History · Vijayanagara Architecture

Given below are two statements, one labeled as Assertion (A) and the other labeled as Reason (R): Assertion (A): The Vijayanagara Empire incorporated significant Indo-Islamic architectural elements—such as arches, domes, and vaulting techniques—particularly in its secular and courtly structures like audience halls and military buildings. Reason (R): This was primarily because rulers like Deva Raya I and Deva Raya II institutionalised the appointment of Persian master architects from West Asia, whose direct supervision led to the systematic adoption of these features across the capital. In the light of the above statements, choose the correct answer: