The Ancient Geography of India. I. The Buddhist Period, including the Campaigns of Alexander, and the Travels of Hwen-Thsang c8.s1.1

c8.s1.1

In the seventh century, the capital of the kingdom of *Kie-ling-kia*, or Kalinga, was situated at from 1400 to 1500 *li*, or from 233 to 250 miles, to the southwest of Ganjam.* Both bearing and distance point either to *Rajamahendri* on the Godâvari river, or to *Koringa* on the seacoast, the first being 251 miles to the south-west of Ganjam, and the other 246 miles in the same direction. But as the former is known to have been the capital of the country for a long period, I presume that it must be the place that was visited by the Chinese pilgrim. The original capital of Kalinga is said to have been *Srikakola*, or Chikakol, 20 miles to the south-west of Kalinga-patam. The kingdom was 5000 *li*, or 833 miles, in circuit. Its boundaries are not stated; but as it was united to the west by Andhra, and to the south by Dhanakakaṭa, its frontier line cannot have extended beyond the Godâvari river, on the south-west, and the Gaoliya branch of the Indrâvati river on the north-west. Within these limits, the circuit of Kalinga would be about 800 miles. The principal feature in this large tract of country is the Mahendra range of mountains, which has preserved its name unchanged from the time of the composition of the Mahâbhârata to the present day. This range is mentioned also in the Vishnu Purâna, as the source of the Rishikulya river, and as this is the well-known name of the river of Ganjam, the Mahendra mountains can at once be identified with the *Mahendra Malé* range, which divides Ganjam from the valley of the Mahânadi.