Located at the foot of the Matanga Hill, in front of the Achyuta Raya’s Temple, the Sule Bazaar or the Courtesan Street is one of the famous erstwhile market-streets of Hampi. The Street is lined with several artistically carved pillars which exhibit that it was once one of the liveliest market places of the famous and distinguished Vijayanagara Empire. Even today, nobody can miss its amazing beauty and splendor that reflect from elegant works of art and craftsmanship.
The street with the length of half a kilometers and 50 meters wide was occupied by the dancing girls of Hampi. As such, its name Sule Bazaar literally means as the prostitute's market or the harlot's market. There are vivid descriptions of the market in the ancient Sanskrit literature and archives which tells how these dancing girls used to line the street and entice men.
The Sule Bazaar or the Courtesan Market is now in the ruined state due to the effects of time, but it still attract a lot of visitors every year who get mesmerized at this wonderful piece of history. Besides the pavilions, there is a large stepped rectangular tank at the North West end of the street. It is believed to be a part of the Achyuta Raya’s Temple.
