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Of
the non-religious buildings in Hampi,
probably the most photogenic is the Lotus Mahal. This graceful
two-storeyed pavilion is located in the Zenana enclosure.
The palace is a delightful synthesis of the Hindu and Islamic styles of
architecture very different from the awesome grandeur of Hampi's temples.
The palace with recessed archways, the huge Elephant Stables, the
Mahanavami Dibba and so on, gives a glimpse of the past glory of the
kingdom.
The building is an open pavilion on the lower level and built up with
windows and balconies on the upper level.
The palace gets its name from the beautifully recessed archways, set in
geometric regularity and opening out to the sun and the wind, like the
petals of a flower.