Give a detailed account on hampi

Hampi is situated on the bank of River Tungabhadra, in Karnataka. It was the capital of the mighty Vijyanagar Empire. It was chosen as the capital because of its strategic location. Hampi had Tungabhadra river on one side and was surrounded by cliffs on the other three sides. Hampi was an important centre of the cotton and spice trade. In fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, European merchants used to buy these goods from the rich markets of Hampi. Hampi also traded with Persia, Arabia, Burma (now Myanmar), China and numerous islands in Indian Ocean. Traders from faraway lands visited Hampi from time to time to buy and sell goods. Hampi was well fortified city. It also had many beautiful temples. The rulers used the money from trade to build temples. After the battle of Talikota, Hampi fell into decline. Trade continued but the town lost its importance.