The Lepakshi Nandi. The Largest Monolithic Nandi Statue in India. Cut in hard granite during the Vijayanagara period, this is located in Anantapur district of Andhra. A thread of Lepakshi 
The Virabhadra Temple in Lepakshi is famous for its long corridors and passageways which surround the temple in all four directions #Lepakshi
The Most Amazing part of the Temple is the Nagalingam, located in the outer courtyard. This Shivalingam in the shade of a multihooded serpent is an amazing sight.
Legend has it that this Shivalingam was created by a group of sculptors as they waited for their mother to complete her cooking. It's an incredible sight to behold and is the foremost reason to visit Lepakshi
Another famous part of this temple is the incomplete mandapam located in the courtyard. This Kalyana Mandapam is the medieval example of a construction taken up without official permissions and as a result, the king cut off funding midway 😂
Lord Ganesh rests in the outer courtyard. Again, a wonderful piece of art considering the difficulty in making granite yield to you #Lepakshi
Horsemen riding the mythical creature "Yali" is a common occurrence in the Lepakshi temple, just like most Vijayanagara temples. The Yali is a creature with a lion's face but the body of a horse. #Lepakshi
The Mahamandapa of the Veerabhadra Temple has this figures in the row. These musicians and singers seem to make this Mandapa a place of celebration. Perhaps consorts and performances took place here in the medieval times. #Lepakshi
Hey. Don't forget to look up. This is the best part of Lepakshi. The amazing ceiling paints of the Veerabhadra Temple. Done during the medieval times, this one depicts a hunt or a battle perhaps. You can notice the boar (royal symbol of Vijayanagara) in this scene.
I am no historian but this panel appears to be the king receiving visitors or merchants. Notice the strange headdresses and dark skin of these men paying homage to the Vijayanagara Emperor. Perhaps Arabs and Abbysinians traders #Lepakshi
This panel appears to show Shiva and Parvati being worshipped by the ruling families. You will marvel at the detailing here and the fact that they have survived 5 centuries of strife and struggle. #Lepakshi
Shiva out on a procession surrounded by his ganas or followers. This is what I could make out from this panel considering the white bull atop which he sits. Any other deductions?
#Lepakshi
#Lepakshi
And now the grand finale. The famous hanging pillar of Lepakshi. This pillar hangs from the ceiling with no apparent support from the floor. A magnificent piece of medieval science and architecture. See it to believe it !
The Lepakshi temple was built during the period of the Vijayanagara Emperor Achyutaraya by a local governor called Virupanna Nayaka. The main deity is not Shiva but Virabhadra, standing tall decorated with skulls.
Large portions of the temple contain granite rocks uncarved and heaped around , indicating that the temple was never completed to its true artistic potential. Perhaps strife and a failing economy took away temple funds.
Just around 2 hours drive from Bengaluru, this is a perfect day trip. The mural paintings in the ceiling, the Nagalingam and the hanging pillar will surely make it your while. End of thread. RT for good karma :)
