Musical pillars are unique to a handful of South Indian temples, and the craft was most notable during the Vijayanagar era. They vary in style, and Hampi's pillars are remarkable for their intricate workmanship on hard granite. "Although we have examples of lithophones [resonant stones] in other parts of the world, there's nothing quite like Hampi's pillars in terms of art historical and aesthetic significance," said Sharada Srinivasan, professor of archaeological sciences at the National Institute of Advanced Studies Bengaluru.
