Question
Explain the layout of the Royal Centre of the Vijayanagara Empire.
Solution
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.
