Royal Enclosure: Mahanavami Dibba & Stepped Tank
Mahanavami Dibba
The giant stone platform where the king watched festivals, and the geometrically symmetrical black-stone stepped tank, are the most photogenic remains in the Royal Enclosure.
The Royal Enclosure was the political heart of the empire. The palace's timber structures have been lost, leaving only the bases and water works. The Mahanavami Dibba is a three-tiered stone platform, said to be where the king watched the Mahanavami festival. Its walls are carved with hunting scenes, dancing and foreign envoys. The stepped tank beside it, excavated in the 1980s and built of black schist, has precisely symmetrical steps and is one of Hampi's most common postcard views. The site is open-air with little shade. Admission is free.
Opening hours
About 08:30–17:30
Nearby sights
- Hazara Rama Temple
- Queen's Bath
- Lotus Mahal
- Elephant Stables
- Underground Shiva Temple
- Archaeological Museum, Kamalapura
- Pattabhirama Temple
- Matanga Hill