Traditionally Dressed Indian Lady Sitting In Arched Window Recess At Queen's Bath, Hampi, Near Hospete, Karnataka, India Editorial Photo

The Queen's Bath is an imposing square structure in Indo-Islamic style. Though generally identified as the Queen's Bath, it is not known on what occasions it was used or by whom. The structure consists of a bath of 15 m square and 1.8 m deep with corridors surrounding it. A chute on the east provides water to the bath from a water channel that runs around the structure. A flight of steps leads to the bath at north. The corridors have 24 vaulted bays defined by arches. It has a small entrance at the south and large arched openings on all other three sides. A stair on the southeast side of the corridor leads to the roof of the structure. It also has eight balconies, two on each side, projecting into the bath. Another balcony projects into the exterior wall at the south. Both the exterior and interior faces of these balconies, are decorated with geometric, arabesque, and follate designs. Leaping yalis can be seen at the corners where the balconies meet the side walls. The ceiling of the corridor has varied plaster decorated domes and vaults with lotus medallion in the centre. The exterior of the structure is austere, except for the stone corbels indicating the presence of an eave in the past. A fragment of the original parapet is visible on the north.