Lepakshi is essentially one extraordinary temple complex and a giant stone bull, set in an otherwise quiet village. Plan two to three hours on site, more if you want to sit with the carvings and the murals. There is no entry fee and no ticket queue — the temple is run by the Andhra Pradesh archaeological department.
Come early. The morning light through the stone screens lights the famous ceiling mural to its best advantage, and the tour groups from Bangalore mostly arrive after 11:00. Bring socks; shoes come off at the temple entrance and the granite paving heats up quickly.