1899.] 
THE OLD AND NEW CAPITALS. 
141 
Pravarasena’s 
capital. 
period when probably the riveraine flats of the valley were less drained. 
The small semi-circular glens which are formed between projecting spurs 
both north and east of the present village, with their gentle slopes offer 
convenient building sites. The fertile shores of the Dal are also within 
easy reach of Pandrethan through the gap in the hill-range which 
separates the Takht-i Sulaiman hill from the greater heights to the east. 
It is probably in this direction that we have to look for the Sarigharama 
mentioned by Hiuen Tsiang in connection with ‘ the old city.’ 
91 . Kalhana’s Chronicle furnishes us with a full account of the 
origin of the new city which was the capital 
of the Kasmir in his time and destined to 
remain so to the present day. 1 Kalhana attri¬ 
butes the foundation of this capital to King Pravarasena II. The topo¬ 
graphical details of his description make it clear beyond all doubt that 
its site was that of the present S'rinagar. 
The identity of the latter with Pravarasena’s town was duly recog¬ 
nized by General Cunningham who referred to the close agreement 
between the general features of Kalhana’s description and the situation 
of the present capital. He also pointed out that Kalhana distinctly 
mentions as one of the pious buildings founded in Pravarasena’s city 
that very Jayendrcivihara in which Hiuen Tsiang resided during his long 
stay in the Kasmir capital. 2 Subsequently Professor Biihler noticed the 
survival of several old local names for parts of the modern city which 
also prove its identity with Pravarasena’s capital. 3 The most convinc¬ 
ing evidence, however, is contained in the long list of ancient buildings 
and localities which Kalhana mentions in Pravarasena’s tow T n. In the 
course of our survey we shall be able to identify many of them within 
the modern S'rinagar and its environs. 
The attribution of this new capital to King Pravarasena rests on 
equally strong proof. Through a chain of references extending over 
nearly twelve centuries we can trace the use of the name Pravarapura, 
shortened ( bhimavat) for Pravarasencipura , as the official and correct 
designation of the city occupying the site of the present S'rinagar. We 
have found this appellation already in the record of the T'ang Annals 
going back to the commencement of the eighth century. It is also found 
in the works of Ksemendra, Bilhana, and numerous other Ka^mirian 
authors. It has continued to be used to the present day in colophons 
of Sanskrit Manuscripts, in horoscopes and similar documents. 4 
! See Rdjat, iii. 336-363. 
2 See Anc. Geogr., p. 97 ; also Rajat. iii. 355 note. 
3 Compare Report, p. 16. 
4 For detailed references see my note Rdjat, iii. 339-349. S'ri-Pravarapure for 
