Uber luxury in the lap of history

Hampi – the seat of the great Vijayanagara Empire that is steeped in history has several legends, and stories attached to it. Add to it the grandeur of Vijayanaga king Krishnadevaraya, the Ashta Diggajas and the literary splendour, season it with the architectural marvel of the ruins and the magnificence of the monuments that continue to entice despite the plunder of the erstwhile Sultans and the negligence of the modern-day tourists – and you have one of the best tourist destinations of India.

The rocks, the Tungabhadra river, the forts and the walls, the scenic natural views – Hampi in its totality seduces travel enthusiasts so much so that you have the seasoned tourists, the hitchhikers, the honeymooners and the weekend travellers, history buffs and leisure seeking groups heading to this historic destination – some of them making it their address for weeks at a time and exploring the region from this scenic rocky terrain.

Adding a landmark property to this beautiful destination is Evolve Back, formerly known as Orange County, the chain of luxury resorts that has mastered the art of creating exquisite holiday experiences that reflect the natural abundance and culture of the land.

The uber-luxury resort, Evolve Back Kamalapuri Palace at Hampi designed by the travel enthusiast, head architect and managing director George Ramapuram takes its inspiration from the temple and Indo-Islamic architecture that one gets to see in this UNESCO World Heritage site, Hampi.

To begin with it is a palatial complex with boundary wall that resembles the seven stone walls that formed the fortification of the ancient Hampi, the driveway inspired by the stone paved main boulevards that used to lead to temple and the entrance derived from the principal fort in Anegundi set the Raya tone, followed by the pool area, the buildings that house the restaurants, spa and the curio shop, and the common areas and suites that are designed on the same lines incorporating the arches, the aqueduct fed temple tanks and open courtyards that go back in style to Vijayanagara Empire.

The resort has two F&B outlets – Tuluva that in addition to offering buffets featuring Indian and international cuisines also has on it’s a la carte, the humungous Vijayanagara Thali featuring dishes that go back in time and are locally popular; Bahmani on the other hand features the royal Deccani cuisine that has heavy Mughlai influence.

Yet another highlight of the property is the Vaidyasala spa that has therapies derived from Ayurveda executed by professionals. Leisure activities include tour packages guided by experts, entertainment options, story time, live music devised to keep the evenings exhilarating and guests excited and occupied.

The suites categorised as Jal Mahal, Zenana, Nilaya and Nivasa up the uber-ante. Ranging between Rs 37,000 to Rs 50,000 per night, they are all expansive with an inbuilt jacuzzi, and tasteful interiors that are sleek and contemporary in terms of amenities and comfort, and old world in their interiors and charm.

The Jal Mahal is the most exclusive of the lot with its lounge and dining space, and tastefully decorated bedroom opening into two porches, private pool and open-air jacuzzi and a private deck designed like a “mantapa”, and spacious rest and bath area - offering opulence, privacy, attention to detail that gladdens the heart, and an experience that makes for a memorable holiday.