An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v2.c45.370

v2.c45.370

The elaborate gateway complex facing s. has a flight of five steps of 3 m width and flanked by 45 cm wide n.-s. parapet walls, partly of burnt brick and partly of stone. Each tread measures 1·10 m with risers of 23 cm. While small flat stones of irregular sizes have been used for paving the run of the stairway, the edges of the risers are faced with brick. Three pairs of sockets, each 37 cm in diameter, cut into blocks of stones and distributed evenly on either side of the gate have been found in the following arrangement. The first set, one on each side of the flanking stones inside the gate, was to carry two leaves of the door. Another set of two sockets on either side of the outer edge of the gateway complex almost touches the inner edge of the moat. These were probably meant for heavy posts of a drawbridge, perhaps used as a means for crossing the moat. No evidence of any permanent arrangement connecting the gate and the other side of the moat is available.