Lotus Mahal, Hampi
A two-storey Vijayanagara pavilion with arched openings and lotus-bud towers inside the Zenana Enclosure.
Overview
The Lotus Mahal is the most photographed building in the Zenana Enclosure. This guide covers its design, entry fees and how it fits with the Elephant Stables next door.
The Lotus Mahal, also known as Chitrangini Mahal, is the best-preserved building in the Zenana Enclosure, the walled area of the royal centre that where the Archaeological Survey of India places the queen's palace. Wikipedia calls it a two-storeyed structure of rubble masonry and fine plaster, laid out symmetrically with equal projections on four sides.
It has arched openings in several planes with elaborate plasterwork, eight pyramidal towers at the corners and a taller tower in the centre; the domed upper part gives the building its lotus-bud outline. The style mixes Indian temple-tower forms with arches that show Islamic influence.
ASI's Hampi page says the Zenana enclosure holds a massive stone basement of the queen's palace and the ornate pavilion called Lotus Mahal, which it describes as one of the remnants of a luxurious antahpura. Tourist sites often say the building was a summer pavilion for royal women; the sources we read call it a residence of the royal family, and its exact use is not firmly established here.
The lawns and watchtowers around it, and the Elephant Stables a short walk east, are usually seen together. Ticket coverage: a secondary guide says the Vittala ticket is valid the same day for the Zenana Enclosure. The ASI page does not state this, so confirm at the gate.
Entry fees
Entry
Adult (Indian)
Adult Indian citizen. ASI's Hampi page lists Rs 40 for SAARC and BIMSTEC nationals; Karnataka Tourism states about Rs 40 for Indian visitors. ASI's Hampi fee list does not name the Zenana Enclosure; hampi.in says the Vittala ticket is valid here the same day. ASI publishes Hampi-wide ticket rates; that this monument is covered by that ticket is not stated by ASI.
Source: Karnataka Tourism – Hampi
₹40 per person
Partially verifiedAdult (foreign national)
ASI: 'Other Foreign Visitor: Total Rs.600/-'. ASI's Hampi fee list does not name the Zenana Enclosure; hampi.in says the Vittala ticket is valid here the same day. ASI publishes Hampi-wide ticket rates; that this monument is covered by that ticket is not stated by ASI.
Source: Archaeological Survey of India – Hampi (1986), Karnataka
₹600 per person
Partially verifiedSAARC / BIMSTEC nationals
ASI: Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Maldives, Afghanistan and BIMSTEC countries (adds Thailand, Myanmar) pay Rs 40 per head. ASI's Hampi fee list does not name the Zenana Enclosure; hampi.in says the Vittala ticket is valid here the same day. ASI publishes Hampi-wide ticket rates; that this monument is covered by that ticket is not stated by ASI.
Source: Archaeological Survey of India – Hampi (1986), Karnataka
₹40 per person
Partially verifiedChild (Indian)
ASI: free entry for children below 15 years. ASI's Hampi fee list does not name the Zenana Enclosure; hampi.in says the Vittala ticket is valid here the same day. ASI publishes Hampi-wide ticket rates; that this monument is covered by that ticket is not stated by ASI.
Source: Archaeological Survey of India – Hampi (1986), Karnataka
Free
Child (foreign national)
ASI: free entry for children below 15 years. ASI's Hampi fee list does not name the Zenana Enclosure; hampi.in says the Vittala ticket is valid here the same day. ASI publishes Hampi-wide ticket rates; that this monument is covered by that ticket is not stated by ASI.
Source: Archaeological Survey of India – Hampi (1986), Karnataka
Free
Fees shown are ASI's Hampi-wide entry fees. Whether a separate ticket is sold at the Zenana Enclosure is not stated on the ASI page; hampi.in says the Vittala ticket is valid the same day. Confirm at the gate.
Opening hours
ASI lists Hampi's monuments as open sunrise to sunset; hampi.in gives 6am–6pm (unverified).
hampi.in lists 6am–6pm for the Zenana Enclosure, Elephant Stable and Lotus Mahal.
Visitor information
- Best time to visit
- October to February
- Best time of day
- Early morning for soft light on the plasterwork
- How long to spend
- 45–60 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Families
- Suitable for families
Good to know
- Do not climb on the walls or pavilion
- Keep to marked paths inside the enclosure
Location
Hampi, Hosapete taluk, Vijayanagara district, Karnataka (Zenana Enclosure, Kamalapura Road)
Hampi, Karnataka, India
15.32030, 76.47130
Get directionsPhotos
The Lotus Mahal. Photo: Chaduvari / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 The Lotus Mahal at dawn. Photo: Rohit14400 / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 Flat elevation of the Lotus Mahal. Photo: iMahesh / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 Pillars and arches of the Lotus Mahal. Photo: Ankit.k9 / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 The Lotus Mahal within the royal enclosure. Photo: Rama Warrier / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
Frequently asked questions
Why is it called Lotus Mahal?
Wikipedia says the dome gives the impression of an open lotus bud; the building is also called Chitrangini Mahal.
Do I need a separate ticket for the Lotus Mahal?
The ASI page does not say. hampi.in states that the Vittala Temple ticket is valid for the Zenana Enclosure on the same day; confirm at the gate.
Information sources
Where the facts on this page come from, and what still needs confirming.
Information last checked 7 October 2026
Not yet confirmed
- Whether Zenana Enclosure ticket is shared with Vittala (hampi.in)
- Exact hours
Not available yet
- ASI per-monument ticket notice
- Karnataka Tourism – Hampi · Tourism board
- Archaeological Survey of India – Hampi (1986), Karnataka · Government
- Wikipedia – Lotus Mahal · Encyclopedia
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