The Palace Of Vira Harihara was a colossal structure in the ancient town of Hampi. The palace is located close to the Hazara Rama Temple and within the fortified area of the Royal Enclosure in Hampi. It was served as the abode for the king of the Vijayanagara Empire.
The basement of the palatial structure has been a matter of curiosity for most of the visitors and tourists in Hampi. Even today visitors in large numbers visit the area and stand on the place where the king once stood, and try to feel the grand lifestyle of the Royal Kings of Vijayanagara.
History Of The Palace Of Vira Harihara
The Palace is an ancient structure that dates back to the days of the Vijayanagara Empire. It’s said that the palace had been ruled and belonged to Harihara Raya II (1377-1404 CE), who belonged from the Sangama Dynasty and was there the third king of the Vijayanagara Empire who ruled over the kingdom in the later part of the 14th century.
The presence of the Palace Of Vira Harihara within the Royal Enclosure defines the importance of the structure as it was meant for the personal use of the king of Vijayanagara. After the king, the palace was used by many kings till 1565 A.D. But, then an attack by the Deccan Sultanate led to the downfall of the Vijayanagara Empire and brought huge destruction in Hampi.
Architecture Of The Palace Of Vira Harihara
The architecture and beauty of the Palace of Vira Harihara can only be imagined today as it was destroyed due to the destruction caused in Hampi during the ancient times. Today, there’s an ornate base of the palace present which provides an idea about the architecture of the lost structure.
As most of the structures in Hampi are filled with rich architectural beauty it indicates that the palace must have been a magnificent one in terms of splendor and construction. Also, No trace of the walls of the palace could be found here today.
Most historians here say that wood was quite prominent at the time in Hampi, as a result, excessive use of woods was used in the architecture of the palace and other structures of the Royal Enclosure.
The original boundary wall of the Palace Of Vira Harihara is still visible today though most of it is in a ruined state. The main entrance of the palace is considered to be on the eastern side of the boundary wall which surrounds it.
Near the ornate base of the palace is an elevated structure with a dozen steps and it is said as the platform where the king used to get on the royal elephant. It has two protruding portions supported by ornate brackets. These two portions were used to handle two elephants at a time.
Today nothing except the base of the palace is visible for tourists visiting here as it is one of those structures in Hampi which was completely ruined. The tourists could only imagine how the palace might have looked during the ancient days.
Things To Know For Tourists
- Timing: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Entry Fee: No Entry Fee Required
- Photography: Allowed
- Best Time To Visit: November to February
