<P> The Vijayanagara Empire ( also called Karnata Empire , and the Kingdom of Bisnegar by the Portuguese ) was based in the Deccan Plateau region in South India . It was established in 1336 by Harihara I and his brother Bukka Raya I of Sangama Dynasty . The empire rose to prominence as a culmination of attempts by the southern powers to ward off Islamic invasions by the end of the 13th century . It lasted until 1646 , although its power declined after a major military defeat in 1565 by the combined armies of the Deccan sultanates . The empire is named after its capital city of Vijayanagara , whose ruins surround present day Hampi , now a World Heritage Site in Karnataka , India . The writings of medieval European travelers such as Domingo Paes , Fernão Nunes , and Niccolò Da Conti , and the literature in local languages provide crucial information about its history . Archaeological excavations at Vijayanagara have revealed the empire 's power and wealth . </P>
the remains of vijay nagar empire can be found in
the Deccan Plateau region in South India