Defence Architecture in Early North Karnataka c20.14

c20.14

The late medieval forts in Kalyāṇa, Bijāpur etc. represet a highly advanced stage and perhaps the last stage in the history of the development of the traditional fort architecture. The forts are located in the plain open fields, even then certain condusive topographical features were considered carefully, fully exploited such as the contours, the drainage system etc. The very location of the forts in the open fields clearly indicates that the military strength in number and variety and the weaponry must have been very large and with superior training in the use of arms and could be deployed at the same time at any points. Relatively, the fort is provided with many complicated gates some being actually trap gates and the gates are designed in such a way to have some times more than one barbican, all flanked by guard rooms. They were provided with mighty gates with enormous thickness studded with fatal spikes on the exterior side. Besides, at strategic points on the bastions were heavy revolving guns which could shoot over considerable distance over a wide area. Also many architectural devices such as magazines for storing gun powder, room for storing weapons etc. appear for the first time. Besides, we notice that within the fort was regularly a citadel separated from the remaining part of the fort area equally well built. Even with regard to the constructions of the forts, we notice that the use of tenacious lime mortar, lest the fort should succumb to the firing of the guns from outside as far as possible. What is implied therefore, in the selection of open fields is more the development of the self strength in the army than the dependence on the naturally defensive character of the forts.