Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation
Old capital of Vijayanagara:
Solution & Analysis
Answer: D
Concept
The capital of Vijayanagara was one of the largest and wealthiest cities in the world during the 15th and 16th centuries. Its ruins today provide the most complete picture of medieval South Indian urban life.Explanation
Hampi, located on the banks of the Tungabhadra River, was the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire. It was a massive fortified city famous for its temples like the Virupaksha Temple and its highly organized markets. It was largely destroyed after the Battle of Talikota in 1565.Logical Breakup
Logic 1: Ahmadnagar, Bijapur, and Golconda were actually the capitals of the rival Deccan Sultanates that eventually united to destroy Hampi.
Logic 2: The site was 'rediscovered' for modern history by Colonel Colin Mackenzie in 1800, who conducted the first systematic survey of the ruins.