Veerabhadra Temple, Lepakshi
Lepakshi, Lepakshi mandal, Sri Sathya Sai district · Lord Veerabhadra, a fierce form of Shiva
A Vijayanagara masterpiece on a tortoise-shaped hill, with painted ceilings, a pillar that hangs and a giant Nandi.
The Veerabhadra temple at Lepakshi stands on a low granite hill shaped like a tortoise, called Kurma Saila. It was built in the 16th century in the Vijayanagara style and is a centrally protected monument of national importance. It is famous for its ceiling paintings, for its carved pillars, for a pillar that does not fully touch the ground and for a huge Nandi (bull) a short distance away. The temple is open to all, with priests offering worship in the sanctum.
Timings
- Visiting hours: Listings differ: some say 6:00 AM – 6:00 PM, others 6:00 AM – 7:30 PM. Check at the entrance.
Darshan types and costs
- Darshan – Free; ticket for the monument may apply. One guide lists a ticket of ₹20 for Indians and ₹500 for foreigners, but others say entry is free. Check at the gate.
How to book darshan
Darshan is walk-in. There is no online booking for visiting. Pay any ticket at the gate only.
- Go to the temple. If there is a ticket counter at the gate, buy the ticket there only.
- Hire an authorised guide at the gate if you want the murals and pillars explained.
Booking safely
- Informal guides at heritage sites. Agree the fee first.
Pay only at the ticket counter if one is open, and keep the ticket.
Dress code
Modest clothes suitable for a temple. Shoes are left outside the temple halls.
Temple etiquette
- One guide says photography is prohibited inside the natya mandapa. Ask at the gate for the current rule.
- Do not touch the paintings or lean on the pillars. They are protected heritage.
- Do not light camphor or lamps near the murals.
Why it matters
The temple is dedicated to Veerabhadra, a fierce form of Shiva. Wikipedia notes that the Skanda Purana counts Lepakshi among the divyakshetras of Shiva.
Lepakshi is linked to the Ramayana. A local tradition says the bird Jatayu fell here after being wounded by Ravana, and the place name is explained as 'rise, bird' (Le pakshi). A footprint on the rock is said to be Sita's.
For art lovers, the temple is one of the best-preserved examples of Vijayanagara mural painting and sculpture.
Legends
Jatayu and the Ramayana
A local story says Jatayu fell here after his fight with Ravana, and Rama told him to rise, 'Le pakshi'. A footprint in the rock is said to be that of Sita, and a hidden spring is believed to fill it.
Virupanna and the king
Virupanna, who built the temple, is said to have been turned against by jealous courtiers before the king. The story goes that he blinded himself, and two long red stains on a rock face are shown as proof. This is a folk story; historians may differ.
Naga linga
A large multi-hooded serpent sheltering a linga is carved at the temple. A crack in it is said to come from a cook's evil eye.
History
c. 1530–1540: Built by Virupanna and Viranna
The brothers Virupanna and Viranna, courtiers in the reign of Achyuta Deva Raya of the Vijayanagara Empire, built the temple about 1530, though some sources give 1540. The temple has 21 inscriptions in Kannada and Sanskrit.
Later periods: Retouching of murals
Some mural panels were retouched in later times. Moss, cobwebs, insect nests and soot from camphor lamps have damaged others.
January 2024: Prime Minister's visit
The Prime Minister prayed at the temple on 16 January 2024 (Organiser).
July 2026: Sringeri Jagadguru visits
The Sringeri Jagadguru visited the temple during a tour and admired its architecture (Sringeri Math report).
Architecture
The temple has three main parts: an assembly hall (natya mandapa), an antechamber and the sanctum, inside two enclosure walls. Pillars are densely carved with forms of Shiva, musicians and dancers.
The unfinished kalyana mandapa in the open depicts the wedding of Shiva and Parvati, and is described as a poem in stone.
The ceiling paintings show scenes from the Ramayana, Mahabharata and the Puranas, the forms of Shiva, and the donors. The large Veerabhadra painting in front of the sanctum is described as the largest single-figure fresco in India or Asia, though sources vary in how they word this claim.
The 'hanging pillar' is a carved pillar whose base does not fully touch the floor. A giant monolithic Nandi lies about 200 m from the temple, sources giving its size as roughly 8 m (27 ft) long.
What to see
- Ceiling paintings: The most important surviving Vijayanagara murals. Look up in the natya mandapa and the antechamber.
- The hanging pillar: A pillar that does not fully rest on the ground. Do not push or test it yourself.
- Monolithic Nandi: One of the largest Nandi statues in India, a short drive or walk from the temple.
- Naga linga: A coiled serpent over a linga carved from a single rock.
