Hazara Rama Temple in Hampi is an important shrine in Hampi. This small but beautiful temple is located at the center of the royal area. The temple is dedicated to Lord Rama, a hindu deity. It was once the private temple of the kings and the royal family of Vijayanagara. The temple is famous for the lovely bas relics and panels depicting the story of the epic Ramayana.
History of Hazara Rama Temple, Hampi
Hazara Rama Temple was built in the early part of the 15th century by the then king of Vijayanagara, Devaraya II. It was originally built as a simple structure. It consisted of only a sanctum, a pillared hall and an ardha mantapa. Later the temple structure was renovated to add an open porch and beautiful pillars.
The Hazara Rama Temple is a unique temple in many aspects. The first thing that draws attention about the temple is its name. The term ‘Hazara Rama’ literally means a thousand Rama and refers to the multitude of relics depicting the reigning deity of the temple.
The walls of the temple carry the story of Ramayana carved on stone. The outer walls of the temple are decorated with bas-relics of Rama and Krishna.
The relics also portray processions of horses, elephants, attendants, soldiers and dancing women taking part in the Dasara festival rally at that time. The relics are among the most extensive ones to be found anywhere in India.
The beautiful structure of Hazara Rama Temple
The temple has a sprawling lawn on its northern side. There are two huge gateways that give access to the temple compound. The interior of the temple has ornately sculpted columns. An empty pedestal with three holes signifies that the temple once had idols of Rama, Lakshmana and Sita. There is a smaller shrine inside the temple complex with similar epic wall carvings.
The only addition is that there are depictions of Lord Vishnu also on the walls of this shrine. The temple stands as an example of the excellent craftsmanship of Vijayanagara’s sculptors.
Ref : https://www.karnataka.com/hampi/hazara-rama-temple/