Consider the following statements about the fortification at Vijayanagara.

A. There were seven lines of forts encircling the city.
B. These encircled not only the city but also its agricultural hinterland and forests.
C. No mortar or cementing agent was employed in the construction.
D. Archaeology do not corroborate the above statements.
E. Stone blocks were wedge shaped.

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

A, B, C and E only

The correct answer is Option (3) → A, B, C and E only

A. There were seven lines of forts encircling the city.
B. These encircled not only the city but also its agricultural hinterland and forests.
C. No mortar or cementing agent was employed in the construction.
E. Stone blocks were wedge shaped.

The only incorrect statement is statement D: Archaeology do not corroborate the above statements.

Correct version: These statements have been corroborated by present-day archaeologists, who have also found evidence of an agricultural tract between the sacred centre and the urban core. This tract was serviced by an elaborate canal system drawing water from the Tungabhadra.

Before we examine the different parts of the city of Vijayanagara in detail let us look at what enclosed them all – the great fortress walls. Abdur Razzaq, an ambassador sent by the ruler of Persia to Calicut (present-day Kozhikode) in the fifteenth century, was greatly impressed by the fortifications, and mentioned seven lines of forts (STATEMENT A). These encircled not only the city but also its agricultural hinterland and forests (STATEMENT B). The outermost wall linked the hills surrounding the city. The massive masonry construction was slightly tapered. No mortar or cementing agent was employed anywhere in the construction (STATEMENT C). The stone blocks were wedge shaped (STATEMENT E), which held them in place, and the inner portion of the walls was of earth packed with rubble. Square or rectangular bastions projected outwards. What was most significant about this fortification is that it enclosed agricultural tracts. Abdur Razzaq noted that “ between the first, second and the third walls there are cultivated fields, gardens and houses”. And Paes observed: “From this first circuit until you enter the city there is a great distance, in which are fields in which they sow rice and have many gardens and much water, in which water comes from two lakes.” These statements have been corroborated by present-day archaeologists, who have also found evidence of an agricultural tract between the sacred centre and the urban core. This tract was serviced by an elaborate canal system drawing water from the Tungabhadra.