Defence Architecture in Early North Karnataka c15.s1.t1: The Enclosure wall to the fort

Defence Architecture in Early North Karnataka c15.s1.t1

Language: English

The Enclosure wall to the fort

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During the period of Nizam's rule, this fort was brought under their control in the course of the wars between the Nizāms and Marathās headed by Bālāji Bājirāo, in 1740-1761 A.D. (Telang,K.T., 1961, pp. 54-56 and 59). Then thereafter, an enclosure wall was raised along the outer edge of the moat (Enclosure I of Figs. 44 and 45). It is oval in plan and rather irregularly polygonal in design, making 13 angles. It measures on its axis 300 metres North-south and 270 metres east-west. The moat, therefore, is enclosed by the wall and is not visible from outside.

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At the point where the oblique cause-way is provided across the moat, to the original fort, a gate-way (Fig. 47) is provided in the enclosure wall and the gate-way is enclosed on the outside by a barbican (Fig.44). The barbican has entrance gate (Fig.46) on the south (i.e. entrance I). Within the barbican, in between its entrance and the entrance of the enclosure (i.e. entrance II), there are two structures namely a pillared maṇḍapa and a masjid, (Fig.44).

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At the lintel level of the entrance I to the barbican, is a Persian inscription,¹ which mentions the date of the construction of the gate-way i.e. 1795 A.D. The interior of the area of the barbican is 50 metres north-south and 45 metres east-west. On the interior wall of the barbican is a row of Dalāns in ruins. All these are of ashlar masonry with lime mortar as binding material. The walls of the barbican are simple and plain.

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¹ In the course of exploration, the inscription in set in the wall above the gate, was personally read by my friend and the date pertains to the Nizam's Period.

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The enclosure wall (Fig. 44, Encl.I) has wall-walk at the top. There is a parapet wall along the edge of outer wall. At the parapet wall, at regular interval, are loop-holes. On the interior, at seven points close to the bends are flight of steps, leading to the moat, which is between 10-12 metres, below the level of the wall-walk (Fig.45). It may be noted here that there are no bastions at the angular points or gun-points (Fig. 44).

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The circumstance that led to the creation of an enclosure wall round the moat may be explained as follows:

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In the earlier days i.e. during the early Mughal period, the skin-boats for crossing moats were in use. Such skin-boats are easily portable. Enemies, therefore, could easily use such boats in those days for crossing moats. On the other hand, in the ancient period, usually elongated, fish like wooden boats were in use; such boats were not easy for transport. With the invention of the circular skin-boats, that could be taken easily from place to place (Illn.D.5) the effective check that a moat offered for the quick onward march of the enemies had been much weakened. Therefore, in order to avert the possible in-effective functioning of the moat, this enclosure wall was raised.

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Enemies, thus, could find their way with great difficulty, through the gate where there is the cause-way. It is suggested here that the cause way might have been replaced by a sturdy drop-gate. In times of danger, the drop-gate could be lifted up, so much so, the connection between the enclosure wall and the fort-wall could be severed. The inaccessible moat now cannot be crossed easily. But at present, no material evidences or literary references, to such devices, in response to the conjectural circumstances, are available.

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The soldiers, protecting the fort, can cross the moet reaching flight of steps at different points and get on to the wall-walk to be at assigned spots. And from wall-walk, through the slits in the parapet, the guns can keep enemies at a distance. This is a new device, any way, that we notice only in this fort, and it is really commendable. It speaks of the intelligence of the military engineers in a simple but effective way.

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SCALE 0 60 120 Kms MAHĀRĀṢṬRA BHĪMĀ KĀGINĀ FORT OF KALYĀṆA KRISHNĀ VARADĀ TUNGA BHADRĀ KĀVĒRI GOA ARABIAN SEA KĒRAḶĀ ANDHRA PRADĒSH TAMIL NĀDU Karnāṭaka — LOCATION OF THE FORT OF KALYĀṆA.

