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Sisupalgarh
Location | Khurda district, Odisha |
Built in | 3rd-5th century BC |
Sisupalgarh is a ruined fortification in Khurda District in Odisha, India. It is one of the largest and best preserved early historic fortifications in India. The remnants of the old city of Sisupalgarh have been found near the capital of the state of Odisha, Bhubaneswar.
Archaeological sites tell us many things about our past and the new generation can observe the past through historical sites such as Sisupalgarh. Thus, this site could be a great place for school and college students to visit and learn about Orissa's history.
History
Archaeologists believe the city to be over 2,500 years old. Based on the artifacts discovered and architectural pattern during the early digs, archeologist B.B. Lal determined that the fort city thrived between the 3rd century BC and 4th century AD. But new discoveries by M. Smith and R. Mohanty states that the fort city thrived from about 5th century BC and possibly continued well into the 4th century. Hence, this self-protective establishment had begun well before the Mauryan Empire. The concerned archeologists used geophysical review, systematic surface gatherings and selected diggings in the 4.8 km boundary of the fortified zone and examined individual houses, civic and domestic architecture to determine that the population of the city which could have been around 20 to 25 thousand during that period.
In 2006, the Indo German team made numerous drawings and a 3D scan of the column complex in order to document the preservation.
Previously, the national archaeologist Bijay Kumar Rath said that ASI has assessed the period of Sisupalgarh fort to be amid 300 BC and 300 AD and the department's survey has estimated the progress of the region in three phases or stages. Almost 1 sq km area was unearthed and Queens's palace or the Rani Uasa still exists in all its glory with its pillared assemblies.
Architecture
The initial excavations of the site were undertaken by B.B. Lal in 1948. Then in 2001, an American-Indian team took up further research in the area. The plausible location of the southern moat was discovered in 2005 with the aid of ground penetrating radar. With the assistance of laser scanners, three dimensional images of the 19 column structures at the center of the fortress have been chronicled. These are in extremely bad shape and imperfect and two gates have pierced each of the glacis of the four-sided plan. Similar to the site of Jagada, around the same time, the proposal leans 10° clockwise of north. Sisupalgarh is bigger in area - measuring 1125 m x 1115 m at the top than Jaugada. The gates of Sisupalgarh measure above 90m in length from within to the outside and differ very much in details, shape and size of building. This makes Sisupalgarh fortifications highly recognized in that period. The most well preserved and largest gate is the one on the western side of the two gates on northern glacis. Smallest are the two in the southern glacis. But due to the yearly increase in the intruding rice fields, this gate and all the other ones are decreasing in size.
It has a 2000-year-old quadratic defensive wall, measuring 1,200 x 1,160 meters and portions of the surviving wall are as high as 12 metres. A Mauryan period site, the tall pillars, some old walls and structures are still there to see, says Yule and Borchert in one of their articles on the fort.
Best Time to Visit
From October to March, climate and temperature is most pleasant during this time.
How to Reach
By Air
The airport, Biju Patnaik airport is located nearly 5 kms away from the center of Bhubaneswar. A taxi ride costs approximately Rs 100. Delhi and Mumbai are well linked to Bhubaneswar and international visitors have to get connections via Delhi.
By Rail
Located 6 km away from the center of the city is the rail station. This terminus is well-linked to the metropolises and also to Bangalore, Hyderabad and Delhi.
By Road
Located 6 km from the center of town is the New Bus Stand which links easily to the major metropolises near Bhubaneswar. Regular bus service connects Bhubaneswar Konark and Puri.
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