Octagonal water-pavilion and Bhojanashala

These two monuments are hardly noticed by most tourists. Despite my four visits I've not stopped by to take a closer look at the Octagonal pavilion and not heard of Bhojanashala until recently. And both are right besides Hampi-Kamalapur road. I learnt of them during my research of Hampi and decided to sketch them. I wasn't happy with the outcome nevertheless published them as they are.

First, the water pavilion - This is an octagonal shaped structure with identical arched openings on each of the eight faces. The building is made of granite blocks, bricks, mortar and plaster. The structure is topped by a mesh crown. Inside, there's a pit where water flowed continuously. The function of this building was to provide fresh water to the people visiting the royal enclosure. One could have have wash up or bathe. The structure's architecture is Indo Saracenic. It has been restored by the archaeological department at some point of time but it still looks neglected - which is the reason why tourists tend to ignore it.

The other monument Bhojanashala is opposite the octagonal water pavilion. Bhojana means food and shala means hall or place. This is an open place, flat ground with two stone lined canals flanked by stones slabs with circular pits. This is said to be common dining area for the soldiers serving in the nearby royal enclosure. Probably a chapra (shelter of woven coconut leaves held up by wooden poles) was setup back then. The canal is two feet wide and a foot deep. The dark colored slabs measure approximately 2' x 1½' x 5" thick. The top surface of each slab has 7 circular pits- one 1' diameter circular pit and six 4" diameter pits. Few plates also have 1 + 4 pits and some have elliptical pits instead of circular. These are stone plates just like commercially available stainless steel lunch plates. The practice of eating of stone plates is ancient but for the advanced society like Vijayanagara it seems primitive.. may be eating out of stone has health benefits. The 'canals' are approximately 250' and 200' long. The total number of plates if 350 to 400 - that many people could eat in one batch. So one can imagine the cooking arrangements to serve hundreds of people in one go. One must stop to see this unique artifact.

The pavilion and Bhojana-Shala are situated right besides Hampi-Kamalapur road on the left-hand side half a kilometer before the Queen's bath house.

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