Virupaksha Temple is the main center of pilgrimage (ತೀರ್ಥಯಾತ್ರೆ) at Hampi, and has been considered the most sacred sanctuary over the centuries.

The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, known here as Virupaksha/Pampa pathi, as the consort of the local goddess Pampadevi who is associated with the Tungabhadra River.

There is also a Virupakshini Amma temple (mother goddess) in a village called Nalagamapalle, Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh, approximately 100 km from Tirupati.

The huge temple complex was built by Lakkana Dandesha, a chieftain under king Deva Raya II of the Vijayanagara Empire.

At the beginning of the 19th century there were major renovations and additions, which included restoring some of the broken towers of the north and east gopura.

Another gopuram towards north, known as the Kanakagiri gopura, leads to a small enclosure with subsidiary shrines and eventually to the Tungabhadra River.

[5] A narrow channel of the Tungabhadra River flows along the temple's terrace and then descends to the temple-kitchen and out through the outer court.

[citation needed] One of the most striking features of this temple is the usage of mathematical concepts to build and decorate it.

The temple continues to prosper and attracts huge crowds for the betrothal and wedding festivities of Virupaksha and Pampa in December.