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[Figure: PARAPET WALL WALK M O A T SCALE 0 10 20 30 40 m DARBAR HALL TEMPLE RUINS PALACE ENCL III ENCL II ENCL I 30 TO 35 m WELL 30 TO 35 M MOSQUE V VI MAGAZINE RUINS OF OFFICERS' QRTS IV III II I M O A T N S kalyānafort (DIST BIDAR)

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| | NS EW | W | H |
| encl I | 300 x 270 m | 3 | x 10 m |
| encl II | 250 x 200 m | 3 | x 20 m |
| encl III | 150 x 100 m | 3 | x 20 m |

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srj]

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An accurate transcription requires rotating the image 90 degrees clockwise to align with the text orientation:

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- Top-left label: "FIG. 45" (written in the margin)
- Left: "SOUTH"
- Right: "NORTH"
- Below South: "ENCL·I", "ENCL·II"
- Center-top: "ENCL·III"
- Architectural labels: "ENT·VB", "ENT·III", "HOLLOW BASTIONS", "MOAT" (twice), "G.L." (ground level, twice)
- Dimensions: "10·00", "20·00", "30 TO 35 m", "10·00", "300 m", "150·00 m", "230·00 m", "300·00 m", "10·00", "30-35 m", "3·00"
- Main Title at bottom: "KALYĀṆA FORT · SECTIONAL ELEVATION, LOOKING EAST"
- Signature mark at bottom-right: "SKJ"

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Let's format according to the rules:
- Page furniture:

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The diagram itself is an architectural sectional elevation drawing with integrated labels and dimensions, plus its caption:

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KALYĀṆA FORT · SECTIONAL ELEVATION, LOOKING EAST

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Wait, what about the text inside the figure? Figures, plates, maps and drawings: "a line "[Figure: caption as printed]" where the figure stands (only the printed caption or label; empty brackets "[Figure:]" if it has none). Do not describe images."

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So the caption is: `KALYĀṆA FORT · SECTIONAL ELEVATION, LOOKING EAST`

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Is "FIG. 45" a figure label/caption or page furniture? Usually "FIG. 45" is part of the caption or figure reference, but here it's handwritten/stamped/printed at the top margin: "FIG. 45". Wait, let's look at the instruction: "- Page furniture — running head, page number, chapter mark in the margin, printer's signature marks ("B 2", "12*"), library stamps, catchwords — each on its own line starting with "@H "." "SKJ" is the draftsman's initials at the bottom right. That might be a signature mark or part of the plate/figure. Wait, if it's an entire page consisting of a figure: `@H FIG. 45`

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`[Figure: KALYĀṆA FORT · SECTIONAL ELEVATION, LOOKING EAST]`

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`@H SKJ`

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Let's check if "FIG. 45" is caption: Sometimes books have:

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FIG. 45 KALYĀṆA FORT · SECTIONAL ELEVATION, LOOKING EAST

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Wait, "FIG. 45" is at the top left corner, clearly outside the main frame/area, or it's a figure number. In many Indian archaeological books, "FIG. 45" at the top indicates figure number. Wait, if it is the figure caption/label, usually it goes inside `[Figure: ...]`: `[Figure: FIG. 45 KALYĀṆA FORT · SECTIONAL ELEVATION, LOOKING EAST]` or separate? Wait, the caption at the bottom says: `KALYĀṆA FORT · SECTIONAL ELEVATION, LOOKING EAST` And at the top margin: `FIG. 45`

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Let's put `@H FIG. 45` or inside the figure caption? "a line "[Figure: caption as printed]" where the figure stands (only the printed caption or label; empty brackets "[Figure:]" if it has none). Do not describe images."

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If "FIG. 45" is page furniture (like a running figure number at the top of a plate page): `@H FIG. 45` `[Figure: KALYĀṆA FORT · SECTIONAL ELEVATION, LOOKING EAST]` `@H SKJ`

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Wait, could SKJ just be part of the figure or page furniture? Printer's signature mark? No, SKJ is the draftsman (S.K. Joshi, author/illustrator of *Defence Architecture in Early Karnataka*). But putting it as `@H SKJ` or omitting/including? As page furniture, yes: printer's signature marks, chapter marks in margin, etc. go to `@H `.

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Wait, is "FIG. 45" caption? If someone considers "FIG. 45" the figure label, "FIG. 45\nKALYĀṆA FORT..." - but rule says: "a line "[Figure: caption as printed]"" Single line! If "FIG. 45" is part of the caption, it would be `[Figure: FIG. 45 KALYĀṆA FORT · SECTIONAL ELEVATION, LOOKING EAST]`. However, FIG. 45 is placed in the top margin like a running head / plate number. Let's check standard treatment: `@H FIG. 45` `[Figure: KALYĀṆA FORT · SECTIONAL ELEVATION, LOOKING EAST]` `@H SKJ` This completely adheres to all rules without loss of information.@H FIG. 45