History of Indian and Eastern Architecture v2.c25.s5.8

v2.c25.s5.8

Katak, according to tradition, became the capital of the country in A.D. 989-1006, when a certain Markat Kesarî is said to have built a stone revêtement to protect the site from encroachment of the river.² It too, however, has suffered, first from the intolerant bigotry of the Moslim, and afterwards from the stolid indifference of the British rulers,³ so that very little remains. But for this the great palace of Makund Deo, the contemporary of Akbar, might still remain to us in such a state at least as to be intelligible. Abul Fazl's description of this palace, however, has been misunderstood by the translators, who have represented it as "consisting of nine storeys," instead of nine courts or enclosures. "The first enclosure was for elephants, camels, and horses; the second for artillery and military stores where also were quarters for the guards and other attendants; the third was occupied by porters and watchmen; the fourth was appropriated for the several artificers; the kitchens made the fifth range; the sixth contained the Râja's public apartments; the seventh was for the transaction of private business; the eighth was where the women resided; and the ninth was the Râja's sleeping apartment." "To the south," he adds, "of this palace is a very ancient Hindû temple."⁴