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The Lotus Mahal or Chitrangini Mahal is a unique and beautiful structure located in the ancient city Hampi. It was built in the 16th century during the Vijayanagara Empire and is a perfect example of the architectural style of that era.
Lotus Mahal means "Lotus Palace" and was built for the royal family of the Vijayanagara Empire. The palace is surrounded by compound walls near the royal centre. The structure is designed in a balanced manner with equal projections on all four sides.
It has a total of eight pyramidal towers on the corners, with a large tower in the centre of the structure, supported by 24 pillars. These pillars were decorated with carved stone figures of aquatic animals, plants etc.
Significance:
Lotus Mahal is a two storey structure built in a mix of Indian and Islamic style of architectures. The building gets its name from its lotus shaped form and is built entirely of stone.
This mahal was originally used as a place of entertainment for the royal women of Vijayanagara empire. It is believed that they sat here and enjoyed music, dance and other cultural performances. It was also used as a council chamber by Sri Krishnadevaraya for meetings with ministers. It also served as a resting place for the royal family.
How To Reach:
Hampi bus stand is located at a distance of 3.2 KM from the mahal. You can take a local taxi to reach the mahal.
