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An Imperial Capital : Vijayanagara
Question
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Explain the layout of the Royal Centre of the Vijayanagara Empire.

Answer

The royal Centre was located in the south-western part of the settlement.

(i) It included over 60 temples. About thirty building complexes have been identified as palaces.

(ii) The “King’s palace” was the largest of the enclosures but has not yielded definitive evidence of being a royal residence.

(iii) It had two of the most impressive platforms, usually called the “audience hall” and the “mahanavami dibba” which is located on one of the highest points in the city.

(iv) One of the most beautiful building in the royal centre was the Lotus Mahal and the most spectacular was known as the Hazara Rama temple as this was probably meant to be used only by the king and his family.

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Some More Questions From An Imperial Capital : Vijayanagara Chapter

What have been the methods used to study the ruins of Hampi over the last two centuries? In what way do you think they would have complemented the information provided by the priests of the Virupaksha temple?

How were the water requirements of Vijayanagara met?

What do you think were the advantages and disadvantages of enclosing agricultural land within the fortified area of the city?

What do you think was the significance of the rituals associated with the Mahanavami dibba?

Fig. 7.33 is an illustration of another pillar from the Virupaksha temple. Do you notice any floral motifs? What are the animals shown? Why do you think they are depicted? Describe the human figures shown.

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.