Information on Queen's Bath (Bellary, Karnataka) - History & Architecture

Queen's Bath is a beautiful aquatic complex built near the main palace area of Vijayanagara Empire. Once it was used as the pond for the royal women members. This was also used as the pleasure house of the kings. It is located at Hampi Village, Hospet town, Bellary District of Karnataka State in India.

Queen's Bath Architecture

Queen's Bath is a man made pond by stones blocks on a plain land surface. It is built in the Indo Gothic form of architecture. This great bath was built by the Hindu rulers, but it does have an Islamic style of works in their arches. This type of mix was seen in the medieval times. The main importance of this bath is it is not seen from any of its side's areas. It is surrounded by a big compound on its all sides. Totally it looks like a rectangular structure meant for housing purpose. If one get inside this structure only can see this pond encircled with beautiful rooms and spacious verandahs all around this pond. There is a main step on its entrance side and a channel to fill this pond is seen. This pond is directly looking towards the sky, surrounded with beautiful complexes on its four sides. This pond is up to 10 feet deep. It had stone pedestal for diving purpose in to this pond. This is beautifully cared as a sitting place too. There are many carving activates found on these stone blocks. It has got very unique projected balconies, having a clear view towards this pond. It also got very good pillared corridors. There are few dress changing rooms built inside this complex. This also have a royal living areas meant for the queens. This pond does provide a special cooling effect inside these complexes. This was designed in a way to flow cool air inside these complex areas. Once this pond was filled with many water plants and had herbal water in it. It does consist of lotus plat in the centre of the pond. The bath complex is filled with lovely gardens.

Queen's Bath History

Queen's Bath was built in the 14th century AD by the Vijayanagara kingdom. It was the bathing place for the royal women's for more than 3 centuries. Hampi was the capital of Vijayanaga Empire. They were known for building of temples, palaces and housing settlement in this area. Their architectural works were very unique that it still glorifies its Kingdom. This place is well known in the Indian history as a great capital, a war place and a flourishing city. Under the rule from 1336 Ad to 1565 Ad was the golden period of the Vijayanagara Empire. It started to decline when the Shahi dynasty and Bijapur dynasty came in to power. In the medieval era this kingdom was the famous, the richest and the strongest to ever rule the Deccan province. Since the establishment of Vjayanagara Empire, the Hampi festival is conducted annually in the month of January. It is a three day festival with lot of cultural events. It is also well know as the Humpi Utsav locally. To see this Utsav many international tourist do come here. In the olden day the kings used to weigh is body with gold and money. The equally weighed valuables were given to the poor's in this festival time.

Queen's Bath Tourism Significance

Queen's Bath in Hampi is a UNESCO site under the world heritage site. This is also a protected monument under the Indian government. It is great tourist place to see the Vijayanagara Empire history, culture and architect. This place also attracts many rock climbers.