temples and mantapas of Paan Supari Bazari

August 13, 2017
A small area opposite Hazara Rama temple is called Paan Supari Bazar. The area consists of small temples, Mantapa, a well, a Stambha and a gateway. Most structures are incomplete and there are lot of unfinished jobs lying around these structures. There are about 4 or 5 temples, the one seen below is the largest. In the foreground is a stone tub, probably to store water.

The temple is built over a platform. The construction is typical Vijayanagara style.. neatly dressed granite blocks.

This must be the Sabha Mantapa or Ranga Mantpa. At the center of this hall is a small circular stage for dancing. The facing wall has two symmetrically positioned niches. I guess this was meant to be s Shiva temple going by the pedestal in the Garbhagudi. IF yes, the niches would be for Ganesha and Parvati.

From this incomplete structure we can get an idea of construction methods. It seems pillars were positioned between which horizontal blocks were placed to form walls. At the pillar tops beams were positioned and so on.

Going by the looks of the outer walls, the temple and its protective wall were built simultaneously.

Besides the temple is this mantapa.. going by the foundation it seems this was also meant to be a temple. In the foreground is a pedestal. Another Shiva temple?

A foothpath cuts through the Paan Supari Bazar towards Pattada Yellamma temple. We just saw two temples on the left side. Turning attention to the right.. there's a stepped well, a small temple and a Stambha. Pillar is monolith. Temple is incomplete and stepped well is dry. The temple was meant to have a spacious courtyard and there's no sign of protective wall.

The temple design was simple.. just a Mukhmantapa and Garbhagudi. On the left is the passage to enter the well. A platform runs around the well's mouth, where people can sit and perform rituals.

The well's outer wall is mix of granite blocks and bricks & mortar.

The well is interesting.. diggers have hacked through a rock bed to find water. If you look at the right side of this picture, there's a canal end projecting.. it seems like water was fed to this pit. At the opposite corner is a arc shaped wall connecting two sides.. what could be the purpose of it.

A glimpse of the rear portion.. the Garbhagudi wall has collapsed. There's so much unfinished material lying about indicating work was in progress when Hampi came to a standstill.

Two pedestals.. square and circular.

Just behind the well is another incomplete temple. It seems even this one was dedicated to Shiva. Normally Nandi is placed outside the temple but here Nandi is in the Garbhagudi. Sadly the Nandi is damaged.

Besides the temple with Nandi is a high wall and a gateway. Even this wall is incomplete. This whole area was a large construction site. In the foreground here is a square pit. This could be a well or a pit to store water or grains.

Just outside the wall, on the right hand side are two smaller temples. I'm guessing these temples were donations by rich traders and merchants. Each one them would have a temple built which would create employment for the Brahmin community. The Brahmins would impart education to other communities.

Opposite the twin temples is a mantapa which is part of an incomplete temple.

This is the south-west corner stone of the incomplete temple with an almost complete mantapa. Turning our attention to the wall and gateway. This gateway faces east, so this could be the entrance to this complex. On the right wall of the entrance is a niche with Ganesha idol (see inset).

Another view of the platform, corner stone and mantapa. Notice the gaps in the periphery of the platform, pillars would stand in those gaps, I think.

The mantapa is a handsome structure, good workmanship.

Lastly we come to the two level mantapa. The pillars and beams are slightly out of alignment yet the structure stands.. techniques of the bygone era. On the other site of the path here, is another mantapa which was occupied by a group who was busy preparing to cook a meal. Stone's throw from here is Pattada Yellamma temple. People visit this ancient shrine, perform rituals, cook food, make offerings to the deity and feast on the preparation. Pattada Yellamma literally means coronation Yellamma. This shrine is much older then Vijayanagara empire and coronation ceremonies were performed here, I think.

to see Hampi, one needs to be really energetic, patient and lucky. Lucky with weather :)
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Guards Quarters, Hampi

August 13, 2017

Guards' Quarters building is located right next to elephant stables, the two lengthy buildings are perpendicular to each other in plan. Guards quarter building was strategically located to provide security for Zenana enclosure inside which the treasury was present. It's a single storey structure built on a 10' high platform measuring 146' x 63'. Its front features columns and arches. Inside it has a courtyard and an aisle, no rooms or chambers.

At the eastern corner of the building's outer wall is a small sculpture, not very clear. There are two characters sitting on their rear ends with their backs touching. They seem to be elephants. No idea what they signify

Just like elephant stables, this structure was projecting beams.. no idea what the purpose is. Notice the crests and ridges inside the arches. Seems like an experimental design.

Today the guards quarters is a museum, It has a small collection of sculptures probably found in and around Hampi. At the entrance is this 3½ foot tall elephant, though damaged one can imagine its original beauty. Its features are quite realistic, seems like a bull. I\m not sure if the sculpture was completed or incomplete.

In this view, it has a natural look of a running elephant. A well fed and worked out beast. Must have been made in memory of one of the royal elephants.

The elephant's left side is plain rock.. this is why I think if ts incomplete.

Lets enter the building. The entrance is flanked by two long open halls. This seems to be guards' rest place. Probably guards had to be on duty for days or weeks and off duty guards rested here.

These halls have a good view of elephant stables and Zenana enclosure.

This is the inner portion.. a rectangular open hall around the courtyard. The building entrance connects directly to the courtyard. Its possible horses were brought in here.

Opposite end of the building. In present day this is a museum, the artifacts are kept in the open hall.

Here are few items.. girl in a fashionable skirt and jewelry. Standing Hanuman offering his Namaskar. And a serpent woman, Naga Kanya.

Then we have black stone sculptures of chubby Ganesha and a small hero-stone. Visitors were curious to feel Ganesha's tummy :) wish the care-takers bathed the Ganesha daily and offered it a flower, it would look so much better. Coming to the hero-stone, its depicts two well built warriors.. is it Hakka and Bukka, the founders of Vijayanagara empire.

Then we have another black stone Ranganatha reclining on serpent bed and his consort pressing his feet. Even this idol would so much better had it been free of dust. The lower image depicts deer hunting scene. A hunter is about to shoot a deer and a helper is carrying couple of deer on a shaft.

Apart from these, there are oe or two idols of Hanuman.

From here tourists generally move on towards the archaeological museum going past Rnaga temple.
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