horses and soldiers in parallel bands. The Archaeological Survey of India lists Hazara Ramachandra among the notable temples of the city. The carved black stone pillars of the hall are also worth a look.

Karnataka Tourism lists the temple as open 6:00 am to 6:00 pm with no entry fee, suggests about an hour and the November to February season, and warns that monkeys are abundant around the site. The temple lies between the Mahanavami Dibba and the Zenana Enclosure, so it fits easily into a walk through the royal centre; carry water, as there is little shade.