Town Planning in Ancient India c8.46

c8.46

(5) Earth-fort (mahīdurga). There are three species of this, ‘pārigha’, ‘paṅka’, and ‘mṛddurga’. The pārigha is a fort of which the ramparts and embattled parapets are constructed of mud, rocks or stones, and bricks. The height of its walls is double their breadth exceeding twelve cubits. The walls must be so broad as to enable sentinels to patrol over them in times of war and are furnished with embrasures, crenalles, and windows. It answers to the mahīdurga of Manu.¹ Paṅkadurga (mire-fort) is a fort defended by a tract full of slime, mire, or quicksand.² Mṛddurga (mud-fort) may be a fort allied to the preceding one or it may be a fort with a girth of mud-walls³ like that of Bharatpore.