The photographic art book Hampi: The Rituals of Time by internationally acclaimed photographer Saibal Das was launched in the city earlier this week. Sponsored by BJP Rajya Sabha MP Lahar Singh Siroya, the book was unveiled by Karnataka Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot, Tourism Minister H.K. Patil, and former UNESCO Ambassador Chiranjiv Singh.
Printed using the rare platinum–palladium process, the book carries a decade of Das’s work, accompanied by text and an introduction by journalist Sugata Srinivasaraju. The Governor described Hampi as a “unique confluence of India’s cultural consciousness, architectural brilliance, spiritual depth and timeless artistry,” adding that Das’s photographs “revive life where others may only see ruins.”
Lahar Singh said supporting the project was his personal tribute to Karnataka, recalling how the state had welcomed him after he moved from Rajasthan. Minister H.K. Patil noted that the book brings alive Hampi’s rich heritage, culture, and archaeology, while Chiranjiv Singh called Das’s work “a photographer’s dream.”
Speaking at the Raj Bhavan event, Governor Gehlot said Hampi is “a living land that reflects the glory of the Vijayanagara Empire,” and that the images transport viewers to a bygone era.
Reflecting on his creative journey, Saibal Das said the Hampi series grew from the landscape, its layered history, and the deep relationship between people and the land. He described his work as a civilisational exploration rooted in the ancientness of the region, inspired by its gods, legends, and continuity of human habitation spanning more than 3,000 years. Drawn to the vastness and sculptural richness reminiscent of the Roman Empire, he gradually developed an emotional bond with the architectural identity of Vijayanagara.
To do justice to Hampi’s terrain and atmosphere, Das moved beyond his standard equipment, choosing panoramic and medium-format cameras. Months of revisiting the landscape and working in his darkroom helped him shape a visual narrative of this monumental civilisation. A retired photojournalist, Das now pursues darkroom printing with renewed passion.