132[172] Vittala Temple

The temple stands in a large rectangular enclosure. The three lofty Vijayanagara gopurams on the east, north and south sides are now dilapidated. Of these the south 'gopuram' is the most ornate. Along the interior of the enclosing wall ran a pillared colonnade. The enclosed courtyard contains in the centre the god's sanctum with its axial 'mandapa' and around it the 'Amman' sanctum, the 'kalyana mandapa', an 'utsava mandapa', a hundred-pillared 'mandapa' and a stone 'ratha' (car). Originally there was a lofty 'kipa-stambha' (12.2 m high) in front of the east 'gopuram', but now it lies on the ground, broken in pieces.