The correct option is Bijapur, Ahmadnagar, and Golconda.
Explanation
The Battle of Rakshasi-Tangadi, commonly known as the Battle of Talikota (1565), was a watershed event in medieval Indian history. It marked the decisive defeat and subsequent decline of the Vijayanagara Empire at the hands of a confederacy of the Deccan Sultanates.
Detailed Analysis
- Participants: The battle was fought between the Vijayanagara army, led by the de facto ruler Aliya Rama Raya, and the combined forces of four Deccan Sultanates: Bijapur, Ahmadnagar, Golconda, and Bidar.
- Exclusion of Berar: The fifth Sultanate, Berar, did not join the confederacy due to its intense mutual hostility with Ahmadnagar.
- Outcome: The Vijayanagara forces were defeated, Rama Raya was captured and executed, and the capital city of Vijayanagara (Hampi) was sacked and ruined.
- Option Analysis:
- Bijapur, Ahmadnagar, and Golconda: Lists Bijapur, Ahmadnagar, and Golconda, all of which were key members of the alliance. This is the correct choice.
- Bijapur, Bidar, and Berar: Incorrect because it includes Berar, which did not participate.
- Golconda, Bidar, and Khandesh: Incorrect because it includes Khandesh, which was not part of the Deccan Sultanate alliance against Vijayanagara.
- Ahmadnagar, Berar, and Gujarat: Incorrect because it includes Berar and Gujarat.
Key Takeaway: The Battle of Talikota (1565) was fought between the Vijayanagara Empire and a coalition of Bijapur, Ahmadnagar, Golconda, and Bidar. Berar was the only Deccan Sultanate that did not join the alliance.