Sasivekalu and Kadalekalu Ganesha Temple Hampi

07/12/2025 Indrani Ghose
39 Comments
India, Travel

Some statues impress you; Sasivekalu Ganesha disarms you—with charm carved straight from stone. In the southern foot of Hemakuta Hills of Hampi there are 2 temples dedicated to the Elephant headed God – Ganesha. Sasivekalu Temple and Kadaleku Temple – They have different manifestations of Lord Ganesha.

Sasivekalu Ganesha Temple in Hampi

Sasivekalu Temple dates back to 15th century. A very simple open shrine, it has just the roof supported by several square pillars. The idol is a massive 8 feet tall monolithic image of Lord Ganesha.

Why is it called Sasivekalu Ganesha

The belly here has a near spherical shape resembling the seed of mustard, hence the name.

Lord Ganesha has 4 arms, each holding a broken elephant tusk, a gada (mace), a noose and a modak. There is a snake carved around the belly.

Sasivekalu Ganesha idol

Sasivekalu Ganesha idol

Highlights of Sasivekalu Ganesha Temple, Hampi

  • Sasivekalu Ganesha is a monolithic Ganesha statue in Hampi, named because Ganesha’s rounded belly resembles a sasivekalu (mustard seed) in Kannada.
  • The statue is east-facing and located on the south-eastern slope of Hemakuta Hill, one of Hampi’s prime heritage zones.
  • It represents the Vijayanagara architectural style, with the idol carved from a single block of stone.
  • The monolith stands 2.4 metres (8 ft) tall and is housed inside a 16-pillared mantapa.
  • The mantapa features granite pedestals, columns, beams, and roof slabs, with a brick-and-mortar crown in the Indo-Saracenic style.
  • The supporting pillars are plain and uncarved, highlighting the simplicity and strength of the structure.

This is one of Hampi’s most photographed monuments for its architectural charm, historical value, and scenic hilltop setting.

Sasivekalu Ganesha: Fact File

Location: South-eastern slope of Hemakuta Hill, Hampi, Karnataka
Deity: Lord Ganesha (Monolithic statue)
Height of Statue: Approx. 2.4 metres (8 feet)
Year of Construction: 1506 AD, built in memory of King Narasimha II (ruled 1491–1505 CE)
Builder / Dynasty: Vijayanagara Empire
Entry Fee: Free
Timings: Open all day (best visited early morning or late afternoon)

Nearby Attractions:

  • Kadalekalu Ganesha (described below)
  • Hemakuta Hill temples
  • Virupaksha Temple
  • Hampi Bazaar

Sasivekalu Ganesha Temple

My Experience of Seeing the Sasivekalu Ganesha

When I first stepped into the Mantapa, Sasivekalu Ganesha’s chubby, gentle form arrested my attention. Standing nearly eight feet tall, he looks both majestic and endearing at the same time. His crown sits lightly on his head, his simple ornaments adding to the quiet dignity of the sculpture.

As I walked up the steps, I could see the familiar symbols in his hands—the modak, the broken tusk, the goad, and the noose—each detail carved with remarkable precision considering this entire idol was shaped from a single rock.

I was curious about the tightly coiled serpent around his waist. The guide beside me shared the popular legend: Ganesha once ate so much that his belly was about to burst, and in a moment of quick thinking, he tied a serpent around himself to hold everything in place.

Looking at the sculpture, that story suddenly felt alive.

Lord Ganesha pot belly resembling mustard seed

Not an Active Temple

Sasivekalu Ganesha sits quietly on his pedestal, sheltered by a simple 16-pillared Mantapa. An inscription nearby mentions that this shrine was built in 1506 AD in memory of the Vijayanagara king Narasimha II.

Standing there, surrounded by history, I felt a little pang of sadness too—no rituals or poojas are performed here anymore, the damages on the idol making it unfit for ceremonial worship. Yet, despite that, the place holds a gentle sacredness, as if Ganesha continues to watch over the hill in silence.

Kadalekalu Ganesha Temple Hampi

Very close to Sasivekalu Temple is the Kadalekalu Temple. It is on the north-eastern slope of Hemakuta Hill. This shrine is an enclosed one with more beautifully sculpted pillars.

Highlights of Kadalekalu Ganesha Temple, Hampi

  • Iconic Monolithic Statue: Home to one of the largest monolithic Ganesha idols in Hampi, standing nearly 4.6 metres (15 feet) tall, carved from a single granite boulder.
  • Name Derived from “Bengal Gram”: The temple gets its name Kadalekalu (Kannada for Bengal gram) because the deity’s rounded belly resembles a gram seed.
  • Impressive Dravidian Mantapa: The pillared hall features slender lathe-turned columns, characteristic of the Vijayanagara architectural style, with intricate floral and mythological carvings.
  • Panoramic Hilltop Location: Perched on the slopes of Hemakuta Hill, the temple offers sweeping views of Hampi’s boulder-strewn landscape and the Virupaksha Temple complex.
  • Religious Significance: The statue represents Ganesha in a meditative seated posture, making it a key stop for pilgrims exploring Hampi’s sacred circuit.
  • Historic Legacy: Built during the Vijayanagara era, the complex reflects the empire’s artistic finesse and devotion, with inscriptions hinting at royal patronage.
  • Photographer’s Favourite: The tall interior hall, soft natural lighting, and the monumental scale of the idol make it a perfect spot for dramatic wide-angle shots.
  • Easy Accessibility: Located close to the Hampi Bazaar and Virupaksha Temple, it’s one of the most convenient sites to include in a Hampi walking itinerary.

