An Encyclopaedia of Indian Archaeology v2.c45.782

v2.c45.782

**Sisupalgarh** (20°13′; 85°51′) sprawling on the s.-e. periphery of Bhubaneswar and presenting an imposing sight of an early historical fort unfolding to a remarkable degree the story of an integral culture that had its own stages of growth, decline and decay. On circumstantial evidence the fort has been identified with two wellknown cities of ancient Kalinga: (1) Tosali mentioned in the edicts of Aśoka at Dhauli, 5 km. s.-e. of the site and (2) Kalinganagara of Khāravela’s inscription in Cave 14 (Hāthīgumphā) of the UDAYAGIRI hill, about 10 km w.-n.-w. of the site. The fortified town, protected on all sides by a running moat, is roughly square on plan with each of its sides running over 1 km, interrupted by two large gateways and two narrow openings. Towards the centre of the town stands a group of 16 monolithic pillars of laterite, some bearing medallions like those found at Bharhut, SANCHI and UDAYAGIRI-KHANDAGIRI caves, having an unusually large ground plan of 8·28 m by 7·36 m which is identified as the remains of a pillared hall that once stood here.