Class 12 history chapter 7 notes, An imperial capital vijayanagara notes

An imperial capital vijayanagara notes; Class 12 history chapter 7 notes

Textbook	NCERT
Class	Class 12
Subject	History
Chapter	Chapter 7
Chapter Name	An imperial capital vijayanagara
Category	History Notes
Medium	English

Class 12 history chapter 7 notes, An imperial capital vijayanagara notes here we will learn about the Vijayanagara, Hampi and their rulers and governance system.

Meaning of Vijayanagara : –

🔹 Vijayanagara meaning city of victory was the name of both a city and an empire.

Vijayanagara : –

🔹 The empire was founded in the fourteenth century. According to tradition and epigraphic evidence two brothers Harihara and Bukka, founded the Vijayanagara Empire in 1336.

🔹 The rulers of Vijayanagara empire called themselves “Raya”. Vijayanagara was ruled by Sangam, Suluva, Tuluva and Aravidu dynasties. The most famous king of Vijayanagara Krishnadeva Raya was from Tuluva Dynasty.

🔹 The Vijayanagara Empire was located on the from the river Krishna in the north to the extreme south of the peninsula.

🔹 Vijayanagara was, famous for markets of spices, clothes and precious stones. People of this empire spokes different languages and followed different religious traditions.

Destruction of vijaynagar : –

🔹 In 1565 the city was sacked and subsequently deserted. Although it fell into ruin in the seventeenth-eighteenth centuries, it lived on in the memories of people living in the Krishna-Tungabhadra doab. They remembered it as Hampi, a name derived from that of the local mother goddess, Pampadevi.

Hampi : –

🔹 Hampi is another name for Vijayanagara Empire. The name Hampi is derived from the local mother goddess, Pampadevi. The local people remember Vijayanagara Empire as Hampi. The remains of Vijayanagara Empire have been found at the modern Hampi in Karnataka.

Sources to know the history of Vijayanagara Empire : –

🔹 Oral traditions, inscriptions, monuments and other records helped historians to reconstruct the history of Vijayanagara Empire.

The Discovery of Hampi : –

🔹 The ruins at Hampi were discovered by an engineer of the East India Company, Colonel Colin Mackenzie in 1800 CE.

🔹 He prepared the first survey map of the Hampi site. The initial information he collected was based on the memories of priests of the Virupaksha temple and the shrine of Pampadevi.

Colin Mackenzie : –

🔹 Born in 1754, Colin Mackenzie became famous as an engineer, surveyor and cartographer. In 1815 he was appointed the first Surveyor General of India, a post he held till his death in 1821.

Karnataka samrajyamu : –

🔹 While historians use the term Vijayanagara Empire, contemporaries described it as the karnataka samrajyamu.

Gajapati : –

🔹 Gajapati literally means lord of elephants. This was the name of a ruling lineage that was very powerful in Orissa in the fifteenth century.

Ashvapati : –

🔹 In the popular traditions of Vijayanagara the Deccan Sultans are termed as ashvapati or lord of horses.

Narapati : –

🔹 In the Vijayanagara Empire, the rayas are called narapati or lord of men.

Yavana : –

🔹 It is a sanskrit word used for the Greeks and other people who entered the subcontinent from the North-West.

Portuguese : –

🔹 From 1498 other actors appeared on the scene. These were the Portuguese, who arrived on the west coast of the subcontinent and attempted to establish trading and military stations.

🔹 Their superior military technology, especially the use of muskets, enabled them to become important players in the tangled politics of the period.

Kings and traders ( Trading of horse ) : –

🔹 During this time, warfare depended upon effective cavalry, so the import of horses from Arabia and Central Asia was very important for rival kingdoms. This trade was initially controlled by Arab traders.

🔹 Local communities of merchants known as kudirai chettis or horse merchants also participated in these exchanges.

Trade in Vijayanagar Empire ( Markets in the Vijayanagara Empire ) : –

🔹 Vijayanagar Empire was known for its markets dealing in spices, textiles and precious stones.

🔹 Trade was regarded as a status symbol in those cities who were proud of a wealthy population that demanded high value exotic goods, especially precious stones and jewellery.

🔹 The revenue derived from trade helped in improving the prosperity of the state.

Dynasties And Rulers Of Vijayanagara : –

🔸 Four dynasties ruled Vijayanagar :

• Sangama dynasty
• Saluvas
• Tuluva dynasty
• Aravidu dynasty

🔹 Within the polity, claimants to power included members of the ruling lineage as well as military commanders.

