List of Vijayanagara era temples in Karnataka

The List of Vijayanagara era temples in Karnataka includes notable and historically important Hindu and Jain temples and monoliths that were built or received significant patronage by the kings and vassals of the Vijayanagara Empire during the period 1336-1646 AD. This period includes the rule of the four dynasties: the Sangama, the Saluva, the Tuluva, and the Aravidu dynasties.

Common name Photo Location District Year Notes
Someshwara[1]
Kolar city Kolar Early 14th century According to the Archaeological Survey of India the temple is assignable to the early Vijayanagara period
Vidyashankara[2][3][4]
Sringeri Chikkamagaluru 16th century According to art historian George Michell, the unusual stellate appearance of the temple is due to the influence of Hoysala architecture.
Shiva[5][6]
Hemakuta hill, Hampi Ballari Early 14th century Hemakuta group of temples, UNESCO World Heritage Site
Shiva[5][6]
Hemakuta hill, Hampi Ballari 14th century Hemakuta group of temples, UNESCO World Heritage Site
Shiva[5][6]
Hemakuta hill, Hampi Ballari 14th century Hemakuta group of temples
Shiva[5][6]
Hemakuta hill, Hampi Ballari 14th century Hemakuta group of temples, UNESCO World Heritage Site
Shiva[5][6]
Hemakuta hill, Hampi Ballari 14th century Hemakuta group of temples
Ganagitti (Jain)[7][8]
Hampi Ballari c.1385 An inscription on the site states that the temple was built in A.D. 1385 by lruga, in the reign of King Harihara II, UNESCO World Heritage Site
Saavira Kambada Basadi[9][10]
Mudabidri Udupi c.1429–1430 Known locally as the 1000-pillared temple
Cheluvanarayana Swamy[11]
Melkote Mandya c.1458 Also known as Cheluva Narayana temple, it was built by the local Vijayanagara chieftain
Narasimhaswamy[11]
Melkote Mandya c.15th century According to historian George Michell, the massive gateway on the hilltop (gopura) is unfinished.
Virupaksha[12][13][14]
Hampi Ballari 14th-16th centuries UNESCO World Heritage Site
Temple tank (Pushkarni)[15][16]
Hampi Ballari 16th century Stepped temple tank in Hoysala style, UNESCO World Heritage Site
Hazara Rama[12][13]
Hampi Ballari c.1406-1542 UNESCO World heritage site
Chandikeshwara[12][17]
Hampi Ballari c.1545 UNESCO World Heritage Site
Uddhana Virabhadra[17][18]
Hampi Ballari c.1545 UNESCO World Heritage Site
Pattabhirama[12][19]
Hampi Ballari c.1529-1546 UNESCO World Heritage Site
Alvar group[20] Hampi Ballari c.1556 Five temples were built for the Vaishnava saints Tirumangai, Mudal, Nammalvar, Tirumalishai & Ramanuja; UNESCO World Heritage Site
Kallina Ratha[12][13]
Hampi Ballari c.1529-1546 UNESCO World Heritage Site
Achyutaraya[12][21]
Hampi Ballari c.1529-1546 UNESCO World Heritage Site
Sasivekalu Ganesha[12][22]
Hampi Ballari 15th century UNESCO World Heritage Site
Kadalekalu Ganesha[12][13][22]
Hampi Ballari 15th century UNESCO World Heritage Site
Prasanna Virupaksha[12][23]
Hampi Ballari c.1509 UNESCO World Heritage Site
Nandi monolith[12][24]
Hampi Ballari 15th century UNESCO World Heritage Site
Ugra Narasimha[12][13]
Hampi Ballari 15th century UNESCO World Heritage Site
Badavi linga[25]
Hampi Ballari 15th century UNESCO World Heritage Site
Mallikarjuna[26]
Hospet Ballari 1406–1422 Located in Mallapanagudi, close to Hospet
Vishnu[12]
Hampi Ballari 16th century UNESCO World Heritage Site
Chandrashekara[12][27]
Hampi Ballari c.1406-1446 UNESCO World Heritage Site
Balakrishna[12][13][28]
Hampi Ballari c.1509-1529 UNESCO World Heritage Site
Raghunatha[12][29]
Hampi Ballari c.1529-1542 UNESCO World Heritage Site
Vitthala[12][13]
Hampi Ballari c.1426-1542 UNESCO World Heritage Site
Virupaksha[30]
Virupakshi Kolar 15th century
Vijayendra
Bethamangala Kolar 15th century
Chaturmukha (Jain)[31][32]
Karkala Uttara Kannada c.1586-1587 Literally means "four faced" temple.
Bahubali monolith (Jain)[31][32]
Karkala Uttara Kannada c.1431-1432 The monolith of Bahubali here stands twelve and half meters tall.
Parshwanatha Basadi (Jain)[32][33]
Gerusoppa Uttara Kannada 1581 The Basadi is also called Ratnatraya Badasi and was built by Rangapparajodeya. It has shrines for Neminatha, Parsvanatha and Vardhamana.
