Vitthala Temple, Hampi

Vitthala Temple, also called Vijaya Vitthala, stands near the Tungabhadra River in Hampi and is dedicated to Vitthala, a form of Vishnu. Begun in the 15th century and enlarged by later Vijayanagara kings, it is one of the best-known monuments of the UNESCO-listed site.

In the courtyard stands the Stone Chariot, a Garuda shrine shaped like a temple car on huge wheels, with two elephants in front. It is said to have been inspired by the Sun Temple at Konark and is pictured on the 50-rupee note. Though damaged as the empire declined, it keeps its carved legends and battles. The halls hold 56 musical pillars, each main column ringed by seven slim shafts that give different notes when tapped, hence the name SaReGaMa pillars, after the first notes of the Indian scale.