Women Empowerment is a fashionable word with sociologists, business leaders, economists, politicians, governments, United Nations and the like. But the Vijayanagara Empire in India knew how to empower their women 500 years ago. Yes, Hampi has proof of it. This story captures the theme 'Women Warriors' through pictures.
Those who came in late and have not yet browsed our earlier stories on Hampi a World Heritage Site, here are the quick links:
Besides portraying the women warriors, Ghumakkad also takes you to the following 15th century monuments in Hampi:
The menace of defacing historical monuments, public places, escalators and even tree barks persists across the globe. But in India, they take their time to scratch and dig their names into walls like in Hampi. As if the defacers will become immortal!
These pictures were taken in Feb-17 when four of us visited Hampi.
Royal Enclosure
Credit goes to Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) for making the whole Hampi site 'disabled-friendly'. See the braille signage below and a ramp for wheel-chair bound tourists few pictures later.
Mahanavami Dibba- Ceremonial Platform for the King
See the sheer size of the royal platform! A man on top of the platform dwarfs in comparion.
Here is a short 20-second video showing the carvings. Granite unlike sandstone and marble, is not easy to carve!
A woman warrior riding a battle horse! More sculptures of women warriors to come.
Pushkarni- Step well and water reservoir for inmates of royal enclosure
Public Bath
Feel the size of this 500-year old swimming pool with diving boards too, in this short 20-seconds video. Please ignore the howling wind in the background.
Giant sized dinner plates in stone. Imagine the appetite and built of the diners of that era!
More Women Warriors...
Queen's Dance Hall
- Hyderabad to Hampi- Where Ghumakkad got lost in time
- Vitthala Temple and Royal Chariot
- Hiking in Hampi
- Confusion at Hampi- Ugra or Lakshmi Narasimha
- Coracles not for the weak hearted
- The Lotus Mahal
- Charm of a Sunset at Hampi
Besides portraying the women warriors, Ghumakkad also takes you to the following 15th century monuments in Hampi:
- Queen's Bath
- Royal Enclosure including a video clip
- Mahanavami Dibba
- Cabinet Room
- Pushkarni
- Public Bath including a short video
- Troops Barracks
- Queen's Dance Hall
Let the pictures do the talking.
In the next part, we will visit Virupaksha Temple which is a 'live' temple in Hampi.
Ghumakkad has shared a set of ten stories on Hampi, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You may browse it by clicking the following links:
Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary
Thanks for browsing. Do share your impressions/experiences.
- Harsh-the-Ghumakkad with Neeta Bhargava/ 27th July 2017
Daroji Sloth Bear Sanctuary
Thanks for browsing. Do share your impressions/experiences.
- Harsh-the-Ghumakkad with Neeta Bhargava/ 27th July 2017
Very interesting Heritage on women empowerment. Question is How , when and why did it lost. However it is reviving now.
ReplyDeleteStill many families on to oppose. Thanks for this great article.
Thanks to you Sir I needn't visit these marvelous places reading you Blog is educative and illustrurative enough. Thanks and Regards. @ rakesh
ReplyDeleteThis reminds us of our visit to Hampi in the year 2018 or 2019. We also saw stables for horses and a place to keep armoury. We were also told that in the Rani Mahal, there are ducts all around, in which water flows, to keep the surroundings cool (aka airconditioning)
ReplyDeleteSome of the carvings are absolute beauty.
How advanced their planning and craftsmanship was, before concrete, elctricity etc
You have vividly brought out the the spirit & soul of Hampi, we enjoyed the blog, as we could relate to this.
Thanks also to bring out the women's power
Can't thank Cmde Harsh Bhargava enough for the details of Hampi,I've included it in my bucket list.Can't our experts in restoration try and remove the ugly graffiti,a national shame.
ReplyDeleteVery enlightening. Thanks
ReplyDelete