Shantappa Naika Tirumala[34][35] Bhatkal Uttara Kannada 1555 Built by Shantappa Nayaka
Virupaksha[34][36] Gokarna Uttara Kannada 1570 Built by Queen Virambika
Bala Kini Raghunatha[34][37] Bhatkal Uttara Kannada 1590 Built by Bala Kini
Khetapai Narayan[38][39] Bhatkal Uttara Kannada 1540 Built by local chief Ketapayya
Bahubali monolith (Jain)[40]
Venur Uttara Kannada c.1606 The monolith was built by the local Ajila Chiefs.
Gangadhareshvara[41][42]
Shivagange Bangalore rural c.1600 Shivagange was the principal seat of the Gowda rulers, the founders of Bangalore. Portraits of Kempe Gowda I (dated c.1608) and his two brothers are installed in the rock cut chamber of the temple.
Gavi Gangadhareshvara[43]
Bangalore Bangalore c.1600 The cave temple was built by Kempe Gowda I in the 16th century.
Kollur Mookambika[44]
Kollur Udupi c.1616 Built by Venkatappa Nayaka of the Nayaka Dynasty of Keladi
Chandranatha(Jain)[32][45] Bhatkal Uttara Kannada c.1484 The temples was built by Hadavalli prince Salvendra
Aryadurga[34] Ankola Uttara Kannada 1505
Partakali Jivottam[34] Gokarna Uttara Kannada 1560
Mahalasa Narayan[34] Kumta Uttara Kannada 1560
Rameshwara[46][47]
Keladi Shimoga Early 16th century The Rameshvara shrine was built by Chudappa Nayaka (c.1499–1530), the founder of the dynasty, and the adjoining Veerabhadra shrine was built by his successor Sadashiva Nayaka (r.1530–1566).
Aghoreshwara[48][49]
Ikkeri Shimoga Late 16th century The Aghoreshwara shrine was built by Dodda Sankanna Nayaka (or Sankanna I, r.1566–1570) who moved his capital from Keladi to Ikkeri.
Mahaganapati Mahamaya[34] Shirali Uttara Kannada 1560
Ishwara[34] Baindur Udupi 16th century
Balarama[34] Malpe Dakshina Kannada 16th century
Indrani[34] Manipal Dakshina Kannada 16th century
Bhoga Nandishwara[1][50]
Nandi Chikkaballapura 15th century A pavilion with elegant pillars between the two major shrines, a navaranga mantapa (pavilion) with Yali pillars and a large stepped temple tank (kalyani or pushkarni) were added in this period.
Kanakachalapathi[51][52]
Kanakagiri Koppal c.1509–1529
Ananthasayana[53]
Ananthasayanagudi Ballari c.1524
Mahaganapati[54] Kurudumale Kolar 16th century
Teru Malleshwara[55]
Hiriyur Chitradurga c.1466
Nandi (Bull)[56][57]
Bengaluru Bangalore Urban c.1509–1529
Someshwara[58][59]
Bengaluru Bangalore Urban 16th century One of the oldest temples in Bangalore, major additions or modifications to which were made during the late Vijayanagara Empire period under the rule of Kempe Gowda I (Hiriya Kempe Gowda).
Gavi Gangadhareshwara Temple[59]
Bengaluru Bangalore Urban 16th century Cave temple and one of the oldest temples in Bangalore, dates from the late Vijayanagara Empire period, built by Kempe Gowda I (Hiriya Kempe Gowda).
Gangadhareshwara Temple, Shivagange[59]
Shivagange Bangalore Rural 16th century Cave temple, dates from the late Vijayanagara Empire period, built by Kempe Gowda I (Hiriya Kempe Gowda).
Lakshmikanthaswamy[60] Tumkur Tumkur c.1560
Gopala Krishnaswami[61]
Thimmalapura Ballari c.1539
Shiva[61]
Thimmalapura Ballari c.1539
Ranganatha[62]
Rangasthala Chikkaballapura c.1600
Gaurishvara[63]
Yelandur Chamarajanagar c.1500 The temple was constructed by a local chief Singedepa Devabhupala of the Hadinadu chiefdom, a feudatory of the 16th century Vijayanagara Empire
Jambunatheshwara [64]
Hospet Ballari c.1500
Vijayanarayana[63][65]
Gundlupet Chamarajanagar 15th century
Ranganatha[66]
Magadi Ramanagara c.1524 The gopura (tower) were built by the Vijayanagar emperor Krishnadevaraya in the 16th century and was later renovated by King Jayachamaraja Wodeyar of the Mysore Kingdom.
Someshwara[67][68]
Magadi Ramanagara c.1569 Built by Kempe Gowda I, the founder of Bangalore
Gunja Narasimhaswamy[69]
Tirumakudal Narasipur Mysore 16th century The temple was under the patronage of the local governor of Mysore, during the Vijayanagara rule over South India.
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