🔸 Note :- The rulers of Vijayanagara were called Raya. And the army chief of Vijayanagar was called nayakas or military chiefs.

Dynasties And Rulers Of Vijayanagara ( in detail ) : –

🔹 The Sangama dynasty was the first dynasty that exercised the control till 1485.

🔹 Sangama dynasty were supplanted by the Saluvas, military commanders, who remained in power till 1503 when they were replaced by the Tuluvas. Krishnadeva Raya belonged to the Tuluva dynasty.

🔹 In 1542 AD, the Aravidu dynasty captured the power of Vijayanagara, which remained in power till the end of the seventeenth century.

Krishnadeva Raya and Vijayanagara : –

🔹 Krishnadeva Raya’s rule was known by expansion and strengthening the empire. During this time, the land between the Tungabhadra and Krishna rivers (the Raichur doab) was acquired in 1512, the rulers of Orissa were brought under the control in 1514 and severe defeats were suffered by the Sultan of Bijapur in 1520.

🔹 Krishnadeva Raya is credited with building some fine temples and adding impressive gopurams to many important south Indian temples.

🔹 He also founded a suburban township near Vijayanagara called Nagalapuram after his mother.

🔹 He was also known for his literacy skills. He composed on statecraft in Telugu known as Amuktamalyada.

Contribution of Krishnadeva Raya in the expansion of Vijayanagara Empire : –

• The contribution of Krishnadeva Raya was:

🔹 Krishnadeva Raya is credited for building some fine temples and adding great looking gopurams to many important South Indian temples.

🔹 Nagalapuram, a suburban township was founded near Vijayanagara by Krishnadeva which was named after his mother.

🔹 He also composed a statecraft in telugu known as Amuktamalyada.

Condition of Vijayanagara after Krishnadeva Raya : –

🔹 After the death of Krishnadeva Raya in 1529, his successors faced problems created by rebellious nayakas or military chiefs.

🔹 By 1542 control at the centre had shifted to another ruling lineage, that of the Aravidu, which remained in power till the end of the seventeenth century.

🔹 During this period, the military ambitions of the rulers of Vijayanagara and of the Deccan Sultanates resulted in shifting alignments. This led to an alliance of the Sultanates against Vijayanagara.

The battle at Rakshasi-Tangadi or Talikota : –

🔹 In 1565, Rama Raya, the Chief Minister of Vijayanagara, led the army into battle at Rakshasi-Tangadi also known as Talikota.

🔹 Here Rama Raya’s forces were decisively defeated by the combined armies of Bijapur, Ahmadnagar and Golconda. The victorious armies looted and destroyed the city of Vijayanagara.

🔹 Within a few years, this city was totally abandoned. Now the focus of the empire shifted to East where the Aravidu dynasty ruled from Penukonda and later from Chandragiri near Tirupathi.

Relationship between the Sultans and the Rayas : –

🔹 The armies of the Sultans were responsible for the destruction of the city of Vijayanagara. Relations between the Sultans and the rayas were also not always hostile despite their religious differences.

🔸 for example : –

• For instance, Krishna Deva Raya supported the people who claimed power in the Sultanates and took the title establisher of the Yavana kingdom.
• Similarly, the Sultan of Bijapur involved to resolve the succession disputes in Vijayanagara, following the death of Krishna Deva Raya.

🔹 The Vijayanagara kings were keen to ensure the stablilit of the Sultanates and vice versa. But was the adventurou policy of Rama Raya who tried to play off one Sultan against another that led the Sultans to combine together and decisively defeat him.

Reasons of the conflict between the Sultans of Deccan and Vijayanagara rulers : –

• The military ambitions of the rulers of vijaya Nagara as well as those of the Deccan Sultanates resulted in shifting alignments.
• IN 1520 sever defeats were inflicted on the Sultan of Bijapur by Krishna Der Raya.
• Relations between the sultans and Rayas were not always or inevitably hostile.
• It was the adventurous policy of Rama Raya who tried to pay off one Sultan against another that led to Sultan to combine together and decisively defeat him.
• Rayas were defeated by sultanales (combined forces of Bijapur, Ahmadnagar & Golkonda) in the bettle of Rakshasi-Tangadi ( Talikota ) in 1565.

The Nayakas in the Vijayanagara Empire : –

🔹 In the Vijayanagara Empire, the nayakas were military chiefs who exercised power and controlled forts and had armed supporters.

🔹 These chiefs often moved from one place to another and many a times were accompanied by peasants looking for fertile land in order to settle.

