Its difficult to explain the serenity and elegance of one more temple in India - easiest to say is as soon as you enter the Hazara Rama temple peace transcends - beyond it's aesthetical boundaries.
Built in the early 16th century by Krishnadevaraya, Hazara Rama temple is believed to be private temple for the royals with a direct route from the erstwhile palace now reduced to rubble and a few odd ruins. This is also the only temple discovered in the core of the royal residential zone.
What draws attention in the modest mahamandapa (some prefer to call it the rangamandapa) are the elegant columns in black stone locally known as kadapa - the carvings on the black columns gleam in the dim light as only few revered sun rays are architecturally allowed in the temple. One can easily revisit the many stories of Rama and Krishna through the intricate panels carved on these pillars.
The outer wall of the prakara at Hazara Rama Temple in Hampi is built of stone and is covered top to bottom with friezes with scenes from Krishna Leela and Ramayana right from Shravana story to Putrakameshi Yagna, King Dasaratha giving prasad to his 3 wives, Ahilya moksha, Rama breaking the shiv dhanush during Sita swayamvara, the fight between Vali & Sugriva, Mareecha the deer appearing in from of Sita, Hanuman wrapping his tail to form a seat taller than Ravana, Sita in Ashokavan, Hanuman meeting Sita in Ashokavana, and war between Rama and Ravana... Wondering if one would just breeze past these or spend some more time to re-live the stories.
Hazara Rama Temple is a part of the Hampi Group of Monuments and an UNESCO World Heritage Site. How to reach Hampi?