The correct answer is: c) The Vijayanagara Empire.
The Battle of Talikota was fought on January 16, 1565, near Talikota, Karnataka, India, between the Vijayanagara Empire and a coalition of the Deccan sultanates of Bijapur, Golconda, Ahmadnagar, and Bidar. The battle resulted in the decisive defeat of the Vijayanagara Empire and the beginning of its decline.
The Vijayanagara Empire was a Hindu empire that ruled over much of southern India from the 14th to the 16th centuries. The empire was founded by Harihara I and Bukka Raya I, two brothers who were feudatories of the Hoysala Empire. The Vijayanagara Empire reached its peak under the rule of Krishnadevaraya (1509-1529), who expanded the empire’s territory and consolidated its power.
The Deccan sultanates were Muslim kingdoms that ruled over the Deccan Plateau in southern India from the 14th to the 17th centuries. The sultanates were founded by Muslim invaders from Central Asia, who conquered the region from the Hindu kingdoms of the Deccan. The Deccan sultanates were often at war with each other, and they also fought against the Vijayanagara Empire.
The Battle of Talikota was a major turning point in the history of southern India. The defeat of the Vijayanagara Empire led to the decline of the empire and the rise of the Deccan sultanates. The battle also marked the end of the Hindu golden age in southern India.
The other options are incorrect because they were not major powers in southern India at the time of the Battle of Talikota. The Qutb Shahi Dynasty was a Muslim dynasty that ruled over the Deccan Plateau from the 16th to the 18th centuries. The Gajapati Kingdom was a Hindu kingdom that ruled over Odisha from the 14th to the 16th centuries. The Bahmani Sultanate was a Muslim sultanate that ruled over the Deccan Plateau from the 14th to the 16th centuries.