The famous historical city of Hampi, located in the southern state of present-day Karnataka, once served as the imperial capital of the Vijayanagara Empire (c.1336-1565). It was further beautified by Krishnadeva Raya, a powerful ruler of the dynasty. The Hampi ruins are also recognized by the UNESCO as a Heritage Site. This book discusses the capital from the perspectives of archaeological and architectural studies, in addition to its historical context. The author examines the inscriptions obtained at the site from the early times of the Vijayanagara dynasty up to the expansion of the Islamicate and Portuguese Empires in the seventeenth century. It also includes foreign accounts discussing the Vijayanagara Empire, its history, and the religious traditions of the historical city. However, the main focus is on the architectural structures of Hampi, which are extensively analyzed by the author.
This includes fortifications and irrigation plans, the main buildings inside the citadel, Indo-Saracenic architecture, and other structures located in the northern and eastern parts of Hampi, as well as the surrounding buildings.
