King's Balance
Tula Bhara
A stone balance frame about 5 metres high, where on festival days the king was weighed and gave gold, silver and jewels of equal weight to the priests.
The King's Balance, also called the Tulabhara, stands southwest of the Vitthala Temple. It is a stone gateway-like frame about 5 metres high, with three hooks on the top beam for suspending the scale pans. Records say that on festivals such as solar and lunar eclipses and the new year, the king sat on one pan and was weighed. He then gave an equal weight of gold, jewels or grain to priests and temples. Carvings of the king and queen decorate the pillars. Entry is free. It is about a 10-minute walk from the Vitthala Temple, or you can hike there from the Hampi Bazaar along the riverside path.
Opening hours
Open all day (daytime)
Nearby sights
- Vittala Temple & Stone Chariot
- Tungabhadra River Coracle Ride
- Achyutaraya Temple
- Matanga Hill
- Hampi Bazaar
- Pampa Sarovar
- Sasivekalu & Kadalekalu Ganesha
- Anjanadri Hill (Hanuman Temple)