The hills at the rocky northern end of Vijayanagara are associated wi…

The hills at the rocky northern end of Vijayanagara are associated with several sacred traditions. What do historians think most likely inspired the choice of this site for the capital?

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 1

The correct answer is Option (1) → The shrines of Virupaksha and Pampadevi already stood there

Option (1) The shrines of Virupaksha and Pampadevi already stood there — Correct. The area was already sacred. The shrines of Virupaksha and Pampadevi probably inspired the choice of the site, and the kings claimed to rule on behalf of Virupaksha.

Option (2) The rocky hills gave natural defence against the sultans — Incorrect. Strong walls protected the city, yet historians link the choice of this site to its sacred shrines.

Option (3) The river valley gave fertile land to feed the city — Incorrect. Farming land mattered for the city, yet the choice of this hill area is linked to its shrines.

Option (4) The site lay close to the ports of the horse trade — Incorrect. Horses came through ports on the far west coast, a long way from this inland site.

NCERT (2026-27): “5.1 Choosing a capital
We now move to the rocky northern end of the city on the banks of the Tungabhadra. According to local tradition, these hills sheltered the monkey kingdom of Vali and Sugriva mentioned in the Ramayana. Other traditions suggest that Pampadevi, the local mother goddess, did penance in these hills in order to marry Virupaksha, the guardian deity of the kingdom, also recognised as a form of Shiva. To this day this marriage is celebrated annually in the Virupaksha temple. Among these hills are found Jaina temples of the pre-Vijayanagara period as well. In other words, this area was associated with several sacred traditions.”

“It is likely that the very choice of the site of Vijayanagara was inspired by the existence of the shrines of Virupaksha and Pampadevi. In fact the Vijayanagara kings claimed to rule on behalf of the god Virupaksha. All royal orders were signed “Shri Virupaksha”, usually in the Kannada script. …”