Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v1.c9.s5.4

v1.c9.s5.4

The Hindu writers on political matters, who understood the strategical importance of hills and mountains, said that the site of the capital was to be not far from the hills. "These are perhaps to be regarded as the store-house of mineral and other resources in normal times, as well as strong defences against foreign aggression in times of danger".³ To the mediaeval mind Vijayanagara admirably fulfilled this condition. We have mentioned the names of the five hills within the limits of ancient Kishkindhā. According to Paes, "the city is situated in the middle of these hills, and is entirely surrounded by them".⁴ "This range of hills surrounds the city with a circle of twenyfour leagues, and withn this range there are others that encircle it closely. Wherever these ranges have any level ground they cross it with a very strong wall, in such a way that the hills remain all closed, except in the places where the roads come through from the gates in the first range, which are the entrance ways to the city".¹ Other travellers as well are equally positive about the mountains in and near the capital. 'Abdur Razzāq tells us that "the fortress (of Vijayanagara) is in the form of a circle, situated on the summit of a hill . . .² Varthema states that "It (i.e., the capital) is situated on the side of a mountain, and is seven miles in circumference. . . . It occupies the most beautiful site, and possesses the best air that were even seen".³ Nicolo dei Conti remarks that it was "situated near very steep mountains".⁴