Bhojana shala and bridge

There is no dearth of monuments in Hampi, and each one is more beautiful than the other. However, there are a few understated, but extremely interesting sites, which give us a keen insight into life as it was, in the erstwhile capital of the Vijayanagar Empire. One such less known site is the Bhojana shala, or what remains of it. On a lane just off the main road, you come across the sight of a long channel, with a row of plates on each side. What is so interesting about a row of plates? That they are made of stone, and date back centuries! Besides, the stretch here is about 10 m long, and is only a fraction of its original size! Such stone plates have been found all over Hampi, and it is believed that the channel ran across the town, and was meant for ordinary citizens. When the king announced a feast, it was meant for the whole city, but all citizens obviously couldn’t fit into the palace, so the Bhojana shala was built, with place for the people to sit on the side, while the serving men/women walked in the channel, serving food. The channel also helped clean the place, once everyone was done eating! Considering that this was made of stone, it appears that such public feasts were held regularly! What a triumph of public service! No less interesting or impressive are the ancient stone columns standing near the river. These once were a part of the bridge which connected Hampi to the more ancient town on the other bank of the river, Anegundi. The bridge has long fallen, but the pillars remain, a lasting testimony to the city builders of that era.