🔹 The nayakas spoke Telugu or Kannada. Many nayakas were under the control of the kings of Vijayanagara but often rebelled and had to be subdued by military action.

Meaning of Amara : –

🔹 Amara is believed to be derived from the Sanskrit word samara, meaning battle or war. It also resembles the Persian term amir, meaning a high noble.

The Amara-Nayaka System : –

🔹 The amara-nayaka system was a major political innovation of the Vijayanagara Empire. Most of its features were derived from the iqta system of the Delhi Sultanate.

The features of Amara-Nayaka System : –

• The features of this system are as follows:

🔹 The amara-nayakas were military commanders who were given territories to govern by the raya. They collected taxes and other dues from peasants, craftspersons and traders in the area.

🔹 They retained part of the revenue for personal use and for maintaining a required group of horses and elephants. Some of the revenue was also used for the maintenance of temples and irrigation works.

🔹 These military groups were an effective fighting force which provided Vijayanagara kings to bring the entire Southern peninsula under their control.

🔹 The amara-nayakas sent tribute to the king annually and personally appeared in the royal court with gifts to express their loyalty. Kings occasionally asserted their control over them by transferring them from one place to another.

• During the seventeenth century, many of these nayakas established independent kingdoms. This accelerated the collapse of the kingdom and its structure.

Evaluated of The Amara-nayaka system why was Amara-nayaka system major political innovation of the Vijayanagara Empire : –

• Amar Nayaka system was major political innovation of the Vijayanagara Empire.
• It is likely that the iqta system of the Delhi Sultanate.
• Those were given territories to govern by the rayas, to collect taxes and other dues from peasants, craft persons and traders.
• They retained part of the revenue for personal use and for maintaining a stipulated contingent of horses and elephants.
• Effective fighting force.
• Some of the revenue was also used for the maintenance of temples & irrigation works.
• The amara-nayakas sent tribute to the king annually.
• They personally appeared in the royal court with gifts to express their loyalty.
• During the course of the seventeenth century, many of these nayakas established independent Kingdoms.
• Kings occasionally asserted their control over them by transferring their from one place to another.

Most striking features of the location of Vijayanagara (Physical) : –

• Two main rivers – Tungabhadra and Krishna
• Natural Basin formed by river Tungabhadra.
• Granite hills that seem to form a girdle around the city.
• Number of streams flow down to the river from the rocky hills.

Water Resources of Vijayanagara ( in short ) : –

• The region of vijayanagara is one of the most arid zones of the peninsula.
• Elaborate arrangements made by Vijayanagara rulers to store water and conduct it to the city.
• Natural Basin formed by Tungabhadra
• A number of streams flow down to the river from these rocky out crops.
• Kamalapuram tank
• Hiriya Canals

Water Resources of Vijayanagara : –

🔹 The most important feature about the location of Vijayanagara is the natural basin formed by the river Tungabhadra which flows in North-Easterly direction.

🔹 Granite hills surround the city and A number of streams flow down to the river from these rocky outcrops.

🔹 Embankments were built along these streams to create reservoirs of different sizes.

🔹 This region is among the most arid zones of the peninsula, so arrangements were made to store rainwater and transmit it to the city.

Kamalapuram tank : –

🔹 The most important such tank was built in the early years of the fifteenth century and is now called Kamalapuram tank. Water from this tank not only irrigated fields nearby but was also conducted through a channel to the “royal centre”.

Hiriya canal : –

🔹 One of the most important waterworks was the Hiriya canal. This was built by the kings of the Sangama dynasty. Water for the canal was drawn from a dam across the Tungabhadra and it irrigated the cultivated valley that separated the ‘sacred centre’ from the ‘urban core’.

Features of Vijayanagara fortification ( in short ) : –

• Seven lines of fortification.
• Fortification of urban core & Royal Centre.
• Gateways in fortified walls and Roads.
• Fortification of agricultural fields.
• Abdul Razzaq, a persian ambassador wrote about fortification of Vijayanagara empire.
• The outermost wall linked the hills surrounding the city.
• The mosonity construction was slightly tapered.
• No mortar or cementing agent was employed anywhere in the Construction.
• The stone Blocks were wedge shaped which helped them in placed and the inner portion of the walls was of earth packed with rubble.
• There were large granaries within fortified areas.
• Most significant was its agricultural tracks between the 1st, 2nd & 3rd.

