Domingo Paes, a Portuguese traveler and merchant, visited the Vijayanagar Empire around 1520–1522 during the reign of Krishnadevaraya. His account is one of the most valuable foreign descriptions of the Vijayanagar capital and provides detailed information about its political organization, economy, urban planning, military strength, and social life. His observations are preserved in the chronicles of Portuguese writers and are considered an important source for the history of medieval South India. Paes described Vijayanagar as one of the largest and most magnificent cities in the world. According to him, the city was surrounded by strong fortifications, massive walls, and natural defenses formed by rocky hills. He noted that the capital consisted of multiple enclosures with gateways and watchtowers, indicating careful military planning. The roads were broad, well-maintained, and connected different parts of the city, reflecting efficient urban administration. The traveler admired the prosperity and wealth of the city. He described bustling markets filled with merchants dealing in precious stones, pearls, silk, spices, horses, metals, and textiles. Separate markets existed for different commodities, suggesting an organized commercial system. Paes remarked that gold, silver, and jewels were abundant and that trade flourished due to the empire's extensive commercial links with foreign countries, particularly through west coast ports. Domingo Paes paid special attention to the royal palace and public buildings. He described magnificent palaces, audience halls, temples, gardens, tanks, and water reservoirs. Although many palace structures were built