Kadalekalu Ganesha
A nearly 4.5 m Ganesha carved in situ on Hemakuta Hill, named for his 'Bengal-gram' shaped belly.
Open
6:00 am – 6:00 pm
Entry
Free entry
Best time to go
Evening
Time to spend here
About 25 minutes
Crowds
Can get busy
On the way up Hemakuta Hill; the pillared hall is a lovely spot at sunset.
Listen to the story
About this place
On the eastern slope of Hemakuta Hill sits the Kadalekalu Ganesha, a nearly 4.5-metre image of the elephant-headed god carved in situ from a single boulder. 'Kadalekalu' means Bengal gram (chana), a nod to the shape of Ganesha's rounded belly. The open pillared hall built in front, with tall slender columns of granite, frames sweeping views over Hampi Bazaar and Matanga Hill. Behind the statue the sculptor left the figure of Parvati, imagined supporting her son, to the visitor's own eye. It is an easy, rewarding stop on the walk up Hemakuta.
Where it is
Close by
Photo credits
- Kadalekalu Ganesha: Kadalekalu Ganesha Temple on Hemakunta hill · iMahesh · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Kadalekalu Ganesha: 15th century Kadalekalu Ganesha ASI information plaque, Hampi Hindu monuments Karnataka · Ms Sarah Welch · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Kadalekalu Ganesha: 15th century Kadalekalu Ganesha Temple, Hampi Hindu monuments Karnataka · Ms Sarah Welch · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Kadalekalu Ganesha: A dancer relief at the Kadalekalu Ganesha temple, Hampi Hindu monuments Karnataka · Ms Sarah Welch · CC BY-SA 4.0
