History of Technology in India, Vol. I: From Antiquity to c. 1200 A.D. v1.c30.s3.52

v1.c30.s3.52

Aihole in Karnataka, the temple city of the Calukyas and Alampur (A.P.) had till recently preserved traces of town-walls and gates. These were built of fairly large blocks of stone laid without mortar. The walls were generally three to four meters in thickness and equal in height. The gates were of the pillar and lintel variety, more like the Buddhist *toraṇas*. Such ramparts served quite well so long as the defenders faced weapons like javelins, arrows or sling-balls. But with the introduction of gun-powder a number of changes became necessary.