The ruins of the Vijayanagara at Hampi were brought to light in 1800 by

The ruins of Vijayanagara at Hampi were brought to light in 1800 by Colonel Colin Mackenzie, an engineer and antiquarian serving the English East India Company [1]. Mackenzie prepared the first survey map of the site, gathering initial information from the memories of priests at the Virupaksha temple and the shrine of Pampadevi [3]. His work laid the foundation for subsequent archaeological and historical studies. Later, in 1856, Alexander Greenlaw recorded the first detailed photographs, and in 1876, J.F. Fleet began documenting inscriptions [2]. While John Marshall initiated conservation efforts in 1902, it was Mackenzie's 1800 survey that first rediscovered the site for modern scholarship [2]. The site was later recognized for its national importance in 1976 and designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1986 [3].

Sources

1. [1] THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART II, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 7: An Imperial Capital: Vijayanagara > 1. The Discovery of Hampi > p. 170
2. [3] THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART II, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 7: An Imperial Capital: Vijayanagara > 6. Plotting Palaces, Temples and Bazaars > p. 188
3. [2] THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART II, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 7: An Imperial Capital: Vijayanagara > Landmarks in the Discovery and Conservation of Vijayanagara > p. 193