Ghumakkad Harsh: Women Warriors of Hampi

Thursday 27 July 2017

Women Warriors of Hampi

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:

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

A tourist guide map of Hampi coutesy www.hampi.in for those who haven't yet been there:

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.

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.