ROYAL ENCLOSURE (ENCLOS ROYAL)

The royal enclosure lies 2 km south of Hampi. It includes several important monuments and ruins. Surrounded by a thick wall, it was the regal center of the Vijayanâgar Empire. We've listed the main monuments here. If you really want to see it all, you'll need to allow a full day to walk from one building to the next.

Queen's Bath. This charming Indo-Muslim pavilion is set in a small, well-kept garden. It conceals a pool that was more likely devoted to the king's pleasures than to the queen's baths. The pavilion is surrounded by a canal that carried the water to the central pool. Different cupolas adorn the crossing of the arches. Floral balconies overlook the pool. It was an aquatic complex that blended beauty and technical ingenuity. The water that flowed into the basin was probably perfumed.

Royal Enclosure. But where's the Royal Palace? Nothing remains of it, apart from the foundations. During the Vijayanâgar Empire, all buildings, with the exception of temples, were made of wood. The enclosure therefore housed both the palace and the guards' barracks. The large raised platform to the northeast of the enclosure is the Mahanavami Dibba. The king would sit on this platform during festivals and religious processions. Following the northern wall of the enclosure, you come to the royal audience hall, of which only the stone plinth remains. To the south of this, you can descend into the secret room. Buried in the ground, it was used by the king to consult with his ministers and hide in case of attack. You then reach a vast, stepped reservoir that supplied the palace with water. The regular rectangular foundations mark the former dwellings of the king's army, which numbered up to a million men! Just south of the enclosure, the public baths.

Ramchandra Temple. Also known as Hazara Rama, this temple features beautiful sculptures depicting scenes from the Ramayana. The four black basalt columns are quite unusual. It is assumed that only the royal family visited this temple.

Zenana. This was the private quarters of the queen and her retinue. It is famous for its magnificent Lotus Mahal, a small pavilion open to the four winds and devoted to the queen's leisure activities. The architects used great ingenuity to bring in fresh air. Pipes were hidden inside the walls, running cold water through them. Large, light drapes under the cornices were watered continuously. As the wind blew through the pavilion, the coolness was diffused throughout the interior. The guard towers, some of which are still standing, bear witness to the level of security that seemed to prevail here. At the rear of the garden, you'll reach the elephant stables. This imposing Indo-Muslim building comprises 11 stables that housed the elephants of the royal guard at night.

Underground Shiva Temple: hidden behind an imposing gateway, this temple dedicated to Shiva is one of a kind. For reasons as yet unknown, it was built several meters below ground level. The sanctuary is usually flooded by underground water, and only the temple entrance is accessible without getting wet.