Defence Architecture in Early North Karnataka c18.s2.t2.6

c18.s2.t2.6

Now, the innermost fort at Hangal comprising Enclosure I and Enclosure II belongs to the Śātavāhana - Kadamba period. Within the inner fortification wall is a temple dedicated to Īśvara almost at the centre. Of course, this temple is of 11-12 century A.D. and the fortifications too had been renovated and are enlarged. However, in view of the copper plate grants of the Banavāsi Krishnavarma-II of the early Kadambas, there should have been brahmin community here well versed in the Vēdas and Sāstras and performing Yajnas (E.I. 1952, Vol.II, No.1, pp. 1ff). Hence, it would not be unreasonable to say that within the inner fort there was a temple during the Sātavāhana - Kadamba period. As the fortification is a little away from the river bank a moat has been provided round the fortification i.e. Enclosure III, which is fed by the Sastrikere and Anekere. The provision of the moats to the fortification indicates the political importance of the place. However, it is essentially of the <ins>Khēṭa type</ins> (Fig.89) of fort of Mānasāra.