Education

Archaeological Survey of India

Lotus Mahal, Kamalapuram, Karnataka

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/education/archaeological-survey-of-india/buddhas-miracle-at-sankissa,-lalitagiri,-odisha

Provides information about Buddha's Miracle at Sankissa, Lalitagiri, Odisha, Carved out of Khondalite stone.

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Provides information about Rajiv Lochan Temple, located in Rajim, also known as the “Prayag of Chhattisgarh,” situated at the confluence of the Mahanadi, Sondur, and Pairi rivers.

/education/archaeological-survey-of-india/brihadisvara-temple,-gangaikondacholapuram,-tamil-nadu

Provides information about Gangaikondacholapuram, Tamil Nadu, once the glorious capital of the Cholas, where the majestic Brihadisvara Temple stands as a symbol of imperial power, devotion, and timeless artistry.

/education/archaeological-survey-of-india/nadan-mahal,-lucknow,-uttar-pradesh

Provides information about Tomb of Shaikh Abdur Rahim at Lucknow, known as Nadan Mahal, who served as the Subedar (Governor) of Awadh during the reign of Mughal Emperor Akbar (1556–1605 CE).

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Provides information about Khirkee Masjid, built between 1351 and 1358 CE, located at Khirkee near Malviya Nagar in South Delhi.

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Provides information about Bolosan, presently known as Nuchubunglo, meaning “hill of stone jars”, is believed to have been used as an ancestral bone repository by an ancient tribe.

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Provides information about  Parthasarathi and Krishna Temples Complex, Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, one of the earliest and finest surviving monuments of the Ay dynasty.

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Provides information about exploration and excavation at Taranga, near Taran Dharan Mata Temple of Mehsana, Gujarat.

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Provides information about Excavations at Asurgarh Fort in Kalahandi District, Odisha, conducted by ASI between 2018-19.

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Provides information about  8th-9th century CE Jyotirling Temple, Bagalkote, Karnataka, located at Aihole, the ancient capital of Chalukyas of Badami.

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Provides information about Temple of Bhandareshwar, located at Wairagrah in Gadchiroli district, Maharashtra.

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Provides information about Shiva Temple at Billawar in Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir, which was built by King Babhruvahana, the son of Arjuna.

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Provides information about Damri Masjid located within Ahmednagar Cantonment, one of the finest surviving examples of Nizam Shahi architecture

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Provides information about Sinauli Chariot, a 4,000-year-old chariot, excavated in 2018 from the ancient burial site of Sinauli, stands among the most significant archaeological discoveries in recent decades.

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Provides information about Ananta Basudeva Temple, located on the eastern bank of Bindusagar, the only major Vaishnava temple in Ekamra Kshetra built in 1278 CE during the reign of Bhanudeva I.

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Provides information about Siddhesvara Temple located in Dewas, Madhya Pradesh, standing gracefully on the right bank of the Narmada river.

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Provides information about the Varaha Mandapa Rock-cut Cave Shrine, located in Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu, which dates to the 7th century CE and is attributed to the reign of the Pallava King Narasimhavarman I (630–668 CE).

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where very thin silver threads turn into stories of tradition and craftsmanship with unique style.

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Provides information about Ganesh Lena situated in the Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra, one of the 29 rock-cut caves at the ancient site of Pranalaka, collectively known as the Panhale Kaji Caves.

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Provides information about Siva Temple, Avittathur, Kerala, located at Avittathur (ancient Avittiputtur) in Thrissur district of Kerala.

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Provides information about Vijaydurg Fort, surrounded by water on three sides and strategically located on the southern bank of the Vaghotan River near the Kharepatan Creek, which historically functioned as a port.

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Provides information about Bara Gumbad Tomb and Masjid, Lodhi Garden, Delhi

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Provides information about the rock-cut Bodhisattva Maitreya at Mulbekh, rising nearly fifty feet high, stands as a remarkable symbol of Ladakh’s early Buddhist heritage.

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Provides information about Gandikota Fort, one of Andhra Pradesh’s best hill forts and is enclosed by nearly 8 km of massive fortification, with imposing bastions and monumental gateways

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Provides information about Buddhist Monastery at Likir, founded around 1065 CE during the reign of Lhachen Gyalpo, the fifth king of Ladakh.

