Achyutaraya Temple Hampi: Hampi’s Most Rewarding Short Trek
Updated on March 16, 2026
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Let’s venture into the offbeat side of Hampi – While the crowds line up for the Stone Chariot at Vitthala, Achyutaraya offers the same architectural grandeur with 90% fewer people. While some may argue this is ruined and is not as well preserved as some of those other monuments, the charm of a ruin and the views here are very different.
History of the Tiruvengalanatha temple
The Tiruvengalanatha temple, also known as Achyutaraya’s temple was built in 1534 AD. Achyutaraya was the younger brother of the legendary Vijayanagara Emperor Krishnadeva Raya.
Although commonly attributed to King Achyuta Deva Raya as its name suggests, historical inscriptions have revealed that the actual patron was Hiriya Tirumala, Achyuta Raya’s brother-in-law and a high-ranking court official.
One of the main surviving parts of the main temple complex is the ruined West Gopura. This temple exemplifies the Vijayanagara style of temple architecture in its most advanced form and in fact is more evolved than any other temple in Hampi.
Plan your trip
Plan your trip- Entry: Free
- Timings: 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM (There is no active worship in the temple)
- Time required: Minimum 1 hour, ideally 1.5 hours
- No washrooms on site
- No shops or food nearby — carry water and snacks
- Best time to visit: Early morning for light and fewer people
Sunrise might be the best time to visit the temple for the beautiful light and solitude. When we went though, there weren’t enough guides online back in 2018 and we went there in early afternoon. Nevertheless, we got to stay till close to sunset and the place was empty the whole time barring one or two local folks.
A glimpse of our trek
There are 2 ways to get to the Achyutaraya temple. However, we took the one we’ve written about in the next few paragraphs due to its proximity from our AirBnB.
As one walks through the wide road that leads directly out of the Virupaksha Temple’s gopuram (entrance tower) towards the pavillion that houses the seated monolithic Nandi (the bull that is the divine steed of Siva), the single and two tiered ruins of Hampi Bazar bear silent witness to the start of the magical trek to Achyutaraya Temple.
The route we took to reach Tiruvengalanatha Temple
The below map snip shows you the route we took to reach the Achyuturaya temple. Route 1 is how we went. And route 2 is what we took to go back. That route 2 leads to the Tungabadra river side and was just the right path to walk in as the sun went down.
Now here is the exact step by step path that we took. Just some additional information to plan the way you ought to 🙂
The Walk to Achyutaraya temple
Step 1: Locate the Starting Landmark
To the right of the Monolithic Bull, you will find a flight of ancient, well-worn stone steps. Follow these and start your climb. This is the shortest and most scenic route that bypasses the longer riverside path. We spent some time taking Nandi's blessings and whispering some prayers in Nandi's ear from afar!
Step 2: The Ascent via Stone Steps
Begin your journey at the far end of Hampi Bazaar. Look for the Yeduru Basavanna (the massive Monolithic Bull). This is the primary landmark that signals the start of the trek path. You can see in the below image - its hard to miss!
Step 3: The Path to Matanga Intersection
As you reach the top of the first set of steps, the path levels out. The Matanga hill that was a safe haven in the to the monkey king Sugreeva from the wrath of his brother Vali due to a curse in the epic of Ramayana, is visible to the right as one makes the climb from the Nandi and past the shrine. The humble shrine is a perfect understatement to one of the magnificent hidden gems of Hampi that comes into view as one ascends past this shrine and up the next rise, the Achyutaraya Temple. You will see a trail branching off to the right towards Matanga Hill. Ignore the uphill climb and continue straight/slightly right to begin your descent toward the temple complex.
Step 4: The view of the temple
As we hiked up the relatively easy to climb stone stairs, the sun was getting stronger. But just as looked up, there it was, the amazing bird's eye view of the striking Vijayanagar architecture.
Our experience at Achyutaraya temple
Walking around in the temple, we got to see the intricately carved pillars, sculptures, the green lawns and the many many ruined structures.
Just the carvings at the entrance will make you feel that you are at the right place. Lord Vishnu, Dasavatara carved to the minute detail, or the carving of a tree nymph in a niche, each has its own charm.
The setting sun cast a surreal glow on the place and helped transport us back in time as we made our way around the temple complex and out into a street that is reminiscent of Hampi Bazar but is called the Courtesan Street.
The temple street
This street too has a series of stone pavilions on either side of the street, with the temple pond just a little off to the right of the street as one walks away from the Achyutaraya Temple. Quite honestly, for some reason, this street was the highlight for us. With the sun getting ready to set, we just felt as though we were there witnessing traders and merchants selling horses, livestock, flowers and vegetables. We could imagine a once thriving marketplace.
While the temple lacks maintenance, as it is frequented only by a few tourists, it has a lovely charm. And just for this reason, we’d definitely be visiting this temple again very soon.
What Other Travelers Ask
Is Achyutaraya Temple free to visit?
Yes. Entry to Achyutaraya Temple is completely free. The temple is open from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM daily. Since there is no active worship going on, the temple is not closed around noon like other temples. There are no ticket counters and no fees for photography.
How long does it take to visit Achyutaraya Temple?
We spent around 1.5-2 hours there. But for a long time we were just sitting and admiring the place around us. You will definitely need 1.5 hours. To see al the way till the temple tank which is also ruined but beautiful.
What is the Courtesan Street near Achyutaraya Temple?
Like mentioned in the blog above, this street running away from the Achyutaraya Temple toward the Tungabhadra is known as the Courtesan Street, and was once the Achyutaraya Bazaar — one of the largest markets in India during the Vijayanagara period.
Is Achyutaraya Temple worth visiting in Hampi?
This temple if offbeat, has a natural charm and gives you a slice of yesteryear life. So the answer is a YES and it is consistently under-visited relative to its quality – especially in comparison with Vittala temple or Virupaksha temple.
Prasanna Vasudevan
Prasanna is the Primary Writer and Technical Expert behind the posts. He is responsible for the detailed facts, historical context, and logistical breakdowns. He has a deep love for mountains, history, nature, and is the family's expert packer.
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