The Ancient Geography of India. I. The Buddhist Period, including the Campaigns of Alexander, and the Travels of Hwen-Thsang c8.s3.1

c8.s3.1

From Kosala, Hwen Thsang proceeded to the south for 900 *li*, or 150 miles, to *An-to-lo*, or *Andhra*,* the modern Telingâna. The capital was named *Ping-ki-lo*, which M. Julien transcribes as *Vingkhila*, but it has not yet been identified. We know that Warangol, or Varnakol, was the capital of Telingâna for several centuries afterwards, but its position does not agree with the pilgrim's narrative, as it lies too far from Chânda on the Pain Ganga river, and too near to Dhâranikotta on the Kistna. The Chinese syllables also do not represent the name of Warangol, although they might perhaps be taken for *Vankol*. They may be read as *Bhimgal*, which is the name of an old town in Telingâna mentioned by Abul Fazl. But Bhimgal is only 120 miles to the south-west of Chânda, instead of 150 miles to the south or south-west, and is upwards of 200 miles to the north of Dhâranikotta instead of 167 miles. I should therefore be inclined to accept the Chinese syllables as a blundering transcription of Warangol itself, if the positions agreed more nearly. But the actual distance between Varangol and Chânda is 160 miles, and between Varangol and Dhâranikotta only 120 miles. It is, therefore, too near the latter place, and too far from the former place, according to Hwen Thsang's account. If we might adopt Amaravati in Berar as the capital of Kosala, then Bhimgal would represent the capital of Andhra beyond all doubt, as it stands rather short of midway between Chânda and Dhâranikotta ; but both the distances are too great to suit Hwen Thsang’s numbers of 900 *li* and 1000 *li*, or 150 miles and 167 miles. The position of *Elgandel*, which is midway between Bhimgal and Varangol, agrees better with the pilgrim’s narrative, as it is about 130 miles from Chânda, and 170 miles from Dhâranikotta. I am, therefore, willing to adopt *Elgandel* as the probable representative of the capital of *Andhra* in the seventh century of the Christian era.