Textbook
Themes in Indian History, Parts I–III (Class 12)
Source-based chapters on Harappa, Vijayanagara, the Mughal court and 1857 — essential for UPSC.
Vijayanagara Empire
Empire
Level 2
★ Major power
1336 – 1646
Southern empire whose capital at Hampi was among the largest cities in the world.
- Capital
- Vijayanagara (Hampi), later Penukonda / Chandragiri
- Region
- South
- Duration
- 310 years
- Main period
- Vijayanagara Empire
Changing extent
- 1336 — ≈ 40,000 km²: Founded by Harihara and Bukka at Hampi
- 1380 — ≈ 350,000 km²: South of the Tungabhadra; the Madurai Sultanate annexed
- 1520 — ≈ 410,000 km²: Krishnadevaraya: the Raichur doab and the coast to the Krishna
- 1565 — ≈ 210,000 km²: After Talikota: capital moves to Penukonda
- 1620 — ≈ 40,000 km²: Aravidu decline: Chandragiri and Vellore
Approximate extent over time (solid = latest, dashed = earlier).
At a glance
Move along the chart to read any year; click a ruler or event to open the map there.
Dynasties
| Dynasty | Period | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sangama Dynasty | 1336 – 1485 | Founders Harihara I and Bukka Raya I; Deva Raya II. |
| Saluva Dynasty | 1485 – 1505 | Saluva Narasimha rescued the empire from collapse. |
| Tuluva Dynasty | 1505 – 1570 | Krishnadevaraya's golden age; defeat at Talikota in 1565. |
| Aravidu Dynasty | 1570 – 1646 | Rule from Penukonda and Chandragiri in the empire's final phase. |
Rulers
Sangama Dynasty 1336 – 1485
- Harihara I Raya1336 – 1356
- Bukka Raya I Raya1356 – 1377
- Harihara II Raya1377 – 1404
- Deva Raya II Raya1424 – 1446Visited by Abdur Razzaq.
Saluva Dynasty 1485 – 1505
- Saluva Narasimha Deva Raya Raya1485 – 1491
Tuluva Dynasty 1505 – 1570
- Vira Narasimha Raya Raya1505 – 1509
- Krishnadevaraya Raya1509 – 1529Golden age; Amuktamalyada; Ashtadiggajas.
- Achyuta Deva Raya Raya1529 – 1542
- Sadasiva Raya Raya1542 – 1570Rama Raya held real power; defeat at Talikota 1565.
Aravidu Dynasty 1570 – 1646
- Tirumala Deva Raya Raya1570 – 1572
- Venkatapati Raya Raya1586 – 1614
- Sriranga III Raya1642 – 1646Last emperor.
Selected rulers; gaps in the list are not gaps in the dynasty.
Key events
| Year | Event | Place |
|---|---|---|
| 1336 | Vijayanagara founded By Harihara I and Bukka Raya I. |
Hampi |
| 1378 | Vijayanagara annexes the Madurai Sultanate Kumara Kampana's campaign ended the Madurai Sultanate. |
Madurai |
| 1420 | Nicolò de' Conti visits Vijayanagara | Hampi |
| 1443 | Abdur Razzaq's embassy to Vijayanagara | Hampi |
| 1509 | Krishnadevaraya's accession | Hampi |
| 1520 | Krishnadevaraya takes Raichur Vijayanagara won the Raichur doab from Bijapur. |
Raichur |
| 1565 | Battle of Talikota Deccan Sultanates defeat Vijayanagara; Hampi sacked. Vijayanagara's army was routed and its capital Hampi was sacked. |
Talikota |
| 1646 | Last Vijayanagara stronghold falls | Chandragiri |
Sites & monuments
Hampi
Capital / fort · 1336
Capital of Vijayanagara.
📚 Recommended reading on the Vijayanagara Empire
Textbook
History of Medieval India
The go-to single volume on the Sultanate, Mughals and regional kingdoms.
Reference
A History of South India
The classic survey of the south, from prehistory to the fall of Vijayanagara.
