Indian Art: A History of Indian Art from the Earliest Times up to the Third Century A.D. c9.53

c9.53

The city-wall (*Prākāra*) was surrounded by a moat (*Parikhā*) crossed by draw-bridges (*Saṅkrama*). The wall was pierced by four main gateways which were lofty structures furnished with towers (*Aṭṭālaka*) on the two sides containing a number of rooms (*Koṣṭhaka*) for guards and travellers, thus known as *Dvāra-koṣṭhaka*. With the city gateway was sometimes connected the house of public charity (*Sattra* or *Dāna-śālā*) at which king's alms were distributed. The office of the toll-post was also located in a part of the *Dvāra-koṣṭhaka*