Lepakshi is a small town in the Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh and is just a couple of hours away from Bengaluru.
Located at the edge of Lepakshi, as you enter the town is a statue of a large Nandi bull. It is said to be the largest single stone Nandi and is carved out of a reddish granite.
Less than a kilometre away is the famous Veerbhadra temple of Lepakshi. Situated on a hillock, this 16th century temple is built in the Vijayanagara style of architecture.
The temple is used for worship even today and the sanctum Santorum has numerous deities. No photography is allowed within.
The area outside this has a profusion of carved pillars and there are murals depicting mythology on the ceiling. The colours are vivid and of vegetable and mineral dyes and most of them are intact.
The Veerbhadra temple is famous for a hanging column and there is a clear gap between the floor and the base of the column.
The temple is built around a series of boulders that were on the hill and they are an integral part of the area for circumambulation.
There are various deities behind the sanctum Santorum.There is a large multi hooded coiled serpent which is carved out of a boulder and provides an umbrella over a ‘Linga’. Another corner has a large Ganesha carved out of a red granite boulder.
Most of the pillars are intact and have elaborate carvings and brackets.
There are various pillared corridors that make up the sides of the temple and the rooms alongside are used for storage.
You may view the pictures here at https://photos.app.goo.gl/C1cCDRCCPfA7MUjUA
After breaks at Bangalore and Chennai to spend time with family, we are off to Mahabalipuram, Pondicherry and other wonderful places.
Wide Angles 