The Archaeological Survey of India unearthed a Vijayanagara-era temple structure and associated sculptures near Hampi in Karnataka this month [1, 2, 3].
The discovery adds new data to the architectural record of the Vijayanagara Empire, one of the most significant powers in southern India's history. Uncovering these buried structures allows historians to better map the urban layout and religious centers of the ancient capital.
Excavators located the ruins near the famous Hazara Rama Temple [2, 3]. The find includes a temple roof and various sculptures that had been buried beneath the soil [1, 3]. This work is part of a broader ASI archaeological excavation program designed to document and preserve heritage structures [1, 2].
K. Ramakrishna Reddy, the Archaeological Superintendent of the ASI Hampi circle, oversaw the operation [1, 2]. The team focused on recovering artifacts that had been obscured by time and environmental layers.
"All recovered sculptures will be preserved," Reddy said [1].
The ASI continues to survey the region to identify other potential sites that may have been lost to the elements. The recovery of the roof structure provides specific insights into the construction techniques used during the Vijayanagara period, techniques that define the region's distinct artistic legacy.
“The Archaeological Survey of India unearthed a Vijayanagara-era temple structure and associated sculptures.”
The discovery of a temple structure near the Hazara Rama Temple suggests that the religious and civic core of Hampi may have been more extensive than previously mapped. By recovering and preserving these sculptures and structural elements, the ASI can reconstruct the socio-religious hierarchy of the Vijayanagara era and potentially identify previously unknown temple complexes in the Karnataka region.
