Feb. 6 Hampi

Lotus Mahal

I hired a rickshaw today to explore the outlying temples and see the famous stone chariot.  We arrived at the Zanana Enclosure which houses the Lotus Mahal, a two-storied structure that is a blend of Indian and Islamic architecture.  It is a beautiful old structure and in its original state it was fully decorated, painted, and covered with polished lime plaster work.

Elephant Stables

On the corners of the enclosure stand 3 fairly intact watchtowers that are not attached to any walls, suggesting they are of a later date.  The palace situated in the center was the largest in the city of Vijayanagara.

Next came the lofty, dignified, elephant stables north of the Zanana enclosure.  It has eleven large chambers with beautiful arched entrances.  The domes on the top are of different types - circular, ribbed and octagonal - and are arrranged in order on either side of the central chamber, which is a square structure on top.  Each chamber has a lotus motif on the ceiling.

Stone Chariot

Next we went to see the Stone Chariot at the Vitthala Temple.  The temple dates to the 1400s, has 100 pillars, and is dedicated to Vishnu.  The pillars are decorated with carvings of  gods, women, dancers, and drummers.  Thick stone rings at the corners were for stone chains to be attached. The stone charriot of this temple is a remarkable structure.  All the intricate and delicate details found in the wooden chariots are simulated in this stone chariot...it was amazing!

There are so many temples here, I think it would take quite some time to see them all.  But this evening, I have a bus ticket to Gokarna on the coast to meet up with Niki, my friend from the U.K.