A simple introduction to this answer can revolve around a general statement about the Vijayanagara Empire.

The Vijayanagara Empire was founded by Harihara I of the Sangama dynasty. The kingdom existed from 1336 to 1646.

The kingdom reached its peak under Krishna Deva Raya (reign 1509-1529), a period in which it enjoyed military superiority to its rival kingdoms such as the Bahmani Sultanate, the Golconda Sultanate and the Gajapatis of Odisha.

At its peak, the kingdom stretched from Goa on the Konkan coast to parts of southern Odisha in the east and all the way to the very tip of the subcontinent in the south.

Body

You may incorporate some of the following points in the body of your answer:

• The Vijayanagar’s contributions to culture and architecture were very significant. This period witnessed poetry, writing styles and literature in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Sanskrit also flourished.
• The most striking feature about the location of Vijayanagara is the natural basin formed by the river Tungabhadra which flows in a north-easterly direction.
• According to Abdur Razzaq, an ambassador sent by the ruler of Persia to Calicut in the fifteenth century, was greatly impressed by the fortifications and mentioned seven lines of forts. These encircled not only the city but also its agricultural hinterland and forests while the outermost wall linked the hills surrounding the city.
• The fort was entered through well-guarded gates, which linked the city to the major roads. Gateways were distinctive architectural features that often defined the structures to which they regulated access.
• Mahanavami Dibba is a massive platform rising from a base of about 11,000 sq. ft to a height of 40 ft.
• The construction of temples in the region had a long history, going back to dynasties such as the Pallavas, Chalukyas, Hoysalas and Cholas. Temples functioned as centres of learning. The walls of the Hazara Rama Temple include scenes from the Ramayana.

Virupaksha temple

• The Virupaksha temple was erected over decades, with inscriptions indicating that the first shrine was established in the ninth and eleventh centuries, and it was significantly expanded with the formation of the Vijayanagara Empire.
• The hall in front of the main shrine was built by Krishnadeva Raya to mark his accession.
• The halls in the temple were used for a variety of purposes. Some were spaces in which the images of gods were placed to witness special programmes of music, dance, drama, etc.

Vitthala Temple

The principal deity is Vitthala, a form of Vishnu generally worshipped in Maharashtra.

A characteristic feature of the temple complexes is the chariot streets that extended from the temple gopuram in a straight line.

Conclusion

Your conclusion should be short. You may include:

In 1976, Hampi was recognised as a site of national importance. Then, in the early 1980s, a major initiative was begun to meticulously document the material remains at Vijayanagara by broad and rigorous surveys employing a range of recording techniques. 

Vijayanagara’s capital Hampi is a UNESCO World Heritage Site today, known for its sophisticated fortifications as well as innumerable temples and other architectural marvels.

Vijayanagara has been remembered as an era of “cultural conservatism” when classical forms of Hinduism were preserved amidst growing Islamization of the rest of the subcontinent, especially the North.

Other Points to Consider

Temples of Vijayanagara Empire

Rulers of Vijayanagara Empire