Fortifications of Vijayanagara : –

🔹 The great fortress walls enclosed the city. Abdur Razzaq, an ambassador sent by the ruler of Persia to Calicut in the fifteenth century, was impressed by the fortifications of Vijayanagara and mentioned about the seven lines of forts.

• These encircled not only the city but also its agricultural hinterland and forests.
• The outermost wall linked the hills surrounding the city.
• The massive masonry construction was slightly tapered.
• No mortar or cementing agent was employed anywhere in the construction.
• The stone blocks were wedge shaped, which held them in place.
• the inner portion of the walls was of earth packed with rubble.
• Square or rectangular bastions projected outwards.

🔹 What was most significant about this fortification is that it enclosed agricultural tracts.

Archaeologist’s Study about Roads : –

🔹 Archaeologists have studied roads within the city and those leading out from it. These have been identified by following paths through gateways and also by identifying footpaths.

🔹 Roads generally turn around through the valleys and avoided rocky lands. Some of the most important roads extended from temple gateways and were bordered by bazaars.

Fortification of Agricultural Lands : –

🔹 The most important thing about this fortification was that it surrounded agricultural lands. Abdur Razzaq noted that between the first, second and the third walls there were cultivated fields, gardens and houses. But Domingo Paes noted different things about these three walls.

🔹 According to Paes from this first circuit until you enter the city there is a great distance in which fields are existed. In these fields rice was sown. It had many gardens and much water, which comes from two lakes.

🔹 There was an evidence of an agricultural land between the sacred centre and the urban core. This land was supplied water from a canal system which drew water from the river Tungabhadra.

Advantages of enclosing agricultural land within the fortified area of the city : –

• The advantages of enclosing agricultural land within the fortified area of the city were:

🔹 Since siege (military) operations sometimes lasts for many months, this kind of system enables farmers to do agriculture and produce grains even during the siege operation.

🔹 Agricultural lands were often destroyed first during war, which were outside the forts. But in this case that was not possible because they were well protected inside the fortification.

Disadvantage of enclosing agricultural land within the fortified area of the city : –

• The disadvantage of enclosing agricultural land within the fortified area of the city were:

🔹 This was more expensive and complicated strategy of protecting the agricultural belt itself.

🔹 Expansion of agriculture to other areas beyond the fortified area becomes difficult. Agriculture has to confined within this area.

Strategy behind Fortification : –

🔹 In the medieval period, the objective of the military operation was mostly to starve the defenders so that they will accept the defeat.

🔹 These operations lasted for months and sometimes even years, so normally rulers were prepared for such situations by building large granaries within fortified areas.

🔹 However, The rulers of Vijayanagara adopted a more expensive and elaborate strategy of protecting the agricultural belt itself.

The Inner Core of the Urban Complex : –

🔹 A second line of fortification went round the inner core of the urban complex, and a third line surrounded the royal centre, Within this, there were major buildings present which were surrounded by their own high walls. The well-guarded gates which were linked to major roads of the city were used to enter the fort.

Gateways : –

🔹 Gateways were distinctive architectural features that often defined the structures to which they regulated access.

🔹 The arch on the gateway leading into the fortified settlement and dome over the gate were regarded as typical features of the architecture introduced by the Turkish Sultans.

🔹 This style is referred as Indo-Islamic by art historians, because it developed through the interaction with local building practices in different regions.

The Urban Core : –

🔹 Archaeologists found little archaeological evidence of the houses of ordinary people. They have found fine Chinese porcelain (Chinaware) in some areas in the North-Eastern corner of the urban core and this shows that these areas might have been occupied by rich traders.

🔹 This area was also the Muslim residential quarter. Tombs and mosques present here have different functions but their architecture resembles the Mandapas that were found in temples of Hampi.

🔹 Field surveys show that the entire area was scattered with number of shrines and small temples. This shows that different cults were present there, which might be supported by different communities.

🔹 The surveys also indicate that wells, rainwater tanks, temple tanks were used as sources of water to the ordinary town dwellers.

Houses information described by Duarte Barbosa : –

🔹 Sixteenth-century Portuguese traveller Duarte Barbosa described the houses of ordinary people. The houses had roofs made of straw, palm leaves, etc but were well built. They were arranged according to the occupations in long streets with many open places.

The Royal Centre of Vijayanagara : –

🔸 Temples : – The royal centre was located in the South-Western part of the settlement. It had over 60 temples. It shows that support of temples and cults was important for rulers who tried to establish and get approved of their authority through association with the gods and goddesses housed in the shrines.

