The water requirements of Vijayanagara were met through a well-planned and elaborate system that utilised the natural geography of the region.

The city was located in a natural basin formed by the river Tungabhadra, which flowed in a north-easterly direction. The surrounding landscape was characterised by granite hills that formed a girdle around the city, with numerous streams flowing down from these rocky outcrops to the river.

Since Vijayanagara was situated in one of the most arid zones of the peninsula, elaborate arrangements were made to store rainwater. Embankments were built along the streams to create reservoirs of varying sizes. The most important of these tanks was the Kamalapuram tank, built in the early fifteenth century. Water from this tank not only irrigated nearby fields but was also conducted through a channel to the royal centre.

An elaborate canal system was developed to draw water from the Tungabhadra. This system serviced the agricultural tract located between the sacred centre and the urban core. The agricultural tracts were incorporated within the fortified area as a strategic measure against sieges, which could last for months or years. By protecting the agricultural belt itself, the rulers ensured food security during such crises.