Colonel Colin Mackenzie, a British army officer and surveyor, was the first to systematically document the ruins of Hampi in the early 19th century. While he did gather information from local sources, the accounts of foreign travellers played a significant role in providing him with initial details about the ruins of Hampi.
Travellers and historians from foreign lands had visited the area, documenting their observations and experiences, which were valuable to Mackenzie as he initiated his survey.
He eventually corroborated these accounts with archaeological findings, inscriptions, and temple records.