RAS question
The Vijayanagara capital Hampi is situated on the banks of which river?
Correct answer: (C) Tungabhadra.
Hampi, the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire in Karnataka, is situated on the southern bank of the Tungabhadra river.
Explanation
Hampi is identified with the Vijayanagara capital because the Archaeological Survey of India describes it as the seat of the mighty Vijayanagara empire and places it on the southern bank of the Tungabhadra. That river-bank setting is part of Hampi's standard heritage location, not a loose geographical detail. Hampi, in Karnataka, is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site associated with temple complexes, royal enclosures and bazaar streets. The medieval capital of Vijayanagara belongs with its immediate Tungabhadra river setting, not with the larger river systems of southern India.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) Kaveri is associated with southern Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, whereas the Vijayanagara capital Hampi stands on the Tungabhadra.
- (B) Godavari is much further north, whereas Hampi is located on the southern bank of the Tungabhadra.
- (D) The Krishna river flows nearby, but Hampi itself is on the Tungabhadra, not on the Krishna.
Concept
The historical geography of medieval Indian capitals often ties political centres to river-bank locations. RAS frequently covers Vijayanagara, Hampi and their monuments through site identification.