Vijayanagara

Vijayanagara refers to a historical Hindu empire that dominated large parts of southern India from the 14th to the 17th century. Its heartland lay on the Deccan plateau, with the capital at Vijayanagara, the city near present-day Hampi in Karnataka, on the Tungabhadra River. The empire arose in the 1330s–1340s and grew to become a major regional power, interacting with both northern sultanates and other southern kingdoms.

The kingdom was founded by Harihara I and Bukka Raya I and supported by local elites in the aftermath of the decline of earlier South Indian polities. It established a centralized administration and a strong military to contest the Bahmani Sultanate and its successors. The governance relied on a system of regional governors known as nayakas, which helped the empire project power across the Deccan and into the eastern coast. Economic strength came from irrigation, agriculture, and thriving trade networks connecting the inland Deccan with maritime routes.

The zenith of Vijayanagara occurred under Krishnadevaraya (r. 1509–1529), a prolific patron of literature in Kannada and Telugu who supported temple-building and extensive patronage at court. Architecturally, the empire left a legacy of monumental brick-and-stone temple complexes, fortified enclosures, and sprawling urban layouts. The ruins at Hampi, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, reflect the empire’s aesthetic and engineering achievements.

Decline began in the mid-16th century due to internal strife and the rising power of rival Deccan sultanates. The decisive Battle of Talikota in 1565 led to widespread devastation and a rapid loss of territory. By the 17th century, Vijayanagara had fragmented into smaller polities and ceased to exist as a unified state.

Today, the ruins at Hampi symbolize the historic empire, contributing to South Indian cultural and architectural heritage.