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Provides information about Chandramanleshwar Temple, Unkal, Karnataka, built in the 12th century CE, which is a fine example of Western Chalukyan architecture.

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Provides information about Narthamalai, Pudukkottai, Tamil Nadu, the Vijayalacholiswaram temple which is an important early medieval monument.

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Provides information about Brahmi inscriptions at the Gundaram rock shelter in Telangana, providing new evidence on the region’s early history and the Satavahana period.

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Hemis Monastery is located on a hillock in Leh District, Union Territory of Ladakh.

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Provides information about the Korlai Fort, located on a cliff forming the western edge of the Kundalika River.

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Provides information about Lalpeth Monoliths, which comprise 16 massive stone sculptures arranged in a rough circle around a Shiva linga.

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Provides information about Badbil Ushakuthi, the first documented cave art site in Odisha recorded by Archaeological Survey of India.

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Provides information about the Lohani Caves, rock-cut caves dating to the 11th–12th century CE, as inferred from nearby ruins, with simple designs and no inscriptions.

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Provides information about Rahatgarh Fort, considered one of the largest forts in Central India, with its fortified walls enclosing an area of about 66 acres.

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Provides information about Sahet-Mahet, Balrampur, Madhya Pradesh, an ancient site identified with Sravasti, the ancient capital of the kingdom of Kosala, situated on the bank of the Rapti.

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Provides information about an ancient mound locally known as Thakurani Tila is located in Paschim Pilak in South Tripura district.

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Provides information about two Chandella Temples located near the embankment of Phuta Tal in Chitrakut, Uttar Pradesh, which are built on a lofty common platform between two hills and are collectively known as Chandel Mandir.

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Provides information about Sikhanathaswami Temple, in Kudumiyanmalai, Pudukkottai of Tamil Nadu, one of the largest temple complexes in the region.

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Provides information about the Perso-Arabic inscription belongs to the mausoleum of Muḥammad Ghaus Gwaliori, a sixteenth-century Shattari Sufi saint.

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Provides information about Asokan Rock Edict, Bahapur (Kailash Colony), New Delhi, written in Aśokan Brāhmī in the Prakrit language and dated to 3rd cen. BCE, the inscription is an important record of the Mauryan period.

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Provides information about Lotus Mahal, also known as the Chitragni Mahal, is one of the finest architectural structures of the Vijayanagara Empire, located within the Zanana Enclosure at Hampi.

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Provides information about Someshvar Temple located in Gadag, Karnataka, which dates back to the 11th – 12th century CE and belongs to the Kalyan Chalukya period, reflecting a refined and structured architectural style.

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Provides information about excavations at Kodumanal, a habitation-cum-burial site in Erode District, Tamil Nadu, which revealed early historic cultural remains dated to approximately the 4th-3rd century BCE.

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Provides information about Panchapandavar Bed, an important archaeological site, located near Kilaiyur and Kilavalavu, around 40 km from Madurai district, Tamil Nadu.

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Provides information about Kalsi located in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, only site in North India where Emperor Asoka inscribed all fourteen Rock Edicts.

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Provides information about Temple of Bhandareshwar, dates back to 12th-13th century CE, located at Wairagrah in Gadchiroli district.

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Provides information about Patalpuri Cave, a group of ancient rock-cut caves located on a hill facing the Ganges River near Kahalgaon in Bhagalpur district, Bihar.

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Provides information about Karli Mahadev Temple, a simple yet significant shrine dedicated to  Shiva located in Dantewada, Chhattisgarh.

/education/archaeological-survey-of-india/mansar-talav-and-shrines,-ahmedabad

Provides information about Mansar Talav and Shrines, situated around 60 km from Ahmedabad at Viramgam town, is a significant historic ensemble with striking aesthetic features from the Solanki period.

/education/archaeological-survey-of-india/rudranath-temple,-chamoli,-uttarakhand

Provides information about Rudranath Temple, locally known as Gopinath, located in Gopeshwar, district Chamoli, on the way to Ukhimath.

