Monday, January 4, 2010

Stepped Tank, Hampi

The stepped tank of 15th century within the Royal Enclosure of Hampi is one of the very ornate and proportionate in terms of design. This square tank built using black chlorite schist measures about 22 meters in square. It is 7 meters deep. 

It has five distinct tiers, each fitted with symmetric steps set in a pleasing pattern. It has five distinct tiers, each fitted with steps set in a pleasing pattern.

The mason marks on each step showing the exact position and direction in which it had to be placed, tells us that the layout of the tank was well designed. The stones were given the desired shape in some other place and later assembled here. Practically every stone is earmarked for this purpose and some bears even 'sketches' by its architects. This tank was fed by aqueducts which brought the water from the river to the tanks. The remains of aqueducts used for supplying water have been found in a number of locations near Hampi.

The purpose of this tank mostly could have been for religious ceremonies by the royals.

61 comments:

Kirigalpoththa said...

Very interesting work of art!

magiceye said...

amazing!

Zuzana said...

Very interesting, the design and purpose remind me of Roman baths.;) Always an experience to "travel" with you.;)
xo
Zuzana

sandeep said...

this is indeed one of the most interesting places indeed hampi ... nice pics as always

Carver said...

I love learning about your part of the world. Interesting post and photographs.

Sylvia K said...

Fascinating post, Rajesh! Love your photos, as always! Love learning about your country!

Have a great week!

Sylvia

storyteller at Small Reflections said...

How fascinating to see these views of your world ... a place I've not had the pleasure to visit. Thank you for sharing.
Hugs and blessings,

Randi said...

Very interesting post and photos of a fascinating and a unique place.

Martha Z said...

You show us so many interesting spots in your country.

The Good Life in Virginia said...

as always, you bring such interesting sites and history to my world. i enjoy your blog and posts.
have a wonderful week.
erin

Gaelyn said...

The tank is an amazing structure and engineering feat.

Arija said...

Indeed a most interesting and remarkable structure.

Samson said...

Lovely post Rajesh...

Hanuman

SandyCarlson said...

That is really, really neat. So much respect for beauty went into the design. Wonderful stuff.

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Rajesh: That is an amazingly designed pool.

Indrani said...

Great post Rajesh.

Have a Great Year ahead.

Pooch Purple Reign said...

very interesting rajesh !
i like it
~laura

Janie said...

What a fascinating structure! Amazing that it is so old and so well preserved.

Eden said...

Interesting and great captures..

Wolynski said...

Don't know what black chlorite schist is, but I'll take your word for it. Fascinating tank and great photos.

Unknown said...

It's a very nice structure, Rajesh

Anonymous said...

I believe, that one life is not enough to see all India`s fascinating places.
Also this post of today gets an imagination to move, thank you!

Gattina said...

Amazing what people could do with the means they had at this time !

Unseen India Tours said...

Beautiful and lovely shots !!/great post.

joo said...

Another fainating place!
Greetings:)

Hazel said...

It's fascinating!

eileeninmd said...

It is amazing and great photos, thanks for sharing the information.

Maia said...

Beautiful and informative post. I am happy to be your guest and visit your wonderful country through your blog.
Thanks for sharing.

ninja said...

My friend just came back from India. What an amazing country!

My name is Riet said...

That is a fascinating place and it is so nice to learn from so many people around the world. Thank you for sharing

Lowell said...

What I find amazing about all this is that the people who put it together did so without modern technology! How intricate and complicated it is!

Great pictures in a super post!

George said...

Thanks for sharing another impressive structure with us. The amount of work and planning that went into building this is mind-boggling.

Gwendolyn L said...

Fascinating. Thnaks for the history to go along with a very remarkable picture. Thanks for sharing.

Carol said...

Fascinating structure and photos.

Tammie Lee said...

Amazing structure, thank you for sharing this.

penny said...

Thanks for sharing the wonders of the world that you live in.

Sumandebray said...

Indeed an ornate stepped well.... the royals surely believed that whatever is worth doing is worth doing well

Carolyn Ford said...

What a great post. This is an impressive piece of history and you captured it so well.

tapirgal said...

What a curious place.

:.tossan® said...

Muito bacana mesmo, és um grande fotografo...Muito bom mesmo!

My Family Daily Adventure said...

Nice post, thanks for sharing...

James said...

I know that I've said it a lot but I'll say it a again amazing.

Anonymous said...

I am glad this structure is still dazzling. Happy New Year 2010

Unknown said...

very interesting engineering. an amazing structure.

Regina said...

Great place. Thank you for sharing.

Viji said...

What a b'ful architecture....Surviving natural well as human attacks!

Very Happy & Prosperous New Year!

Tania said...

Really nice place!:-)

Bhavesh Chhatbar said...

What a majestic place! I didn't know about stepped tanks in Hampi!! And what great planning by the architects then!!!

Bhangarh

Gena @ thinking aloud said...

Amazing scenery Rajesh!!!

Petit Eyekiss said...

Fascinaing shots. Thank you for sharing a little bit of your world.

Diane AZ said...

A fascinating structure, and you captured it so well. Thanks for the tour.

Helena said...

Wow... that's beautiful! You did a great job capturing the intricacy and precision of the stonework.

Phivos Nicolaides said...

Love the place!

Anonymous said...

That's amazing architecture, and it raises a lot of questions. Intriguing, indeed.

Mona Sweden said...

An amazing piece of work!

Regina said...

This is very intricate and fascinating. Was it used as a type of ceremonial bath?
Your sunsets below are beautiful as well! My best, Regina-

Anya said...

Fantastic post
thanks for sharing the beauty from your country :-)

fufu said...

wow this tank looks like the ancient hindu temple in indonesia :)

Pearl Maple said...

I do enjoy visiting India via your blog every week, always so much to see and experience.

Unknown said...

Rajesh,thanks for sharing your photo & interesting place to visit.
So keep em coming,thanks again & do have a nice day.

Rajesh said...

Sandeep, Kirigalpoththa, magiceye, Carver, Sylvia, Randi, Martha, Erin: Thanks for the appreciation.

Protege: Thanks, I am not aware of Roman baths. But now I would definitely want to see it.

Samson, F Guy, Indrani, Laura, Eden, Wolynski, Evelyn, Bharath, Joo, Hazel, Maia, Koala, eileeninmd: Thanks for the appreciation.

storyteller: Thanks, you are most welcome here.

Gaelyn, Arija, SandyCarlson, Janie, George, Deepak: Thanks, I agree with you.

Riet, Gwendolyn, Carol, Tammie Lee, Pam, tapirgal. Ford, tossan, MFD Adventure: Thanks for the appreciation.

LeenaM: Thanks for the appreciation & understanding.

James, Luna, Spiderdama, Gena, Petit, Diane, Phivos, Wren, Mona, Anya, fufu, Pearl, Awang: Thanks for the appreciation.

Viji, Regina: Thanks, I agree with you.

Gattina, Jacob, Sumandebray, Bhavesh, Helena: Thanks, true they did amazing structures without little resource.