The Hemakuta Hill in the town of Hampi is frequented for numerous temples. One such renowned shrine is the Kadale Kalu and Sasive Kalu Ganesha Temple, which lies on the southern foothill of the hill. The temple houses a huge statue of Lord Ganesha, which is believed to be scooped out of a giant rock. This 15 feet tall statue is one of the largest sculptures in Hampi.

The belly of the statue is designed in such a way that it resembles a Bengal gram (Kadale Kalu in local language), and hence the temple is named after it.

The actual beauty of the temple lies in its impressive and attractive pillars. You can find various sculptures (dedicated to mythological themes) carved intricately on these pillars. One of the pillars has a carving depicting the activities of naughty infant Krishna, in which he is stealing 'makhan' and the clothes of the bathing women. Apart from that, another carving depicts the image of Lord Ganesha with a snake tied around his tummy. A legend associated with it says that once Lord Ganesha ate so much of food that his tummy almost busted. He just caught a snake and tied it around his tummy as a belt to save his tummy from bursting.

Located at a close proximity is the Sasive Kalu Ganesha, whose idol resembles a mustard seed. This giant monolithic Ganesha statue holds a 'modak' (a kind of sweet) in one hand. This statue is carved out of a huge boulder measuring about 2.4 meters (8 feet).

Around the statue you can see an open pavilion. According to the inscriptions, it is believed to be built by a trader from Chandragiri (Andhra Pradesh) in 1506 AD, in the memory of one of the Vijayanagara king – Narasimha II (1491-1505 AD).

The temple has a peaceful ambiance, and you can click your desired photographs here. The main hall of the offers panoramic views of the Hampi Bazaar and Matanga Hill.