🔸 Structures : – Around thirty building complexes were identified as palaces. There were relatively large structures that do not seem to be associated with ritual functions.

Difference between these structures and temples : –

🔹 The difference between these structures and temples is that the latter were constructed entirely of masonry, while the superstructure of the secular buildings was made of perishable materials.

The Buildings in Royal Centres : –

🔹 On the basis of the form of buildings and their functions, different structures were assigned their names. The king’s palace was the largest of the buildings but there was no strong evidence that it was a royal residence.

🔹 It had two impressive platforms, called the ”audience hall” and the ”mahanavami dibba”. The entire complex was surrounded by high double walls with a street running between them.

The Audience Hall : –

🔹 The audience hall is a high platform with slots for wooden pillars at close and regular intervals. It had a staircase going up to the second floor, which rested on these pillars. The pillars being closely spaced, would have left little free space and thus it is not clear what the hall was used for.

Mahanavami Dibba : –

🔹 Located on one of the highest points in the city, the “mahanavami dibba” is a massive platform rising from a base of about 11,000 sq. ft to a height of 40 ft. There is evidence that it supported a wooden structure. The base of the platform is covered with relief carvings.

Mahanavami : –

🔹 Rituals associated with the structure probably coincided with Mahanavami. Mahanavami is a (literally, the great ninth day) ten-day Hindu festival during the autumn months of September and October.

🔹 It is known as Dussehra in North India, Durga Puja in Bengal and Navaratri or Mahanavami in peninsular India. The Vijayanagara kings showed their prestige, power and control over the empire on this occasion.

Ceremonies on Occasion of Mahanavami : –

🔹 Various ceremonies were performed on this occasion like:

• Worship of image, worship of the state horse and the sacrifice of buffaloes and other animals.
• Dances, wrestling matches, procession of highly decorated horses, elephants and chariots and soldiers.
• Ritual presentations before the king and his guests by the chief Nayakas and subordinate kings.
• The ceremonies had a deep symbolic meanings. On the last day of the festival, king’s army and the armies of the nayakas were inspected by the king in a grand ceremony in an open field.
• The nayakas brought rich gifts for the king on this occasion.

Scholars have doubts about the structure of Mahanavami Dibba : –

🔹 Scholars have raised doubt that, the space surrounding the mahanavami dibba structure was not sufficient for big processions of armed men, women and large animals. Like some of the other structures in the royal centre, it remains an enigma.

Other Buildings in the Royal Centre ( The Lotus Mahal ) : –

🔹 The Lotus Mahal, named by British travellers in the nineteenth century was one of the most beautiful buildings in the royal centre.

🔹 While the name is certainly romantic, Historians are not sure about what the building was used for. A map drawn by Mackenzie suggested that it might have been a council chamber, a place where the king met his advisers.

Other Buildings in the Royal Centre ( Hazara Rama Temple ) : –

🔹 One of the most spectacular of these is one known as the Hazara Rama temple. This might have been used only by the king and his family. Though images in the central shrine are missing, but sculpted panels on the walls survive. These include scenes from the Ramayana sculpted on the inner walls of the shrine.

The Sacred Centre of Vijayanagara : –

🔹 The rocky Northern end of city was located on the banks of the Tungabhadra. As per the local traditions, these hills had the monkey kingdom of Vali and Sugriva mentioned in the Ramayana.

🔹 Some other traditions suggested that Pampadevi did penance in these hills in order to marry Virupaksha, the God who protected the kingdom and also recognised as a form of Shiva.

🔹 This marriage is celebrated even today every year in the Virupaksha temple. In these hills, Jaina temples of the pre-Vijayanagara period are also found. It implies that this area was associated with different sacred traditions.

Tradition of Temple Building ( Information about Vijayanagara temple ) : –

🔹 Temple building in the region had a long history, going back to dynasties such as the Pallavas, Chalukyas, Hoysalas and Cholas.

🔹 Rulers very often encouraged temple building as a means of associating themselves with the divine often, the deity was explicitly or implicitly identified with the king.

🔹 Temples also functioned as centres of learning.

🔹 Besides, rulers and others often granted land and other resources for the maintenance of temples.

🔹 Consequently, temples developed as significant religious, social, cultural and economic centres.

🔹 From the point of view of the rulers, constructing, repairing and maintaining temples were important means of winning support and recognition for their power, wealth and piety.

Vijayanagara kings and Virupaksha and Pampadevi temple : –

🔹 It is likely that the very choice of the site of Vijayanagara was inspired by the existence of the shrines of Virupaksha and Pampadevi.

