Before detailing the different parts of the city of Vijayanagara, it is important to consider the great fortress walls that enclosed them. Abdur Razzaq, an ambassador from Persia who visited Calicut in the fifteenth century, was highly impressed by the fortifications of Vijayanagara and noted the presence of seven lines of forts. These fortifications did not just encircle the urban area but also included the agricultural hinterland and forests surrounding the city. The outermost wall connected with the nearby hills. The construction of these massive masonry walls was slightly tapered. Significantly, no mortar or cementing agent was used in their construction. The stone blocks were specifically wedge-shaped, which allowed them to hold firmly in place. The inner portion of the walls consisted of earth packed with rubble. Square or rectangular bastions were built projecting outwards from the walls.