Queen's Bath, Hampi

The Queen's Bath stands just outside the Royal Enclosure in Hampi. It is usually credited to King Achyuta Raya, who is believed to have built it for the women of the royal household, though some historians think the king bathed here too, or that it was a pleasure pavilion. Plain from the outside, it mixes Hindu and Islamic design within.

At its heart is an open-air rectangular pool 1.8 m deep, with steps going down into the water. Around it runs an arched corridor with projecting balconies and pillars, and the vaulted ceilings of the bays are covered in fine stucco work. An aqueduct brought in fresh water. A moat surrounds the building and is crossed by a bridge, perhaps so that no one could get in while the bath was in use.