🔹 In fact the Vijayanagara kings claimed to rule on behalf of the god Virupaksha. All royal orders were signed “Shri Virupaksha”, usually in the Kannada script.

🔹 Rulers also indicated their close links with the gods by using the title “Hindu Suratrana”. This was a Sanskritisation of the Arabic term Sultan, meaning king, so it literally meant Hindu Sultan.

Gopuram and Mandapas ( in short ) : –

🔸 Gopuram : – It is a big gateway tower, usually decorate with carvings, at the entrance of any temple, especially in Southern India.

🔸 Mandapas : – It is a pillared outdoor hall or pavilion for public rituals.

Raya gopurams or Royal gateways : –

🔹 The temples have structures of very large scale that must be symbolic of imperial authority. The best examples are Raya gopurams or Royal gateways that often made the towers on the central shrines, and signalled the presence of the temple from a great distance.

🔹 They might also be the symbols of the power of kings, who have authority on the resources, techniques and skills needed to construct these extremely tall gateways.

Mandapas or Pavilions : –

🔹 Other important features are mandapas or pavilions and long pillared corridors that often ran around the shrines within the temple complex.

🔹 These streets were paved with stone slabs and lined with pillared pavilions in which merchants set-up their shops.

The Virupaksha Temple : –

🔹 The Virupaksha temple was built over centuries While inscriptions suggested that the earliest shrine was dated to the ninth-tenth centuries and it was enlarged with the establishment of the Vijayanagara Empire.

🔹 Krishnadeva Raya has built the hall in front of the shrine to indicate his accession to throne. This was decorated with delicately carved pillars. He is also credited with the construction of the eastern gopuram. These additions meant that the central shrine came to occupy a relatively small part of the complex.

Use of temple sites : –

🔹 The halls in the temple were used for variety of purposes. Some spaces had images of Gods to witness special programmes of music, dance, drama, etc.

🔹 Other spaces were used for marriages of deities, and some other were meant for the deities to swing in.

🔹 On these occasions, special images which were different from those kept in the small central shrine were used.

The Vitthala Temple : –

🔹 The Vitthala temple was another important shrine. The main deity was Vitthala, a form of Vishnu generally worshipped in Maharashtra.

🔹 The introduction of the worship of the deity in Karnataka shows that Vijayanagara rulers used different traditions to create an imperial culture. Like other temples, Vitthala temple also had several halls and a unique shrine designed as a chariot.

🔹 One of the important features was the chariot streets. It extended from the temple Gopuram in a straight line. These streets were paved with stone slabs and lined with pillared pavilions in which merchants set up their shops.

Main features of Temples of Vijayanagara : –

• Rulers very often encouraged temple building themselves with the devine.
• Rulers and others often granted land and other resources for the maintenance of temples.
• Remains of temple buildings of pallavas, chalukyas, Hoysalas and cholas were found.
• Remains of places of worship of various religions were found in Granite hills.
• Temples developed as significant, religious, social, cultural and economic centres.
• Temples also functional as centre of learning.
• Gopuram of immense scale served as a mark of imperial authority.
• Other distinctive features included Mandapas or partition and long pillared corridors.
• Virupaksha Temple – Included in UNESCO’s world Heritage list
• Vitthala Temple- situated in Hampi, Vitthala temple was built by Krishna Dava raya in 16th Century.
• Hampi’s chariot shrine is marked on 50 rupees note by RBI, Justifying its significance.
• Vitthala Temple is also included in UNESCO’s world Heritage list.

National importance of Hampi : –

🔹 Hampi was recognised as a site of national importance in 1976. A project was launched in early 1980s to document and record the material remains at Vijayanagara in detail. Many scholars from all over the world worked to compile and preserve this information.

Plotting palaces, Temples and Bazaars : –

• The remains of Hampi were discovered by Mackenzie in 1800s.
• After the initial surveys by Mackenzie, information was pieced together from travellers accounts and inscriptions.
• In the early 1980s, an important project was launched to document the material remains at vijayanagara.
• Liter ature written in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada & Sanskrit.
• One part of this enormous exercise was mapping.
• Entire area was divided into 25 squares. Each square was subdivided into yet smaller units.
• They have recovered and documented traces of thousands of structures from tiny shines and residences to elaborate temples.
• They have also led to the recovery of races of roads, paths, bazaars etc.
• The latter have been located through finds of pillar pases and platforms.
• These were all that remain of thriving markets.