Ahichhatra : Through the Ages

In light of recent excavation

Dr. Bhuvan Vikrama[1], Dr. Onkar Dikshit[2], Dr. Javed N Malik[3]

Introduction

The earliest investigation (though it is difficult to say whether it was investigation or just a description of a passerby) of site is that of Captain Hodgson, who happen to visit this site in 1833, became interested in the impressive ruins. He made some enquiries and left a report (1840 AD). This first attempt on reporting is informed to us by Sir Alexander Cunningham who much later studied the area with a purpose and determination. Even before Captain Hodgson, a Rohila chief tried to resurrect the bastions of the ancient city with a view to make it a fortified hideout but since the expenses proved too high for his exchequer he gave up the idea. His efforts are visible at the southern parts of the west wall of the city.

Hodgson records that it was popularly known at that time as “Pandu Raja ka Kila”, it spread in very large area and had 34 bastions, etc. Alexander Cunningham who came some 40 y

ears later could find only 32 bastions and mentions several folklores and traditions, identifies the site as Ahichhatra (Adisadra of Ptolemy and Ahi-chi-talo of Huen Tsang), however, he never once mentions the site as “Pandu Raja ka Kila”. He mentions the place as “Drupad ka Kila” instead.

Ahichhatra is one of those archaeological sites which have continuously attracted the attention of scholars and researchers. After Captain came General. General was pursuing Heuen Tsang and his chase brought him here in the year 1863-64-

65. He was a serious researcher and has left equally serious account of this site and his work. Apart from the truthful wordy description he left the most accurate to-the-scale drawings and his first hand observation. Ahichhatra as identified by Sir Cunningham is a site near Ramnagar village some 15 km north of Aonla on road to Shahbad. Enclosed by 30 to 35 ft high rampart wall Ahichhatra is roughly triangular in shape with wide base running NS for 1462 metres towards west and the longer, pointed end wedges into east for more than 2000 metres. The high rampart with bastions at regular interval dotting the entire length opens at several points to allow entry into the city.

Considering the dimensions of the site covering an area of over 187 hectare, it is, however, interesting to note that there is no perennial source of water despite the site being located between Ramganga and Ganga. It is no doubt one of the largest (area wise) and probably the longest surviving site in India. The earliest known culture here is that of ochre coloured ware and the habitation moves along with changing paraphernalia in tune with changing times until the iconoclastic tendencies coupled with the catastrophic earthquake disrupt the city for good around 11^th-12^th century AD. With whatever modest and conservative estimation settlement here survived for more than 3000 years (from 2000 BC to 1100 AD).

Within the high rampart a spread of rolling high mounds with intermediate and interconnected deep depressions make this site a virtual maze where one could easily get lost. This feature of the site has probably given rise to a myth that the site is infested by ‘matkata’ (mat –

mati – intellect; kata – shred away) which I myself experienced wandering deep into the city one actually looses the sense of direction. Another interesting belief prevalent among the surrounding villagers is that the ‘Ashvatthama’ – ‘the immortal’ still roams the site proclaiming it as its own and does not allow any body to settle within the city. These beliefs, in fact, have helped in preserving and protecting the site in almost un-encroached state of preservation.

Archaeological Studies

Figure 1

General, since basically a relic hunter, sunk holes on many a mound in search of Buddha and Buddhist relic caskets. Although he did not leave a well documented report of these excavations yet he marked the places well on map (Figure 1). However, the lapse of 150 years is a long period of time to obliterate many signs of his probing. The lapse is also sufficient to reshape the surface that General had seen and described.

Fűhrer followed Cunningham in 1885 with a different objective and made some excavation of which he did not leave any detailed account. After him site was again subjected to digging for antiquarian remains further in 1888 by one Sadaruddin, zamindar of Rampur also tried some excavation.

Earlier Excavations

Serious archaeological excavation was first held between 1940-44 when Roa Bahadur K N Dikshit along with his team headed by A. Ghosh camped here and carried out a large scale excavation. Scale of the excavation can be judged from the fact that rail tracks with swivel push carts were used to move the excavated earth. These have been imported from Berlin (Figure 2).

Figure 2

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[1] Archaeological Survey of India

[2] Prof. Department of Civil Engineering, IIT (Kanpur)

[3] Associate Prof. Department of Civil Engineering, IIT (Kanpur)