
1865.] Report of the Archeological Survey. 179 
207. The account of Ahi-chhatra given by Hwen Thsang is 
unfortunately very meagre, otherwise we might most probably have 
identified many of the existing ruins with the Buddhist works of an 
early age. The Capital was 17 or 18 i, or just three miles, in 
circuit, and was defended by natural obstacles. It possessed 12 
monasteries, containing about 1,000 monks, and nine Brahmanical 
temples, with about 300 worshippers of Iswara Deva (Siva), who 
smeared their bodies with ashes. The Stwpa near the serpent tank, 
outside the town, has already been mentioned. Close beside it there were 
four small Stupas built on the spots where the four previous Buddhas 
had either sat or walked. Both the size and the peculiar position of 
the ruined fortress of Ahi-chhatra agree so exactly with Hwen 
Thsang’s description of the ancient Ahi-chhatra, that there can be no 
doubt whatever of their identity. The circuit of the walls, as they 
stand at present, is 19,400 feet, or upwards of 34 miles. The 
shape may be described as an irregular right-angled triangle, the 
west side being 5,600 feet in length, the north side 6,400 feet, 
and the long side to the south-east 7,400 feet. The fort is 
situated between the Rdm Ganga and Gdnghan Rivers, which are 
both difficult to cross; the former on account of its broad sands, the 
latter on account of its extensive ravines. Both on the north and 
east the place is rendered almost inaccessible by the Piria Nala, 
a difficult ravine with steep broken banks, and numerous deep pools 
of water quite impassable by wheeled vehicles. For this reason the 
cart road to Bareli, distant only 18 miles due east, is not less than 23 
miles. Indeed the only accessible side of the position is the north- 
west, from the direction of Lakhnor, the ancient capital of the Katehria 
Rajputs. It therefore fully merits the description of Hwen Thsang 
as being defended by ‘natural obstacles.” Ahi-chhatra is only seven 
miles to the north of Aonla, but the latter half of the road is rendered 
difficult by the ravines of the Gdnghan River. It was in this very 
position, in the jungles to the north of donla, that the Katehria 
Rajputs withstood the Muhammadans under Firuz Tughlak. 
- 208. The ruins of <Ahi-chhatra were first visited by Captain 
Hodgson, the Surveyor, who describes the place as “ the ruins of an 
ancient fortress several miles in circumference, which appears to 
have had 34 bastions, and is known in the neighbourhood by the 
23 
