Courtesans Street, Hampi

August 14, 2017
Having visited Chakatheerta, Rama-Lakshmana temple, Yantroddharaka Anjaneya temple, Vishnu temple, Varaha temple, Vysraja Matha, King's Balance and Purandaradasara Mantapa we came towards Achyuthraya temple. To reach Achyuthraya temple, we have to take Soolae Bazaar street aka Courtesans street. The street is almost 350 meters long i.e. between Varaha temple and Achyuthraya temple. Here we are at Varaha temple side.. a small image of Ganesha greets us. The street is wide and spacious, flanked by rows of stall which are almost as long as the street itself.

On the right side of the  street behind the stalls is a water tank measuring approximately 160' x 100'. At the center is a mantapa.. typical Vijayanagara style. I'm guessing the source of water for this tank was rain water flowing down from the neighboring hillocks. Notice the tank base is covered with dressed slabs.. people could happily swim in the tank.

Stalls line right beside the tank. The stalls are built over a platform. The stalls were construction with good taste in mind. The columns are of two types.. simple and special. Here's a row of special pillars.

Here we can see  both simple and special varieties. It seems the construction work is incomplete, just like many parts of Hampi. I'm saying that because there is roofing for some stalls while some did not have. Probably such stalls had temporary roof made of palm leaves or hay.

Another view of the water tank locally called as Lok Pavani. Trying to imagine this filled up,,

Raw material and semi-finished columns and beams. Also there are erected columns sans beams.. work-in-progress.

This structure seems to be slightly older compared to the stalls seen earlier. This is kind of complete with roofing. The background is interesting, especially the unique rock formation at the middle.

Another interesting rock formation. We can see quarrying activity here.. so some rocks were sourced locally. It's quite possible that the street itself is not completely natural. Probably rocks were cleared and ground was leveled out to create this market place. In the background is the slope of Matanga Parvatha, one of the highest hills of Hampi.

Here's the view of one quarter of the street. At the end is gateway of Achyuthraya temple. And that towering hill is Matanga Parvatah. it is believed that this hill is name after Matanga a sage who lived on this hill in Threta Yuga, the era of Ramayana. Impressive street isn't it.

Now we are closer to  Compared to the stalls seen earlier this structure is taller. One of the stalls is special here. Actually this may not be a stall but a mantapa, kind of meeting place. I say that because of the images on the pillar and..

 ..an image of Sri Krishna. Also on one of the columns is an inscription.

A closer look at the idol, crossed feet and a cow.. it has to be Krishna the cowherd. The pillar of left hand side has large Kannada or Telugu letters. Then the warrior's image on the outer pillar is eye-catching.

Had we spent some more time here, lot more things would've met our eyes. Anyway, we move on towards Achyuthraya Devastana.
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