Large aqueduct led archaelogists to undercover tank recently; Hampi is full of scattered ruins like these near the king's balance.

The kingdom of Vijayanagar or the ‘City of Victory’ was founded in 1336 and forged from an amalgam of ancient Hindu kingdoms of the south. It was a time when the southern states came together to form a formidable force against the pillaging Muslim armies of the north.

The city of Hampi on the southern banks of the Tungabhadra river was the capital of this empire. Its fortunes peaked under the reign of Krishnadevaraya who ascended the throne in 1509. It was under his command that the Hindu armies of the south defeated the armies at the Muslim stronghold of Raichur and eventually even captured Bijapur.

Vijayanagar’s decline began soon after Krishnadevaraya’s death and Hampi was gradually forgotten. Today the fabulous ruins are alive again, albeit with wonderstruck tourists who try to come to terms with the feat of planning displayed in this city built over 700 years ago. What’s amazing about Hampi is the impunity displayed by its very location. Situated on the southern bank of the Tungabhadra, with the Muslim armies permanently encamped on the northern bank, the city planners must have had a lot of confidence in the seven lines of fortification surrounding the city. Hampi was reputed to have a population of one million and accounts left behind by travellers like Fernão Nuniz and Domingo Paez tell of the flourishing trade that existed here and the markets that overflowed with diamonds and precious stones.