Defence Architecture in Early North Karnataka c19.s2.1

c19.s2.1

In the next stage during the 6-8th centuries A.D., the Chālukyan fort at Bādāmi (Fig.21) displays considerable advancement in the architecture. The very selection of the area for the construction of the fort (Fig.22 and Fig. 23) on steep sided hill tops indicates considerable advancement in war techniques. Of course, there are no direct evidences to have a clear idea about the actual devices used. However, the sculptural representations (Fig.95) show a variety of weapons of each class. The swords are much more heavy and arrows are like harpoons even more effective, for once a soldier is struck with an arrow, removal of that would only mean excessively painful and even fatal. This is an improved type of bow. Similarly are three pronged spears i.e. trisula. A heavy thick rope tied with an iron chunk with pointed pins is another type of powerful weapons found in sculptures, therefore, the soldiers in protection will have to be far above the horizons of such attacks. On the exterior side of wall are rectangular type of bastions at regular intervals. Further, the soldiers could gather in groups in required number at regular intervals on the top of the bastions. The Bādāmi fort is not provided with parapet (Fig.30) or Kanguras, perhaps for the reasons that the height of the hill is so much that enemies cannot aim correctly at the protecting soldiers.