Indian Art: A History of Indian Art from the Earliest Times up to the Third Century A.D. c12.s2.30

c12.s2.30

PRADAKSHIṆAPATHA :—The Stūpa was surrounded by a path of circumambulation (Pradakshiṇapatha) 10' 4" wide which lay between the great railing and the Stūpa. The whole of this space was covered with a thick flooring of lime plaster, which has lasted well even to the present day. The outer edge of the floor was finished by a line of curved curb stones, cut exactly to the circumference of the inner circle of the railing; and the pillars were set against the curb stones which just touched the diameter of the lower half medallions. The foot of each pillar, which was quite rough, rested on a square block laid directly on the earth. The terraced floor (pratikaṇṭhukā) was continued alround the outside of the railing for a width of several feet.