Vijayanagara’s Traditional System of Water Management
The Vijayanagara Empire (14th to 17th centuries) relied on an extensive network of irrigation tanks, reservoirs and canals to support agriculture in the often drought-prone landscapes of southern India.
The Dasavanda system encouraged individuals and local communities to construct and maintain irrigation works, sometimes rewarding them with tax concessions or land rights. Water tanks were frequently interconnected, allowing surplus water to flow into lower reservoirs and extending irrigation across agricultural areas. Land measurements, including the use of koles, helped assess agricultural holdings and land productivity for revenue administration. Local communities also played an important role in maintaining reservoirs, clearing silt and repairing embankments. These practices illustrate how water conservation, agricultural planning and community participation contributed to rural livelihoods and food security under Vijayanagara rule.