Defence Architecture in Early North Karnataka c17.s3.t1.9

c17.s3.t1.9

This gate (Fig.70, Schedule 6) is unique not only among the gates of this fort, but also of any other fort known so far, in North Karnāṭaka in particular, for, as in the case of the other gates, there is no approach to this gate from outside and no cause-way across the moat leading right into the front of the gate. There is, in fact, no gate facing frontwards flanked by the bastions from the sides, on the other hand there is only a bastion, which is hexagonal (each side 5 m) in plan. The bastion faces south-east and on the north-eastern wing of the bastion, there is a door-way, that is in line with the moat (40.00 m) i.e. to say it does not look across the moat. Secondly, this bastion is not really solid but hollow, provided with the entrance. Of course, there is now a cause-way obliquely constructed across the moat, but this is of recent origin (7.00 x 42.00 m). In consideration of all these architectural factors, it is obvious, that the bastion with the gate is not meant for approach from outside.