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Nov 29, 2017
pony gives a curious look
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Nov 25, 2017
Bhimana Hebbagilu, Hampi
August 14, 2017
As we drove out of Hampi, back towards Anegundi, we happened to notice a signage showing Ganigitti Jain temple and Bheema's Gateway. We decided to quickly check out the gateway. The Jain temple is situated right besides Hampi-Anegundi road and a dirt track next to the temple leads to the gateway.. approximately 280 meters away.
For a gateway to be located here, there had to be a fort wall here but there's no trace of any walls in the vicinity. The gateway is typical Vijayanagara style but has a primitive look. Not sure if its in the original condition or it was restored during recent times.
The gateway arch is unfinished. The topmost layer of slabs is balancing the layers below ..like a weight pressing down and maintaining equilibrium.
It's actually a gateway complex ..55m long x 35m wide in aerial view, it encloses a zig-zag path within it. A wall in the center has two sculptures embedded into it.
The wall is made of dressed granite blocks, obviously built by highly skilled builders.
The foundation layer peeking out from the ground. Building techniques were simple yet most effective.
The two sculptures seem to be depicting the same set of characters- Draupadi, Bheema and Duryodana. Draupadi is watching Bheema and Duryodana wrestle. This is probably one of the last fights between the two warriors.
The second sculpture at the top.
A blank tablet lies at the base of the wall.
A sculpture of Bheema wielding a mace and decked in heavy jewelry. In the left hand is a lotud bud. His posture is similar to Lord Hanuman's. This image gives an identity to this gateway complex.
View of the entrance from Bheema's image.
Further into the complex is a structure which seems to be an unfinished temple.
The path leading out of the fort.. looking towards north.
I head back towards the arch.. The gateway does look solid, just like Bhima.
One final look at Bhimana Hebbagilu, the eastern entrance to Hampi fort.
Another gateway I would like to check out is Sringarada Hebbagilu ..that would be during my next visit to Hampi.
.........Nov 22, 2017
Blister bug or Black-Red beetle
An early morning exploration of Hampi's wilderness will yield lot of interesting creatures... insects are generally less active in cold weather, so capturing them would be easier.Once the sun is up and air is warm, insects become more active and more sensitive to movement around them.
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Nov 18, 2017
inner domes at Queen's Bath, Hampi
Octagram ~ octagonal star inside an octagon.
16-spoke wheel and a Lotus hub.
Dome of chandeliers and chains.
Large lotus dome.
Off all domes, this is the only asymmetric design.
This looks like a spiderweb ..however, it seems more like a net created of metal strips with rivets at intersections.
Another form of octagonal star. The eight stripes diverging from the hub look like a ceiling fan blades. They also be perceived as eight converging stripes.
A cart-wheel.
Lotus in full bloom and 8 chains.
An octagonal star with diamond shaped niches. The circular dome's perimeter is lined with little intersecting arches. This is probably the most beautiful of all domes here.
An complex octagonal star ..unfortunately the hub is missing.
A eight-pointed star, its center is a hollow octagon.
This is another chandelier and chain dome, sadly the art work has fallen off.
The arches around the perimeter seems like balconies.
A eight-blade ceiling fan. Simple yet elegant.
Another web of metal strips and chains.
The care-taker referred to this dome as a jhumki ..a type of jewelry worn by women.
Another lotus.
All these designs are a mix of Hindu and Islamic art. The octagon star is a symbol of AshtaLakshmi. The Lotus is again a sacred flower in Hinduism. The metallic chains and stripes seem to be Islamic, so are the diamond-shaped niches. From the looks these seem to be created by junior or trainee artists.. that's my opinion. Vijayanagara kings did spend a lot on luxury which did create employment for artists. Its quite possible some of these art work might be designed by the king's family members.
Here's a link to my account of the first visit.. the Queen's Bath House.
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Nov 11, 2017
Zenana Enclosure - palace ruins
View of the palace from the western side. This picture was shot from the shade of a red-orange Frangipani trees. The flowers are fragrant and mix of warm colors ..red, yellow, orange (see inset).
The two palaces and two water tanks are positioned diagonally opposite so that both palaces are kind of equidistant to the tanks. This tank is more like a swimming pool. Besides the pool is a granite mound ..from where this picture was shot.
From the same point, I turned around to get a glimpse of the elephant stables. The enclosure walls are at the lowest here and small watch tower on the eastern wall.
Panning little to the right is a beautiful Neem tree. The caretakers have planted lot of White Frangipani cuttings ..Neem and Frangipani thrive in Hampi's rocky terrain.
Two very old Neem trees, probably close to 100 years.
In the northwest corner of the enclosure is an ancient structure known as the Treasury Building. Currently it is a museum of paintings and sculptures. Among the items is Vijayanagara family tree. The high walls and tall watch towers explains the reason for security. The rulers had the palaces built so that they could remain close to their movable wealth.
Among the sculptures is a well preserved elephant about 2' tall. It is decorated with jewelry befitting a royal elephant.
Hampi was known for its markets. Areas were marked for different types of precious commodities like precious metals and stones, expensive fabric, exotic food and spices, etc. I remember visiting four markets- Virupaksha Bazar, Pann Supari Bazar, Krishna Market and Soolai Bazar. It is said that jewelry and gems were sold in open baskets.. the markets were so secure. Below is a artistic depiction of one of the markets.
The north east wall where it touches the watch tower. A sculpture of Lor Hanuman is embedded into the wall to signify its strength. If you look at the watch tower base, it has an opening, probably to an exit for rain water.
In the immediate vicinity of Zenana enclosure are the following-
Ranga Temple Complex
Elephant Stables
Guards Quarters
Teanali Rama Pavilion
State Archaeology Office
Pattada Yellama Devasthana
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Nov 8, 2017
500 year tamarind tree of Devara Hipparagi
Devara Hipparagi village east of Bijapur on Bijapur-Jevargi road. On the outskirts of the village is stream, on its bank is Mallayya Devasthana. The temple is quite popular in this region. The temple has 1000+ years history. The temple popular by itself is also known for its tall Deepatambha (also called as Mahalagumb) and tamarind tree. The lamp-tower is almost 70 feet tall. Its is said that light at fire at the tower top was visible as far as Bijapur hence this was like a lighthouse for travelers. The tower was probably built during Adil Shahi's time. The tamarind tree is said to be planted back then ..going by the look of its trunk, the tree is really old. It is similar to the trees seen at Adil Shahi summer resort at Kummatgi.
I'm guessing this isn't the only ancient tree. Probably there are few more trees in the vicinity especially along the stream.
Next time when I visit Devera Hippargi I'll check out points D and E marked in this Google Maps screen-shot here.
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