How to cover the temple
The usual route is the Nandi first, then the temple: the open kalyana mandapa, the natya mandapa with its murals and the hanging pillar, then the antechamber, sanctum and the naga linga. Allow two to three hours.
- Giant Nandi: Visit the monolithic Nandi, about 200 m from the temple.
- Outer enclosure: Enter through the outer wall. The naga linga is carved on a rock near the kitchen side.
- Kalyana mandapa and natya mandapa: See the unfinished wedding hall and the dance hall with painted ceilings and the hanging pillar.
- Antechamber and sanctum: Look at the paintings of the forms of Shiva in the antechamber and offer worship to Veerabhadra.
- Sita's footprint: A footprint in the rock is shown as Sita's.
Customs and traditions
The hanging pillar
A pillar whose base does not fully touch the floor.
One account says a British engineer tried to move it and shifted it from its original position.
Do not push or lean on the pillar.
For elders and differently-abled visitors
Access: Easy. The temple is on a low hill with a short walk, and crowds are small except at weekends. Stone floors get very hot in the afternoon, so go in the morning with elders.
Waiting time
approx. none to short on weekdays.
Weekends and holidays.
Best time to visit
October to February is cool. The stone floors get hot by midday in summer.
Festivals
Maha Shivaratri (February–March)
Special worship at the Shiva shrines. Check local announcements.
How to reach Veerabhadra Temple, Lepakshi
- By air: Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport is the nearest large airport.
- By rail: Hindupur is the railhead, about 10 km away (Sanskriti magazine).
- By road: Lepakshi is about 110–140 km from Bengaluru (sources differ). Take the NH44 route towards Hindupur and turn off to Lepakshi.
Road safety
An easy highway drive from Bengaluru on NH44 towards Hindupur and a short turn-off to Lepakshi. There is no ghat road. The main practical problems are the heat in summer and heavy highway traffic around Bengaluru.
A town road to Temple Road with parking near the entrance. The temple is on a low hill and the walk is short.
Where to stay
Lodging in Lepakshi is limited. Hindupur has more hotels. Puttaparthi is another base.
Suggested plan
Half-day trip from Bengaluru
- Leave early. Reach before 9:00 AM.
- See the Nandi first, then the temple murals and the hanging pillar.
- Return by afternoon.
Tips
- Look up in the natya mandapa for the best murals.
- Carry water. There is little shade in the open mandapa.
- Combine the visit with Hindupur or Puttaparthi.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lepakshi in Karnataka?
No. It is in Andhra Pradesh, now in Sri Sathya Sai district, near the Karnataka border.
Who protects the temple?
It is a centrally protected monument, so the Archaeological Survey of India looks after it.
Temples nearby
- Sri Varasiddhi Vinayaka Swamy Temple – Kanipakam, about 11 km from Chittoor, Chittoor district (about 218 km by road)
- Sri Padmavathi Ammavari Temple – Tiruchanur (Tiruchanoor), about 5 km from Tirupati, Tirupati district (about 234 km by road)
- Sri Govindaraja Swamy Temple – Central Tirupati, Tirupati district (about 234 km by road)
- Ahobilam Nava Narasimha Kshetram – Ahobilam, Allagadda mandal, Nandyal district (Nallamala forest, Eastern Ghats) (about 247 km by road)
- Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple – Tirumala, Tirupati district (about 250 km by road)
- Sri Chamundeshwari Temple – Chamundi Hills, Mysuru, Mysuru district (about 259 km by road)
More Shiva temples
- Sri Bhramaramba Mallikarjuna Swamy Varla Devasthanam – Srisailam, Nandyal district
- Ramappa (Rudreswara) Temple, Palampet – Palampet, Venkatapur mandal, Mulugu district
- Arulmigu Peruvudaiyar (Brihadeeswarar) Temple – Thanjavur, Thanjavur district
- Arulmigu Ramanathaswamy Temple – Rameswaram island, Ramanathapuram district
- Sri Virupaksha Temple, Hampi – Hampi Bazaar, Hampi, Vijayanagara district (formerly Ballari)
- Arulmigu Ekambareswarar Temple (Ekambaranathar Temple) – Periya Kanchipuram, Kanchipuram district
No official website: No separate temple website exists that we could confirm; the monument is protected by the Archaeological Survey of India.
Sources
- Wikipedia – Veerabhadra Temple, Lepakshi
- Sanskriti Magazine – The hanging pillar wonders of Lepakshi
- Sringeri Math – Jagadguru visits the Veerabhadra Swami temple at Lepakshi
- Organiser – PM Modi offers prayers at Veerabhadra Mandir, Lepakshi
Last checked: 2026-10. Timings and fees change – confirm with the temple before you travel.