Lotus Mahal is an important monument in Hampi. Lotus Mahal is a virtual air conditioned residence built for one of the two wives of Vijayanagara ruler Krishnadevaraya. The Mahal had a water tank on the top, water pipes through the beams and columns, facilitating flow of water through the structure and keeping it pretty cool even in hot summer (Summer in Ballari district can get extremely hot).
Lotus Mahal, also referred to as Chitrangi Mahal features a lotus-like design and is largely intact over the centuries. Lotus Palace has three stories featuring an open design with long corridors, supported by 24 pillars and no walls. Pillars and arches of Lotus Palace have intricate carvings. A mix of Indian and Islamic design style can be seen in Lotus Mahal. Couple of watch towers can be seen at a short distance from Lotus Mahal. Elephant enclosure is located a short distance away. Besides being an engineering marvel, Lotus Palace is quite photogenic as well.
Timing: Lotus Palace is open to visitors from 8 AM till 6 PM.
Reaching Hampi:
Hampi is 350 kms from Bengaluru and can be reached via road, rail or air. Vidyanagar airport (Code: VDY) is the closest airport (40 kms from Hampi) and has daily flights from Bengaluru and Hyderabad. Once in Hampi, Lotus Palace can be reached by hiring a taxi, renting a bike or bicycle. Hosapete is the nearest railway station (15 kms from Hampi). Several buses are available from Bengaluru to reach Hampi.
Stay:
Hampi and nearby Hosapete town has accommodation options suiting all budgets. KSTDC ( Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation) runs hotel premium Hotel Mayura Bhuvaneshwari in Hampi and budget Hotel Mayura Vijayanagara near Tunga Bhadra Dam (TB Dam), Hosapete. Evolve Back Hampi and Hyatt Place are the most luxurious stays available at Hampi.