Defence Architecture in Early North Karnataka c18.s1.14

c18.s1.14

Now, Khēṭa: (Fig.89) is usually a trading centre to be protected well in the interest of the prosperity of the kingdom. In general,it should be oblong semi-octagonal in plan on the bank of a river with 3 concentric fortifications. On one side is a river and on the other, a land. The entrances are from the land side and from the Ghat on the river facing each other. From the entrance on the land side two more streets run diagonally to the outermost fortification upto the junction, where there are the gates. At the main entrance on the land side, the gate opens a road round the temple and within the fortification the space is meant for traders and agriculturists. In the space in the middle and innermost fortification are the working class i.e. Sudras. In the space between the middle and outermost, on the river side are markets and godowns. The outermost fortification generally has octagonal bastions at the corner-angles. The four entrances in the outermost fortification are flanked by square bastions.