The Raya Trail – Power and Grandeur of a Lost Empire

Step into the corridors of kings on the Raya Trail, a private journey through Hampi’s regal quarters and royal enclosures. This curated experience delves into the political and ceremonial epicentre of the Vijayanagara Empire, where grand vision met architectural mastery. Begin at the Queen’s Bath, a serene and striking Indo-Islamic structure that speaks of leisure and diplomacy. Move onward to the Royal Enclosure, where elevated platforms and subterranean chambers whisper of coronations, war councils, and courtly spectacle. Your expert guide animates these ruins with stories of Krishnadevaraya—the empire’s greatest ruler—and his legendary court of poets, philosophers, and warriors. Admire the stepped Hazara Rama Temple, whose carved panels depict episodes from the Ramayana in exquisite linear narrative. The trail also includes the Mahanavami Dibba—a colossal platform where grand processions unfolded against the backdrop of a vast horizon. Enhance your experience with a private Bharatanatyam performance staged beside the Lotus Mahal or a curated lunch amid the ruins, inspired by historical recipes of the Vijayanagara court. The Raya Trail is not merely about palaces and platforms—it is an immersive passage into the political theatre of one of India’s greatest empires, its sophistication echoing still in every chiselled stone.