Capital
Vijayanagara (modern Hampi)
Founder
Harihara I and Bukka Raya I
Duration
c. 310 years
Category
Empire
Timeline
1336 CE
Founding of Vijayanagara
Harihara I and Bukka Raya establish the Vijayanagara Empire.
1443 CE
Devaraya II
The empire reaches its first peak of power.
1509 CE
Krishnadevaraya
The greatest Vijayanagara emperor begins his reign.
1520 CE
Krishnadevaraya's Conquests
Subjugation of the Bahmani Sultanate and other Deccan powers.
1565 CE
Battle of Talikota
The Vijayanagara army is crushed by the Deccan Sultanates; Hampi is sacked.
1646 CE
Final Decline
The last ruler Sriranga III dies, ending the empire.
Geography
Map of Empire
Forts
Battlefields
Temples
Trade Routes
Governance
Administration
Centralized monarchy with provincial governors (Nayakas); village autonomy; well-documented revenue system
Prosperity
Economy
Control of Deccan trade routes; maritime trade with Portugal, Arabia, and SE Asia (spices, textiles, precious stones); thriving agriculture
Currency: Gold coins (Varaha, Gadyana), silver and copper coins
Defense
Military
Large standing army (estimated 1.1 million at peak); cavalry with imported Arabian horses; war elephants; early firearms and cannons
Design
Architecture
UNESCO World Heritage site at Hampi (Virupaksha Temple, Vittala Temple, Lotus Mahal, Elephant Stables); magnificent gopurams and pillared halls
Heritage
Culture
Flourishing of Telugu and Kannada literature (Mukku Timmana, Allasani Peddana); Carnatic music; patronage of Hindu temples; Persian and Deccani influences in court culture
Legacy
Achievements
Largest and wealthiest empire in post-Gupta India
Built the magnificent city of Vijayanagara (Hampi) with advanced water infrastructure
Victory in the Bukka-Rayas wars against the Bahmani Sultanate
Krishnadevaraya's reign considered a golden age of Telugu literature
Patronage of temple art and architecture across South India
Trade with the Portuguese and other European powers
Resisted the Deccan Sultanates for over 200 years
Sunset
Decline
Weakened after the catastrophic Battle of Talikota (1565) against the Deccan Sultanates; the capital was sacked; continued decline under fragmented Nayaka successors; final collapse in 1646
Sources
Historical References
Chronicle of Fernao Nuniz
Portuguese traveler's detailed account of Vijayanagara society and history.
A Forgotten Empire
Classic historical study based on Portuguese chronicles.
Hampi Inscriptions
Thousands of inscriptions documenting trade, administration, and temple donations.
Hampi Ruins
UNESCO World Heritage site — remains of the Vijayanagara capital.
Vijayanagara: A History
Comprehensive history of the Vijayanagara Empire.