Indian Architecture (Buddhist and Hindu Periods) c42.33

c42.33

One other notable example of the later phase of Burmese architecture, and of a very comprehensive order, is the city and palace of Mandalay.¹ This modern capital of the country, although not so important in its architectural aspect, is of considerable significance on account of its plan and general layout, as it represents the traditional conception of a royal residence, citadel, fortress, and city combined according to Far Eastern ideals. That Mandalay is a survival of the historical principles applied in planning a capital city in the orient is fairly clear, and receives confirmation from an interesting source. For Marco Polo’s description of Khan Baliq, the Pekin capital built by the great Mongol Kublai Khan in the thirteenth century, shows that Mandalay embodies the same essential features laid out on the same general plan, although founded some six hundred years later. This seat of the Alaungpra rulers of Burma was received and put into effect by King Mindon in 1857, and a striking view of its shape and the disposition of its parts may be readily obtained from Mandalay Hill, an eminence immediately overlooking the city on the north-west. Taken as a whole the layout is a system of concentric square enclosures the perimeter walls of which act as a series of protective barriers to the palace buildings occupying the centre. Surrounding the precincts of the palace itself was a high stockade of teak posts (since removed), while below the outer bastioned wall thus isolating the entire fortress is a deep and formidable moat seventy-five yards wide. Bridges over this moat, and doorways in the sides of each enclosure complete the general outline of the scheme.