________________
350
AN EARLY HISTORY OF ORISSA
have been found. In this way, various theories have cropped up regarding the identification of Kalinga-nagara.
The possibility, however, of Sisupalgarh being identical with the Kalinga-nagara of Khāravela's inscription may also be considered. The Sisupal fort, which is one and a half miles to the south-east of the Bhuvanesvar town, is in the form of a rough square on plan, and is oriented roughly along the cardinal points. Its sides, which measure three-quarter of a mile long each, enclose an area a little over half a square mile. The contours suggest the existence of towers or turrents at the corners and eight large gateways, two on each side, besides a similar number of smaller openings distributed all over the perimeter. The orientation of the gateways, two for each side and the corner-towers suggest excellent planning not only of the fortification but also of the streets inside which presumably ran east to west and north to south connecting the opposite gateways. In fact, the passage of the western gateway, which was completely excavated, revealed a cart track with a gauge measuring four feet and six inches. Cart tracks were observed at various levels. In proof of excellent planning, it may be mentioned that the main gateways (two for each side) are so placed that if the length between two corner-towers of any side
1. A suggestion in that respect has been made by Mr. B. B. Lal, the then Superintendent of Archaeological Survey, Excavations BranchAncient India, Vol. V, Jan' 49, pp. 668.
2. Plan in Ancient India, Vol. V, Jan' 49, p. 66.
3. The western gateway, which has been so cimpletely exposed, shows basements of what should have been two lofty watch-towers on both sides, an ancillary passage, a guard room etc, and hence is not only one of the grandest monuments unearthed by excavations, but also the only one of its kind ever found anywhere in India. In fact, there is every indication that it was being used as a royal residence
Further, the excavations have brought to light relics dating the city as early as the 4th-3rd Conturies B. C.
Jain Education International
For Personal & Private Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