/education/archaeological-survey-of-india/gollingeswara-group-of-temples,-east-godavari,-andhra-pradesh

Provides information about Gollingeswara Group of Temples at Biccavolu, built by the famous Eastern Chalukya king Gunagavijayaditya III (Birudanka Bhima) during the 9th century CE.

/education/archaeological-survey-of-india/muralimohan-temple,-bishnupur,-west-bengal

Provides information about Muralimohan Temple in Bishnupur, West Bengal built by Rani Chudamani, wife of Vira Simha, in 1665 CE.

/education/archaeological-survey-of-india/ancient-monastery-and-stupa-at-harwan-in-srinagar

Provides information about the Ancient Monastery and Stupa at Harwan in Srinagar, which dates by between the 1st- 5th century CE.

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Provides information about archaeological heritage in India, including historical sites, monuments, and conservation efforts.

Information and user guides for digital learning tools such as DIKSHA, SWAYAM, and ePathshala.

<h3>Lotus Mahal, Kamalapuram, Karnataka</h3>
<p><img style="max-width: 100%; height: 240px; float: right;" src="https://static.vikaspedia.in/mediastorage/filestorage/20260819233816_LotusMahal.webp" alt="Uploaded Image" width="451">Lotus Mahal, also known as the Chitragni Mahal, is one of the finest architectural structures of the Vijayanagara Empire, located within the Zanana Enclosure at Hampi. The Mahal derives its name from its beautiful, geometrically arranged cusped arches that resemble the petals of the lotus opening to the sun.</p>
<p>The visually appealing structure of Lotus Mahal has two levels, with open pavilions at the bottom and balconies above.&nbsp; The two-storied open pavilion is built on a square plan with recessed sides, a layout that was popular among Vijayanagara architects. The ground floor features an ornate stone adhishthana (moulded base) and twenty-four square pillars supporting recessed, foliated arches. The pillars are decorated with stone carvings of aquatic animals and plants, while the cornice has a slightly curved cyma recta shape. The superstructure consists of nine pyramidal shikharas of varying sizes, reflecting traditional Indian architecture. Lotus Mahal continues to captivate visitors with its beauty, symmetry, and timeless elegance.</p>
<p>Proudly perched atop Hemakuta Hill, The Lotus Mahal (Lotus Palace) stands as a symbol of the Vijayanagara Empire&rsquo;s architectural prowess. This masterpiece is aptly named for its striking resemblance to the unfurling petals of a lotus bud. It perfectly reflects the fusion of Islamic and Hindu designs, making it a must-see attraction for visitors of the region.</p>
<h3>A Design that Defies Heat</h3>
<p>Enter this majestic palace and you will find cooling breezes even during scorching summers. This is because the Lotus Mahal was constructed as an air-conditioned residence for one of the wives of the Vijayanagara ruler, King Krishnadevaraya. Innovative design features like its rooftop water tank and network of water pipes integrated into beams and columns ensured cooling no matter how hot it got outside.</p>
<h3>Echoes of the Past</h3>
<p>The Lotus Mahal was constructed as a luxurious palace fit for royalty of the Vijayanagara Empire during the 15th century. Its splendid three-story structure is an architectural marvel, supported by 24 intricately carved pillars and no walls.</p>
<p>The allure of this palace lies not only in its architecture but also in the stories it holds within its walls. Built as a retreat for royal ladies of yesteryear, this was a place of calm for the Queen of King Krishnadevaraya. It also served as a pivotal meeting place for King Arjuna and his ministers, where pivotal decisions were made, and history unfolded within these walls.</p>
<p><strong>Sources</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><a title="External website that opens in a new window" href="https://asi.nic.in/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Archaeological Survey of India</a></li>
<li><a title="External website that opens in a new window" href="https://vijayanagara.nic.in/en/tourist-place/kamalmahal-hampi/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kamalmahal Hampi</a></li>
<li><a title="External website that opens in a new window" href="https://www.incredibleindia.gov.in/en/karnataka/hampi/lotus-mahal" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A Timeless Masterpiece</a></li>
</ul>
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