Who among the following rulers of Vijayanagara Empire constructed a large dam across Tungabhadra River and a canal-cum-aqueduct several kilometres long from the river to the capital city?
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Answer: A. Devaraya I (early 15th century) built a dam across the Tungabhadra and a long canal-cum-aqueduct to bring water to the capital Vijayanagara, as recorded by foreign travellers and inscriptions.
Watch for: Virupaksha is also the name of Hampi's famous temple, which makes the option feel familiar.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. Wrong because Mallikarjuna was a weaker later ruler not credited with this work.
- C. Wrong because Vira Vijaya ruled briefly and did not build it.
- D. Wrong because Virupaksha is not credited with this dam.
Source to check: Robert Sewell, A Forgotten Empire (1900), on Nuniz's account of Devaraya I's dam and aqueduct; NCERT Class 12 Themes in Indian History Part II, Ch 7 An Imperial Capital: Vijayanagara (water resources)
Answer from the official UPSC key. Written and fact-checked by AI against the official key. Spotted a mistake? Report it.