Queen's Bath, Hampi, Krishnapura, Karnataka, India

The Square Water Pavilion, also called the Queen's Bath, is in the south-east of the royal centre of Hampi, India.

It has a pavilion, a water basin and a method of moving fresh water to it and taking away wash water and overflows.

The basin is enclosed within an ornate, pillared, vaulted bay. Nearby are ruins of the aqueduct.

The modern name of this building, the Queen's bath, is probably a misnomer because this was a public bath for men and travellers.

The building's interior arches show influence from Indo-Islamic architecture, reflecting an era in which Hindu and Muslim arts influenced each other in India.

Queen's Bath

«This is an imposing square structure in Indo-Islamic style. Though generally identified as the Queen's Bath, it is not known on what occasions it was used or by whom. The structure consists of a bath of 15 m square and 1.8 m deep with corridors surrounding it. A chute on the east provides water to the bath from a water channel that runs around the structure. A flight of steps leads to the bath at, north. The corridors have 94 vaulted bays defined by arches. It has a small entrance at the south and large arched openings on all other three Sides. A stair on the southeast side of the corridor leads to the roof of the structure. It also has eight balconies, two on each side, projecting into the bath. Another’ balcony projects into the exterior wall at the south. Both the exterior and interior faces of these balconies. are decorated with geometric, arabesque, and foliate designs. Leaping yalis can. be seen at the comers where the balconies meet the side walls. The ceiling of the corridor has varied plaster decorated domes and vaults with lotus medallion in the centre. The exterior of the structure is austere, except for the stone corbels indicating the presence of an eave in the past. A fragment of the original parapet is visible on the north.»

Queen's bath seen from west

Entering the Queen's bath from south

Panorama of the interior of the Queen's bath

At the center of the structure is a large sunken bath, measuring 15 square meters and 1.8 meters deep.
Surrounding the bath are beautiful arched corridors with pillars and projecting ornate balconies.
The ceilings and vaults above the arched bays are adorned with intricate carved stucco ornamentation.
The bath itself is open to the sky, with no ceiling over it.
There are stone steps leading down to the floor of the bath.
The entire structure is surrounded by a moat, which likely served as a source of water and a security barrier.