Malyavanta Raghunatha Swamy Temple - Ruins of Hampi - Attraction 6

One of the beautiful temples which is amazing yet not that famous is the Malyavanta Raghunatha Swamy temple at Hampi. This temple is at a distance of 3km from the main Hampi bazaar street on the way to Kamalapur. This temple is dedicated to Lord Rama and hence the name Malyavanta Raghunatha Swamy Temple.LegendLegend says that this is the place where Lord Rama and his brother Lakshmana had sought shelter during monsoon on his expedition to find his wife the Goddess Seeta. Once the monsoon was over, both the brothers along with their gang of Vanaras (monkeys) marched to Lanka to find the Goddess Seeta from this place.There are huge boulders besides the main temple and a passage is created in between them that leads us to the top. As you climb upwards, to the right is a temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman. Going further up to reach the hill top we would get to see a Shiva Linga and his vehicle Nandi. The temple has a lot of motifs being carved on the walls and is spread across a huge campus. The temple is built in the Vijayanagara style of architecture.The temple never closes and is open at tall times and there hymns of Lord Rama would be heard continuously from the temple premises. People from different parts of India come here to sing and praise the valour of Lord Rama.The roads to this temple is really narrow and is best suitable for trekking enthusiasts. A beautiful scenic view awaits everyone on the top of the cliff and is a perfect view point to catch the glimpse of the majestic sun setting in the west. With the breeze blowing violently, you would feel the rocky boulders speaking to you. The whole Hampi town can be captured in a panoramic view as you stand on the top of Sri Malyavanta Raghunatha Swamy Temple. As the sun sets leaving the sky coloured in the shades of red and orange with a foreground of the rocks in their muted tone is a breath-taking view.This temple is one of the less explored destinations at Hampi but a must visit when you plan your trip to this beautiful town of ruins.Things to rememberHow to reach: Bicycles and Two-wheelers.Photography and videography: Allowed.Entrance fee: NAOpening time: 24hours.Time required to cover: 90 minutes