Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v1.c9.s5.37

v1.c9.s5.37

The distance between the first and the last wall is thus given by 'Abdur Razzāq. "From the northern gate of the outer fortress to the southern is a distance of two statute parsangas, and the same with respect to the distance between the eastern and western gates".² Paes also noticed the solid walls. ". . . you must know", says he, "that before you arrive at the city gates there is a gate with a wall that encloses all the other enclosures of the city. . .".³ "Then going forward you have another gate with another line of wall. . .". Then again, "Going along the principal street, you have one of the chief gateways. . .".⁴ "Still going forward, passing to the other gate. . .",⁵ "At the end of it (i.e., another broad and beautiful street), you have another gate with its wall, which wall goes to meet the wall of the second gate of which I have spoken in such sort that this city has three fortresses, with another which is the king's palace".⁶ About the triple circle of walls Varthema and Paes agree.⁷