The passage leaves out the line that opens the account of the capital…

Several travellers visited the city and wrote about it. This is an excerpt from Domingo Paes's description of Vijayanagara: The size of this city I do not write here, because it cannot all be seen from any one spot, but I climbed a hill whence I could see a great part of it; I could not see it all because it lies between several ranges of hills.

The passage leaves out the line that opens the account of the capital. According to that line, like most capitals, Vijayanagara was characterised by which of the following?

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 1

The correct answer is Option (1) → A distinctive physical layout and building style

Option (1) A distinctive physical layout and building style — Correct. The account of the capital opens by saying that, <strong>like most capitals</strong>, Vijayanagara had a <strong>distinctive physical layout and building style</strong>. This is why the study of the city turns to its plan, walls and buildings.

Option (2) A dense population and a large standing army — Incorrect. The city had many people and a strong army. The opening line, however, speaks of its layout and buildings.

Option (3) A rich temple life and royal patronage of the arts — Incorrect. Temples and royal patronage were part of city life. The opening line names layout and building style as the shared feature of capitals.

Option (4) A busy market life and wide trade links — Incorrect. Markets and trade were important in Vijayanagara. The opening line names its layout and building style instead.

NCERT (2026-27): “3. Vijayanagara
Like most capitals, Vijayanagara, was characterised by a distinctive physical layout and building style.”

“This is an excerpt from Domingo Paes’s description of Vijayanagara: The size of this city I do not write here, because it cannot all be seen from any one spot, but I climbed a hill whence I could see a great part of it; I could not see it all because it lies between several ranges of hills. What I saw from thence seemed to me as large as Rome, and very beautiful to the sight; there are many groves of trees within it, in the gardens of the houses, and many conduits of water which flow into the midst of it, and in places there are lakes; and the king has close to his palace a palm-grove and other rich fruit-bearing trees.”