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 namePhotoLocationDistrictYearNotes
SomeshwaraKolar cityKolarEarly 14th centuryAccording to the Archaeological Survey of India the temple is assignable to the early Vijayanagara period
VidyashankaraSringeriChikkamagaluru16th centuryAccording to art historian George Michell, the unusual stellate appearance of the temple is due to the influence of Hoysala architecture.
ShivaHemakuta hill, HampiBallariEarly 14th centuryHemakuta group of temples, UNESCO World heritage site
ShivaHemakuta hill, HampiBallari14th centuryHemakuta group of temples, UNESCO World heritage site
ShivaHemakuta hill, HampiBallari14th centuryHemakuta group of temples
ShivaHemakuta hill, HampiBallari14th centuryHemakuta group of temples, UNESCO World heritage site
ShivaHemakuta hill, HampiBallari14th centuryHemakuta group of temples
Ganagitti HampiBallaric.1385An 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 BasadiMudabidriUdupic.1429–1430Known locally as the 1000-pillared temple
NarayanaMelkoteMandyac.1458Also known as Cheluva Narayana temple, it was built by the local Vijayanagara chieftain
NarasimhaswamyMelkoteMandyac.15th centuryAccording to historian George Michell, the massive gateway on the hilltop is unfinished.
VirupakshaHampiBallari14th-16th centuriesUNESCO World heritage site
Temple tank HampiBallari16th centuryStepped temple tank in Hoysala style, UNESCO World heritage site
Hazara RamaHampiBallaric.1406-1542UNESCO World heritage site
ChandikeshwaraHampiBallaric.1545UNESCO World heritage site
Uddhana VirabhadraHampiBallaric.1545UNESCO World heritage site
PattabhiramaHampiBallaric.1529-1546UNESCO World heritage site
Alvar groupHampiBallaric.1556Five temples were built for the Vaishnava saints Tirumangai, Mudal, Nammalvar, Tirumalishai & Ramanuja; UNESCO World heritage site
Kallina RathaHampiBallaric.1529-1546UNESCO World heritage site
AchyutarayaHampiBallaric.1529-1546UNESCO World heritage site
Sasivekalu GaneshaHampiBallari15th centuryUNESCO World heritage site
Kadalekalu GaneshaHampiBallari15th centuryUNESCO World heritage site
Prasanna VirupakshaHampiBallaric.1509UNESCO World heritage site
Nandi monolithHampiBallari15th centuryUNESCO World heritage site
Ugra NarasimhaHampiBallari15th centuryUNESCO World heritage site
Badavi lingaHampiBallari15th centuryUNESCO World heritage site
MallikarjunaHospetBallari1406–1422Located in Mallapanagudi, close to Hospet
VishnuHampiBallari16th centuryUNESCO World heritage site
ChandrashekaraHampiBallaric.1406-1446UNESCO World heritage site
BalakrishnaHampiBallaric.1509-1529UNESCO World heritage site
RaghunathaHampiBallaric.1529-1542UNESCO World heritage site
VitthalaHampiBallaric.1426-1542UNESCO World heritage site
VirupakshaVirupakshiKolar15th century
VijayendraBethamangalaKolar15th century
Chaturmukha KarkalaUttara Kannadac.1586-1587Literally means "four faced" temple.
Bahubali monolith KarkalaUttara Kannadac.1431-1432The monolith of Bahubali here stands twelve and half meters tall.
Parshwanatha Basadi GerusoppaUttara Kannada1581The Basadi is also called Ratnatraya Badasi and was built by Rangapparajodeya. It has shrines for Neminatha, Parsvanatha and Vardhamana.
Shantappa Naika TirumalaBhatkalUttara Kannada1555Built by Shantappa Nayaka
VirupakshaGokarnaUttara Kannada1570Built by Queen Virambika
Bala Kini RaghunathaBhatkalUttara Kannada1590Built by Bala Kini
Khetapai NarayanBhatkalUttara Kannada1540Built by local chief Ketapayya
Bahubali monolith VenurUttara Kannadac.1606The monolith was built by the local Ajila Chiefs.
GangadhareshvaraShivagangeBangalore ruralc.1600Shivagange was the principal seat of the Gowda rulers, the founders of Bangalore. Portraits of Kempe Gowda I and his two brothers are installed in the rock cut chamber of the temple.
Gavi GangadhareshvaraBangaloreBangalorec.1600The cave temple was built by Kempe Gowda I in the 16th century.
Kollur MookambikaKollurUdupic.1616Built by Venkatappa Nayaka of the Nayaka Dynasty of Keladi
ChandranathaBhatkalUttara Kannadac.1484The temples was built by Hadavalli prince Salvendra
AryadurgaAnkolaUttara Kannada1505
Partakali JivottamGokarnaUttara Kannada1560
Mahalasa NarayanKumtaUttara Kannada1560
RameshwaraKeladiShimogaEarly 16th centuryThe Rameshvara shrine was built by Chudappa Nayaka, the founder of the dynasty, and the adjoining Veerabhadra shrine was built by his successor Sadashiva Nayaka.
AghoreshwaraIkkeriShimogaLate 16th centuryThe Aghoreshwara shrine was built by Dodda Sankanna Nayaka who moved his capital from Keladi to Ikkeri.
Mahaganapati MahamayaShiraliUttara Kannada1560
IshwaraBaindurUdupi16th century
BalaramaMalpeDakshina Kannada16th century
IndraniManipalDakshina Kannada16th century
Bhoga NandishwaraNandiChikkaballapura15th centuryA pavilion with elegant pillars between the two major shrines, a navaranga mantapa with Yali pillars and a large stepped temple tank were added in this period.
KanakachalapathiKanakagiriKoppalc.1509–1529
AnanthasayanaAnanthasayanagudiBallaric.1524
MahaganapatiKurudumaleKolar16th century
Teru MalleshwaraHiriyurChitradurgac.1466
Nandi BengaluruBangalore Urbanc.1509–1529
SomeshwaraBengaluruBangalore Urban16th centuryOne 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.
Gavi Gangadhareshwara TempleBengaluruBangalore Urban16th centuryCave temple and one of the oldest temples in Bangalore, dates from the late Vijayanagara Empire period, built by Kempe Gowda I.
Gangadhareshwara Temple, ShivagangeShivagangeBangalore Rural16th centuryCave temple, dates from the late Vijayanagara Empire period, built by Kempe Gowda I.
LakshmikanthaswamyTumkurTumkurc.1560
Gopala KrishnaswamiThimmalapuraBallaric.1539
ShivaThimmalapuraBallaric.1539
RanganathaRangasthalaChikkaballapurac.1600
GaurishvaraYelandurChamarajanagarc.1500The temple was constructed by a local chief Singedepa Devabhupala of the Hadinadu chiefdom, a feudatory of the 16th century Vijayanagara Empire
JambunatheshwaraHospetBallaric.1500
VijayanarayanaGundlupetChamarajanagar15th century
RanganathaMagadiRamanagarac.1524The gopura were built by the Vijayanagar emperor Krishnadevaraya in the 16th century and was later renovated by King Jayachamaraja Wodeyar of the Mysore Kingdom.
SomeshwaraMagadiRamanagarac.1569Built by Kempe Gowda I, the founder of Bangalore
Gunja NarasimhaswamyTirumakudal NarasipurMysore16th centuryThe temple was under the patronage of the local governor of Mysore, during the Vijayanagara rule over South India.