Vijaya Vitthala

The most famous place in Hampi, The Vijaya Vittala temple complex.

At the heart of it is the crown of Hampi, the stone chariot.

Vijaya Vitthala temple is the dream of King Krishnadeveraya, which was never completed, and what was completed was later destroyed.

today one can see that the central structure which was supposed to be the center of attraction is just a destroyed building, but it is well known for the pillars for they produce sound when struck. 

There are 7 mini-pillars on each pillar, each of these mini-pillars produce their own note representing the 7 different instruments. there are even pillars with statues like a man holding a 'mrudanga'(a drum-like instrument) and other such instruments , and when you hit the instrument you hear the respective sound. The government is renovating the main central temple and hence tourists are not allowed to enter.

It is said that after the empire lost the war, a large amount of explosives was kept at the center of the temple and the roof was blown off.

being the crown of hampi, Stone chariot is noted among the 3 stone chariots of India ( other 2 are in Konark  and mahabalipuram). The wheels are capable of rotation, but to protect the monument, the rotation is stopped. There was a gopuram(you can see it in the first photograph of hampi by Alexander Greenlaw in 1856) on the top of it, which was later removed. The 2 elephants in the front were also later kept, on close observation, one can note that the elephants are completely detached from the chariot,and also there are horse-like legs remaining attached to the chariot. The chariot does not move and was never built for movement. Its a fixed sculpture. Some believe that wheels were used as a part of some rituals.