Archaeological Museum, Hampi is located in the district of Bellary in
Karnataka. The sculptures from various locations of the ruins were collected by British officers and housed earlier at elephant stables. The first museum of Archaeological Survey of India was established here. The antiquities were shifted to a modern building at Kamalapur in 1972. Currently,
Archaeological Museum, Hampi has four galleries which encloses a model of Hampi valley with a corridor all around.
Archaeological Museum, Hampi exhibits elegant replicas of the most famed ruler of the Vijayanagara dynasty, Krishnadevaraya and his queens greeting the visitors at the entrance.
The first gallery of Archaeological Museum, Hampi: It displays sculptures of the saiva faith - Virabhadra, Mahishasuramardini, Shakti, Bhairava, Bhikshatanamurti, Ganesha, Kartikeya with his consorts, and Durga. The central hall has a replica of a temple with sculptures of Shivalinga, Nandi, and Dwaramantapa.
The second gallery of Archaeological Museum, Hampi: It displays antiquities like metal objects of religious utility, arms and armory, brass plates and gold and copper coins of Vijayanagara dynasty in various denominations.
The fourth gallery of Archaeological Museum, Hampi: It exhibits antiquities belonging to prehistoric and protohistoric periods, medieval hero stones, sati stones, stucco figurines, iron objects, and sherds of porcelain. An information kiosk is set up to familiarize the visitors with this world heritage site.
Sculpture Gallery in the Treasury Building: It exhibits limestone Buddhist panels of 2nd century AD, rare schist stone sculptures of 12th century AD, austere Jaina Tirthankaras from Parshwanatha Chaityala, spectacular Shaiva and Vaishnava sculptures of Vijayanagara period.
Sculpture Gallery in the Guards House: It showcases the sculptures of Ganesha, Kalabhairava, Nandi-Vahana, Saptamatrikas and Virabhadra are displayed here as Shaiva specimens. Vaishanava sculpture including Garuda, Hanuman, Lakshmi and Rangantha and sculptures of Naga, Nagini, Maha-Sati and hero stones are also displayed here.
