Which among the following statements about Vijayanagara are correct ?

Which among the following statements about Vijayanagara are correct ?

  • Colin Mackenzie was the first Surveyor General of India to visit Vijayanagara.
  • John Marshall was the first to take detailed photographs of the site.
  • James Burgess was the first to undertake conservation of Hampi.

Select the answer using the code given below :

1 only
2 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
1 and 2
This question was previously asked in
UPSC Geoscientist – 2024
Correct Answer: A
– Statement 1 is correct: Colin Mackenzie, a surveyor and antiquarian, visited the ruins of Hampi (Vijayanagara) around 1800 and produced the first survey maps of the site. He is considered the first Surveyor General of India appointed in 1815.
– Statement 2 is incorrect: Detailed photography of Hampi started much earlier than John Marshall’s time. For example, Alexander Greenlaw took extensive photographs of Hampi in 1856. John Marshall served as the Director-General of the Archaeological Survey of India from 1902 to 1928.
– Statement 3 is incorrect: While James Burgess contributed significantly to Indian archaeology and conservation principles, he was not the first to undertake conservation efforts at Hampi. Early efforts were limited, and systematic, large-scale conservation initiatives at Hampi came much later, involving various individuals and the Archaeological Survey of India over time. Mackenzie’s work was primarily documentation.
Colin Mackenzie’s documentation of Vijayanagara was crucial for later studies of the site. The ruins of Hampi, the site of the Vijayanagara empire, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and have been the subject of extensive archaeological research, documentation, and conservation over the centuries.
Exit mobile version