Elephant Stables

One of the last few structures which were destroyed in Hampi were the Elephant Stable, which is a major tourist attraction. This is a long structure with a row of domed chambers which were used to keep royal elephants. There are in all 11 doomed chambers of which some are inter connected. The center chamber is specially decorated and quite huge. Probably the musicians and associated band troupes had been using this during ceremonies involved in the processions of elephants.

The building as such looks symmetrical with respect to the central hall. The tower of the central hall looks like the temple shrines though most of it is destroyed. The five pairs of domes which have remained intact are of the Islamic style; they are better preserved. Metal hooks which are used to tie the elephants on the inside roof can be seen. At the rear of each hall are small manhole type openings for the mahouts to enter the elephant  compartments. Elephant Stables can be reached through the Zenana Enclosure, proceed to the Guard’s Quarters and move to the Ranga Temple located  a bit south of it all.

The elephant stable was constructed in the 15th century, during the reign of the Vijayanagara Empire. As the name indicates, the stable was constructed to house the royal elephants of the Vijayanagara Empire.

The elaborate structure indicates the importance attached to the royal elephants during those days. It also suggests the amazing craftsmanship of the artisans of that era.

Timings : 8.30 AM to 5.30 PM, all days of the week

Entry Fees : Applicable for locals and foreigners and children above 15 years of age

Photography : Allowed with no extra charge

Best Time to Visit : From November to February

Hampi is a tourist destination that is well-known for its ruins. The elephant stable is one of the few intact structures in Hampi. Placed within a short distance of the Zenana enclosure and the Guard’s Quarters, the stable is situated in an easily accessible area of Hampi.

It is also one of the few buildings in Hampi that require tourists to have a ticket to visit it.

By Air- Hampi is an ancient village without an airport of its own. Ballari (Bellary) is the nearest town to have an airport. Bellary is located at a distance of around 64 km from Hampi. Visitors can reach Bellary by taking a flight to the small town and then travel to Hampi by means of local transport.

By Rail- Hampi has no railway station of its own. The closest railway station is situated in the city of Hospet. Hospet has the Hospet Junction Railway Station. Hospet stands at a distance of around 10 km from Hampi.

An easy way to reach Hampi from Hospet is to board a bus. A few other means of local transport also exists and visitors can avail them to reach Hampi from Hospet.

By Road- Hampi is known for its good road network. It is well-connected to many towns and cities with the help of this network. There are several KSRTC buses that operate between Hampi and some other towns and cities in Karnataka. Visitors can reach Hampi by taking a bus or by hiring private cars, cabs or other vehicles from the major cities like Bengaluru (Bangalore) or Mysuru (Mysore).