Primary source / classic
A Forgotten Empire: Vijayanagar
Includes translations of the Portuguese travellers Paes and Nuniz on Vijayanagara.
We may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. See all recommended books →
Contemporaries
Powers that coexisted with the Vijayanagara Empire for a significant part of its history. The bar shows when, within its own span.
Sultanate of the Maldives ★
Islands · c. 1153 – 1968
Overlap: 310 years
Malla Dynasty of Nepal ★
Himalaya · 1201 – 1769
Overlap: 310 years
Delhi Sultanate ★
North · 1206 – 1526
Overlap: 190 years
Ahom Kingdom ★
Northeast · 1228 – 1826
Overlap: 310 years
Mewar (Sisodia) ★
West · 1326 – 1949
Overlap: 310 years
Bahmani Sultanate ★
Deccan · 1347 – 1527
Overlap: 180 years
Kingdom of Mysore ★
South · 1399 – 1950
Overlap: 247 years
Kingdom of Kandy ★
Sri Lanka · c. 1469 – 1815
Overlap: 177 years
Portuguese Estado da Índia ★
Coastal · 1505 – 1961
Overlap: 141 years
Mughal Empire ★
North · 1526 – 1857
Overlap: 120 years
British East India Company ★
Pan-Indian · 1600 – 1858
Overlap: 46 years
Eastern Ganga Dynasty
East · c. 1078 – 1434
Overlap: 98 years
Khasa Malla Kingdom
Himalaya · c. 1100 – c. 1400
Overlap: 64 years
Zamorins of Calicut
South · c. 1124 – 1766
Overlap: 310 years
Kachwahas of Amber (Jaipur)
West · c. 1128 – 1949
Overlap: 310 years
Jaffna Kingdom
Sri Lanka · c. 1215 – 1619
Overlap: 283 years
Marwar (Rathore)
West · c. 1226 – 1949
Overlap: 310 years
Madurai Sultanate
South · 1335 – 1378
Overlap: 42 years
Kashmir Sultanate
North · 1339 – 1586
Overlap: 247 years
Samma Dynasty
Northwest · 1351 – 1524
Overlap: 173 years
Bengal Sultanate
East · 1352 – 1576
Overlap: 224 years
Timurid Empire (Herat)
Northwest · 1370 – 1507
Overlap: 137 years
Malwa Sultanate
Central · 1392 – 1562
Overlap: 170 years
Jaunpur (Sharqi) Sultanate
Gangetic Plain · 1394 – 1479
Overlap: 85 years
Gujarat Sultanate
West · 1407 – 1573
Overlap: 166 years
Kingdom of Kotte
Sri Lanka · 1412 – 1597
Overlap: 185 years
Gajapati Kingdom
East · 1434 – 1541
Overlap: 107 years
Ahmadnagar Sultanate (Nizam Shahi)
Deccan · 1490 – 1636
Overlap: 146 years
Bijapur Sultanate (Adil Shahi)
Deccan · 1490 – 1686
Overlap: 156 years
Berar Sultanate (Imad Shahi)
Deccan · 1490 – 1574
Overlap: 84 years
Bidar Sultanate (Barid Shahi)
Deccan · 1492 – 1619
Overlap: 127 years
Portuguese Cochin
Coastal · 1503 – 1663
Overlap: 143 years
Koch Kingdom (Kamata / Cooch Behar)
Northeast · 1515 – 1949
Overlap: 131 years
Golconda Sultanate (Qutb Shahi)
Deccan · 1518 – 1687
Overlap: 128 years
Madurai Nayaks
South · 1529 – 1736
Overlap: 117 years
Portuguese Bassein & Bombay
Coastal · 1534 – 1739
Overlap: 112 years
Portuguese Diu
Coastal · 1535 – 1961
Overlap: 111 years
Portuguese Daman
Coastal · 1559 – 1961
Overlap: 87 years
Gorkha Kingdom
Himalaya · 1559 – 1768
Overlap: 87 years
Portuguese Hooghly
Coastal · 1579 – 1632
Overlap: 53 years