Kadalekalu Ganesha – Fact File

Location: Eastern slope of Hemakuta Hill, Hampi, Karnataka
Monument Type: Monolithic Ganesha statue inside a stone Mantapa
Height of the Idol: ~4.6 meters (15 feet)
Material: Carved from a single boulder
Name Origin: “Kadalekalu” in Kannada means Bengal gram; the idol’s belly resembles the shape of a Bengal gram seed
Period of Construction: Vijayanagara Empire, 1500 AD
Architectural Style: Vijayanagara with pillared hall (Mantapa)
Orientation: Faces east
Worship Status: The idol is not actively worshipped today
Best Time to Visit: Golden hour (early morning or late evening) for dramatic shadows on the stone surface
Entry Fee: Free
Timings: Open all day (best visited early morning or late afternoon)

It was quite dark inside the shrine so I had to use flash for the picture.

Kadalekalu Ganesha Temple Hampi

Kadalekalu Ganesha Monolithic statue

My Experience at Kadalekalu Ganesha Temple

By the time I reached the steps of Kadalekalu Ganesha, evening had already slipped quietly into night. The sky was a deep indigo, the boulders around Hemakuta Hill turning into soft silhouettes. I had just come from Sasivekalu Ganesha—his chubby form glowing warmly in the last traces of daylight—and I thought I knew what to expect from another monolithic Ganesha. I was wrong.

Inside the mantapa, it was almost pitch dark. Only the tall pillars outside caught the sunlight and reflected definite shapes. I switched on my flashlight, a single beam slicing through the darkness, and walked slowly toward the idol.

And then he emerged.

Kadalekalu Ganesha looked larger, calmer, and far more imposing in the dim light. The beam from my torch skimmed across his massive belly—the “gram-sized” curve that gives him his name—then across his trunk and broad shoulders. In the silence of the hall, the idol felt both intimate and majestic.

My ordinary human mind started comparing Kadalekalu Ganesha with Sasivekalu Ganesha whom I had seen just minutes earlier. Sasivekalu, felt approachable and almost playful in his open mandapa. Kadalekalu, however, carried a different aura. Enclosed within this pillared chamber, he felt more regal, more meditative—less a deity on display and more a presence you quietly discover.

Kadalekalu Temple Hampi

I moved the flashlight gently, the shadows shifting across the stone. Every chisel mark, every curve, every recess seemed amplified in the low light. There was something deeply personal about seeing him this way—no crowd, no sunlight, no distractions. Just stone, silence, and a single cone of light revealing centuries of craftsmanship.

Outside, the night breeze carried the faint echoes of temple bells from Virupaksha. From the doorway, I looked out at Hampi—just outlines now—temple silhouettes and palm fronds swaying against the dusk. It was peaceful in a way that only Hampi after sunset can be.

Walking back down the hill, I realised something: Kadalekalu Ganesha isn’t just a monument you check off a list. He’s an experience—quiet, grounding, and deeply personal. And long after you leave Hampi, it’s this gentle giant in stone who stays with you.

Kadalekalu Ganesha idol

Kadalekalu Ganesha idol

Sunset in Hampi Sasivekalu Ganesha Temple

The Sun never pauses along its path, yet like a snail I moved on through the busy market lanes. Darkness waiting to takeover and at that final moment of the day I managed to capture the setting sun between the pillars of Sasivekalu Ganesha Temple. The fake sense of victory pleased me.

Twilight hour at Sasivekalu Ganesha Temple

Sunset in Hampi Sasivekalu Ganesha Temple Karnataka

Interested to see Lord Ganesha on a hill top? Check here: Lord Ganesha in Dholkal Chhattisgarh

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Sasivekalu Ganesha Temple by Indrani

About the Author

About Indrani GhoseIndrani Ghose is a cultural travel writer and heritage documentation specialist with over 15 years of experience exploring and writing about temples across India and Southeast Asia. Having visited over 150 sacred sites, she brings both scholarly depth and personal narrative to heritage travel writing.

Her work has been published in Lonely Planet, The National (UAE), Whetstone Asia, Deccan Herald, and various architecture and heritage journals.

Connect with Indrani: Follow Indrani on Instagram | Twitter | Facebook for heritage travel insights, photography tips, and offbeat destination discoveries.

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