Did you know that Warangal and Hanamkonda, the twin cities constructed by the Kakatiyas in the 13th century, are modelled on the lines of a circular city?
It was discovered initially in 1979 by architect, archaeologist and art historian George Michell, who described it as the only ‘circular city’ in India built with three concentric rings of walls laid out as a cosmogram.
“The approaches are not in straight formation and hence people on horsebacks would have to take sharp turns, reducing their speed and making it easier for defenders of the fort city to attack the enemy. This indicates a security precaution and that is amazing,” said Mr. Michell.
It has a temple of Shiva in the middle and approach gateways and the four cardinal points arranged in rotational symmetry. He was convinced about the uniqueness of the city and started wondering about how it was constructed in that period, what kind of lifting mechanisms were used, apart from men and horses and about the architecture itself.
It was then that he made up his mind to come back again and again, taking up mapping exercises over the years. He has worked on numerous research projects in different parts of India, most recently documenting the medieval Hindu capital of Vijayanagara.
His publications include -- Architecture and Art of Southern India: Vijayanagara and the Successor States (1995) and City of Victory: Vijayanagara, the Medieval City of Southern India (1991) -- and the art historian has a pride of place as far as his work goes, in India.
He was delivering his presentation after the inaugural of what was described a rare international seminar on recent trends in archaeology, art history and conservation titled - Re-discovering Telangana, organised by the State’s Department of Architecture. He said in the year 2000, historian Philip found clear evidence of later occupants of Warangal Fort pulling down parts of the temples including Malik Kafur of the Sultanate of Delhi, the Bahmani rulers and the Qutb Shahis and attempting to build a mosque at the exact centre of the circular city, where was the temple. “For some reason they could not do it though,” Mr. Michell said.
Inaugurating the seminar, Telangana’s Minister for Culture and Tourism, Ajmeera Chandulal said Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao is focussed on reviving and protecting the State’s glorious art, culture, tradition and tradition.
Others who participated at the event held at Marri Channa Reddy Human Resources Institute were Secretary-Tourism B. Venkatesham and Director-Archaeology N.R. Visalatchy, who put it together. Ms. Visalatchy said the 2-day event had attracted seven international papers from archaeologists and art historians, apart from students. It would pave the way for a great interest henceforth, she said.
