LEPAKSHI TEMPLE

Temple	Details
Other name	Veerabhadra temple
Dedicated to	Virabhadra, a fierce emanation of Lord Shiva.
Year of construction	1530 AD
Built by	Virupanna Nayaka and Viranna ----- brothers who were Governors under the Vijayanagar Empire
Built under the reign of	King Achutaraya
Style	Vijayanagara
Architecture	Dravidian
Built on	Tortoise shaped Granite rock, also known as Kurma Saila.
Location	In Andhra Pradesh. 140 kilometres away from Bangalore.
Features	Fresco paintings with scenes from the epic stories of the Ramayana, the Mahabharata and the Puranas.
Prominent Features	Large Nandi (bull), mount of Shiva, carved from a single block of stone - of the largest of its type in the world. Hanging Pillar of Lepakshi Largest Monolithic Nandi in India Largest Monolithic Nagalinga in India Lepakshi Saree Designs Unfinished Kalyana Mantapa Durga Padam Eyes of Virupanna Mural Paintings which include the largest portrait painting in the world (Portrait of Veerabadra Swamy in the ceiling, in front of the main temple) Carved Ganesha Statues

Fresco is a technique of mural painting executed upon freshly laid ("wet") lime plaster. Water is used as the vehicle for the dry-powder pigment to merge with the plaster, and with the setting of the plaster, the painting becomes an integral part of the wall.