Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346 – A.D. 1646) v1.c9.s5.53

v1.c9.s5.53

As Paes relates, the city could be approached only through the circles enclosed by the seven walls. He gives us some more details about the entrance to the city. ". . . and two leagues before you arrive at the city of Bisnaga you have a very lofty *serra* which has passes by which you enter the city. These are called 'gates' (*portals*). You must enter by these, for you will have no means of entrance except by them. This range of hills surrounds the city with a circle of twenty-four leagues, and within this range there are others that encircle it closely. Wherever these ranges have any level ground they cross it with a very strong wall, in such a way that the hills remain all closed, except in the places where the roads come through from the gates in the first range, which are the entrance ways to the city. In such places there are small pits (or caves?) which could be defended by a few people; these *serras* continue as far as the interior of the city".³