Of the more than 500 temples in the area, one of the largest and most intricate is the Achyuta Raya Temple, built in 1534 and dedicated to a form of the god Vishnu. The temple was a masterpiece, representing one of the purest expressions of the Vijayanagar style before the fall of the kingdom. Its main shrine is covered with a series of striking reliefs and carvings. The grand and romantic ruins, at the side of Matanga Hill, somehow remain off the beaten path and feel hidden away. Visitors who enter one of the gates, often in solitude apart from a lone guard, must feel like they’re entering a world apart. It’s easy to imagine the former splendour of the temple at such a place.


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