Posted on 9 October 2025:

Lotus Mahal: The Graceful Jewel of Hampi’s Royal Past

In the quiet heart of Hampi, Karnataka lies the Zenana Enclosure, once a secret world for the royal women of the Vijayanagara Empire. Hidden within its walls is the Queen’s Palace, now visible only in the basement—its silence echoing stories of regal life. Just opposite stands the elegant Lotus Mahal, still drawing eyes with its timeless charm.

In the heart of Hampi’s ancient ruins stands a delicate marvel—Lotus Mahal, also known as Chitrangini Mahal. 

This two-storied palace, built in the elegant Vijayanagara style, whispers stories of royal leisure and architectural brilliance.

Crafted from rubble masonry and finished with smooth plaster, it once served as a serene retreat for the women of the Vijayanagara royal family, as noted in archaeological records.

Krishnadevaraya held council here, meeting his ministers under its calm arches.

The structure blooms like its name. Its arched openings, layered across multiple planes, are adorned with intricate plasterwork that dances in light and shadow. At its crown rests a dome shaped like an open lotus bud, a symbol of purity and grace. The soft curves and symmetry, inspired by Islamic design, blend seamlessly with native craftsmanship, creating a rare fusion of styles.

Lotus Mahal is supported by 24 slender pillars, and its roof is crowned with eight pyramidal towers at the corners and a majestic central tower. Together, they form a silhouette that is both regal and poetic—an ode to the artistic soul of a bygone empire.

Though time and neglect have faded its carved beauty, the soul of the palace still lingers in stone and silence.