Orange County Resorts & Hotels Ltd., one of India’s largest and oldest experiential resort companies announced the launch of their brand-new property at Hampi, Karnataka in South India. Called the ‘Evolve Back Kamalapura Palace’, the new property featuring thirty-seven luxury suits across three classes and nine Private Pool Villas called Jal Mahal, is a visual treat with its stand out Vijayanagara styled architecture and refreshing theme based design. Developed at a cost of 70 crore the new resort will also generate employment in this ‘Temple Town’ as it is fondly known and look to drive tourism to this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Orange County Resorts and Hotels Ltd. has also announced that they will be rebranding all their properties to be called ‘Evolve Back’ hence forth. This rebranding is in line with their aggressive growth plans in India and overseas. The company currently operates three resort properties in Coorg, Kabini and Hampi, in Karanataka, India and felt the need to rebrand themselves to a more suitable brand name that reflects the core essence of what they represent - ‘To provide exquisite holiday experiences while preserving and showcasing the purity of nature and culture of the land’. A philosophy enshrined in the tagline ‘Spirit of the land’.
Adds Jose Ramapuram, Director Marketing of Orange County Resorts and Hotels, “We are planning several new resort projects in the coming months. In fact, work will begin shortly in Madhya Pradesh for our next upcoming luxury property. We believe that Evolve Back as a brand name better represents the brand’s core promise of creating signature experiences that bring the local nature,culture and tradition to life in every one of our distinctive properties and delivering all these with the best in comforts and luxuries.”
About Evolve Back Kamalapura Palace in Hampi
Hampi, based in the Deccan Plateau region in South India was the capital of the erstwhile Vijayanagara Empire. Famously known as the ‘temple town’, the ruins of this ancient city that is recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was a perfect location for Evolve Back’s new property.
Evolve Back Kamalapura Palace in Hampi is inspired by the grandeur and magnificence of the 14th Century Vijayanagara Empire and is located 4 kilometres from the historic ruins of Hampi. Kamalapura Palace complements its surrounding by adding to its beauty and splendour, while enthralling its guests with its luxurious offerings.
The Evolve Back property in all its resplendence is a glorious tribute to the hey days of the Vijayanagara empire. The entire project has been designed after the promoters spent many months with the locals and in studying the history of the region. Special care has been taken to weave in the cultural and traditional aspects of Hampi into the architecture, the theme, the interiors and other aspects of Evolve Back Kamalapura Palace. Visitors to the property will get to soak in a slice of history though the myriad elements that make a play for one’s senses during their stay.
Architecture
Mr. George Ramapuram, Managing Director and Head – Architecture and Design at Evolve Back is the creator of this palatial and majestic property in Hampi. Inspired by the architectural styles of the Vijayanagara Empire, the medieval experience transports the guests into a different era altogether. The architecture of the Vijayanagara Empire can be broadly divide into two forms, temple and secular architecture both of which have been incorporated in the Kamalapura Palace.
The resort has a fort like entrance which is inspired by the Anegundi Fort, the principal fort in the area. The rounded fortifications are typical of Islamic fort architecture, designed to withstand canon fire. The driveway is inspired by the stone paved main boulevards that used to lead to the ancient temples of Hampi. The interiors incorporate various elements, from the Indo – Islamic style arches, the aqueduct fed temple tanks to the open to sky central courtyard. The suites and common guest areas have the more elaborate, almost feminine arches while the corridors have a more utilitarian style of arches that are typical of the military architectural style of Hampi. The boundary walls are modelled after the seven stone walls that provided the fortifications of the ancient city of Hampi.
Dining Options
The Dining experience has been carefully crafted to give a royal experience to guests. ‘Tuluva’ – the multi-cuisine restaurant, is named after the most notable and cosmopolitan dynasty of the Vijayanagara Empire. It was the third Hindu dynasty that ruled the famed empire during the late 15th & 16th century, attaining its greatest glory.
The Tuluva, overlooking the infinity pool, offers a delectable selection of cuisines with global and regional notes that are as unique and imaginative as it is sumptuous and varied.
‘Bahmani’– a specialty restaurant, derives its name from the Bahmani Sultanate, the northern neighbour of the Vijaynagara empire. The Bahmani Sultanate sowed the seeds of the Deccani or Hyderabadi cuisine of India, an amalgamation of Persian and indigenous influences. Evolved over centuries and patronized by the royalty and nobility of the region, it epitomizes the art of luxurious dining.
Key Attraction for Visitors
To engage guests in the history and culture of Hampi, historic walks and visits are specially designed by Evolve Back. These visits are thoughtfully planned to engage them in various aspects of Hampi’s history, mythology, architecture, commerce and political life, which come alive through its striking monuments, magnificent temples and soul-stirring landscapes.
About Evolve Back (Orange County)
Evolve Back formerly known as Orange County, is an established chain of luxury resorts in India that are presented with a the matic representation of the local history, culture and its natural surroundings. The resort chain is widely popular and enjoys immense brand equity among patrons in India and overseas alike. Testimony to this quality is their occupancy rate which is way above the industry average. Evolve Back is dedicated to providing exquisite holiday experiences that promote the purity of nature, culture and traditions of the land. They are currently present in three locations viz. Kamalapura Palace in Hampi, Kuruba Safari Lodge in Kabini and Chikkana Halli Estate in Coorg, which are all geographically diverse regions allowing guests to experience each destination and its nature and culture in their purity.
