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An Imperial Capital : Vijayanagara
1. How tanks were built
About a tank constructed by Krishnadeva Raya, Paes wrote :
The king made a tank-at the mouth of two hills so that all the water which comes from either one side or the other collects there; and, besides this, water comes to it from more than three leagues (approximately 15 kilometres) by pipes which run along the lower parts of the range outside. This water is brought from a lake which itself overflows into a little river. The tank has three large pillars handsomely carved with figures; these connect above with certain pipes by which they get water when they have to irrigate their gardens and rice-fields.
In order to make this tank the said king broke down a hill.....In the tank I saw so many people at work that there must have been fifteen or twenty thousand men, looking like ants.Questions:
(i) Explain briefly where the tank was constructed.
(ii) Explain briefly the sources of water for the tanks.
(iii) Explain in briefly the advantages of constructing tanks.
(i) The tank was constructed at the mouth of two hills. It was constructed that place so that all the water coming from either one side or the other use to collect three (at mouth of both hills).
(ii) The sources of water for the tanks were the following :
(a) Firstly, the all water was checked which use to come from either one side or the other side use to collect at the mouth of the hills.
(b) Secondly, water come to tank from more than three leagues (near about 15 kilometres-from the tank points)- By pipes which ran along the lower parts of-the range outside. This water was brought from a lake which itself overflow into a little river.
(iii) The advantages of constructing tanks :
(a) This water was used by the people for the different day to day purposes.
(b) The people and the state Government had to irrigate their garden and rice-fields. The tanks water could be use for irrigation purpose.
(c) Whenever tanks were constructed people in thousands used to get employment.
(d) Tanks were very helpful to check flood and they could be used for harvesting rain water. During drought tank water was blessing for each and every people, agriculture and industry also.
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Discuss whether the term “royal centre” is an appropriate description for the part of the city for which it is used
What does the architecture of buildings like the Lotus Mahal and elephant stables tell us about the rulers who commissioned them?
What are the architectural traditions that inspired the architects of Vijayanagara? How did they transform these traditions?
What impression of the lives of the ordinary people of Vijayanagara can you cull from the various descriptions in the chapter?
On an outline map of the world, mark approximately Italy, Portugal, Iran and Russia.Trace the routes the travellers mentioned on p.176 would have taken to reach Vijayanagara.
Find out more about any one of the major cities which flourished in the subcontinent during c. fourteenth-seventeenth centuries. Describe the
architecture of the city. Are there any features to suggest that these were political centres? Are there buildings that were ritually significant? Is there
an area for commercial activities? What are the features that distinguish the urban layout from that of surrounding areas?
Give a brief description of Lotus Mahal, situated in the Royal Centre in the Vijayanagara empire.
Mention two characteristic features of the temple complexes in Vijayanagara.
Mention any two ceremonies performed on the occasion of Mahanavami dibba.
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