The essentials
The royal centre lay in the south-western part of the settlement. Although called a royal centre, it contained over sixty temples, showing that kings sought to link themselves with the divinities worshipped there. About thirty building complexes have been identified as palaces; they had no ritual function and were built of materials such as wood that have not survived, so only the stone bases remain.
The Mahanavami Dibba (the "king's palace" in older descriptions) is a massive platform rising from a base of about 11,000 sq ft to a height of 40 ft. It was probably connected with rituals of the Mahanavami festival, held in the autumn months of September and October. Rituals included worship of the image, of the state horse, and sacrifices of animals, followed by dances, wrestling and processions. On the last day the king inspected his army and that of the nayakas.
Key points
- Lotus Mahal: an elegant building given its name by British travellers in the nineteenth century. Its purpose is unclear; one suggestion, from Mackenzie's map, is that it was a council chamber where the king met advisers.
- Hazara Rama temple: probably used only by the king and his family; its walls carry sculpted panels from the Ramayana and scenes of processions.
- Other structures include the audience hall (a platform with wooden pillars) and elephant stables.
- Travellers' accounts, for example by Domingo Paes, describe festivals and the splendour of the court.
Common mistakes
- "Lotus Mahal" is a modern name, not the name used by the rulers.
- The Mahanavami festival is associated with Navaratri/Dussehra, held in autumn, not spring.