An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v1.c19.s7.2

v1.c19.s7.2

Vedic and Buddhist and literature and the *Dharmaśāstras* and *Artha-śāstra* refer to canals and channels. The Hathigumpha inscription of Khāravela (1st century B.C.) narrates the history of an irrigation canal originally excavated by the Magadhan ruler Nanda (4th century B.C.) and extended by Khāravela to his capital. Similarly the Junagadh inscription of Rudradāman gives a graphic account of the Sudarśana lake originally created by Chandragupta Maurya (4th century B.C.) being strengthened and provided with irrigation canals.