Underground Shiva Temple - Hampi - Karnataka - India

Underground Shiva Temple a famous place in Hampi.

Under ground Shiva Temple is also known as Prasanna Virupaksha Mandir. This temple is well known by its name itself, every tourist do visit this temple without fail. The name itself marks a question mark in mind. How come a temple in underground so did i thought. Our this trip was held for 2 days and everyday we got up early to cover maximum place, however we couldn't cover all of it.

Underground Shiva Temple a famous place in Hampi

We visit Hampi in the time of summer however there are very less tourist at this time as its too hot to step out room. Still we did so and enjoyed a lot it was unique experience to do it in summer, as most of the people do visit in winter.
Underground Shiva Temple was quite far from our room still it was worth visiting it, I was curious to know about this place. After having breakfast, lots and lots of water we headed towards Underground Shiva Temple for travelling 2 wheeler are best option and fun riding we hired bicycle to travel from one place to another for 2 days it coast around Rs.100 per day per bicycle. In summer season body gets exhausted so need to carry hat, water.
By noon reached Underground Shiva Temple here is a entry gate board image, the place is well maintained, there is a drinking water too outside the temple. When we entered inside the place was surrounded by full of grass, flowers and entire boundary was covered by trees so if someone is tied can rest for a while.
The top of this temple is at the ground level and the rest of the temple is below the ground level. In parts the temple is submerged during the rainy season. As we visited in summer entire place was dry however down deep center of temple was little and too dark so i didn't dare to put my feet inside. Inside temple on ride hand side you will see Nandi statue, it was too dark so i couldn't enter in middle of temple still i walk around rest of the place. This Underground Shiva temple has a flat roofed main tower. There are steps leading from the main tower to the main pillared hall of the temple.

The temple have moderately big gopuram and has many pillars that will mostly under water. Shiv Linga is inside water so you can not go till the Shivling, marvelous example of ancient Indian architecture and engineering. The stone pillars are plain and devoid of any ornamental carvings. But it is a thrill to wade through knee deep water and reach the inner.
The campus of the temple is very beautiful, it has lots of greenery around. It’s built in Vijayanagara style of architecture.

Does Underground temple have pooja/Aradhana?
Here the Lord Shiva statue is situated below ground level and during rainy days the water fills the partial temple and makes difficult to reach inside also the rest of the time still main temple is filled with water. It is not an active temple but it remains as an attraction point or a tourist place to visit in Hampi.


Timing: All days 6:00am to 6:00pm
Entry Fee: No fee
Photography: Allowed
Best time to visit: November to February (winter season)

Address: Hampi, Karnataka, Pincode-583239, India.